Thursday Evening, June 5, 2008

5:30 Social – Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center Dining Room Lobby
6:00 Dinner – Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center Dining Room
7:30 Formal Opening of the 2008 AFCU Symposium –
Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center, 2nd Floor
• Call to Prayer
• Welcome and acknowledgements – Dr. Tom Flynn – Hosting President
• Introduction of AFCU Board – Sr. Elise Kris, AFCU Board Chair
• Introduction of Keynote Speaker – Kevin Godfrey, Ph.D, Dean of Arts & Sciences, Alvernia College.
• Keynote Presentation Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv., Ph.D. Chair, Theology Department – St. Louis University

Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv., Ph.D.
“Retrieving and Exploring the Catholic and Franciscan Intellectual Tradition (FIT)”
The Franciscan Intellectual Tradition has roots deep in the earlier Catholic Tradition before Francis. As Cardinal Ratzinger once wrote, it provides “Gegengewicht” or counter-balance to the Thomistic synthesis. It incorporates the relational theology of Augustine’s understanding of the Trinity, the sacramental worldview of Hugh of St. Victor, and the passionate affection of Bernard of Clairvaux. The Franciscan Intellectual Tradition makes connections, especially as these are manifested in manifold expressions of the Word of God. Do our Franciscan institutions of learning promote connections across the curriculum and across the entire university community, from president to dishwasher?
 
Following the Keynote, for those who would like to continue their Franciscan Fellowship, you are welcome to stop by the Library Lobby for Dessert, Specialty Coffee Bar.

Friday, June 6, 2008
7:00 – 9:00 Breakfast – Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center Dining Room 7:15 Morning Liturgy (Mass) – Sacred Heart Chapel
9:15 Plenary Session 1 – Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center
Margaret Carney, OSF President, St. Bonaventure University

Margaret Carney, OSF
“Character Formation: Educating for Ethical Living”
How can we Franciscan educators design a specific Franciscan ethic? Recent work has indicated possibilities by retrieving the theology of great Franciscan intellectuals in a contemporary idiom. Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, president of St. Bonaventure University, opens the conference with reflections on these efforts. Gerald S. Vigna, Ph.D., founding director of the Alvernia College Center for Ethics and Leadership, responds.

10:15 Break – Snacks/Drinks (water/coffee) Bernardine Hall Lounge and Academic Hallway 1100 Wing

10:45 Plenary Session 1 Break-Out Sessions – Bernardine Hall

Session 1: “Social Justice: Teaching on Ethical Issues in Genetic Science”
Bernardine Hall 3101
Donna Yarri and Spence Stober – Alvernia College
Moderators - Donna Yarri and Spence Stober – Alvernia College
Emerging genetic technologies present a number of challenges related to ethics and social justice. Through exploration of a case study, this session will address issues of ethics and social justice within the context of an interdisciplinary course entitled “God, Science, and Designer Genes,” covering the fields of biology and theology.

Session 2: “Integration of the Values of St. Francis into the Classroom and the Profession of Care”
Bernardine Hall 216
Dorothea Epple and Michael Weuste – University of St. Francis, Joliet
Moderator – Elaine Schalck – Alvernia College
Directed toward faculty in the service professions, this panel discussion focuses on the integration of the University values, Catholic Social Teaching, National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics and the development of the faith based social worker. Topics such as ‘Why Care for the Stranger’; ‘Doing VS Being’; ‘History of Begging’; ‘Self Reflection, Passion, Mission’; and ‘Peace and War’ will be discussed.

Session 3: Social Justice: A Keystone in Nursing and Social Work
Bernardine Hall 209
Moderator – Kathleen McCauley – Neumann College

“Social Justice in Our Contemporary World”
Phyllis Hay and Barbe Fogarty - Alvernia College
This presentation will address three areas:
1. A conceptualization of social justice that emphasizes social change with a focus on vulnerable and oppressed groups,
2. A framework for teaching social justice to undergraduates drawing on Franciscan concepts of prayer, action, and reflection; and
3. A link with social justice, the Franciscan tradition, and the institutional mission to “foster a community of faith, reverence for the dignity of all life, commitment to peace and justice, and devotion to service.”

“Integrating Franciscan Values in the Curriculum of Nursing and Health-Related Disciplines”
Bernardine Hall 215
Mary Ellen Symanski and Maureen Sanders – Alvernia College
Faculty teaching in health care disciplines at Franciscan Colleges are challenged to integrate values consistent with Catholic teaching and the sacredness of all life from conception to natural death. Participants will share ideas and explore the challenges associated with integrating Franciscan values in today’s complex social and political health care delivery system.

“SWIM: Social Work Internship Mentoring”
Janice Fetrow-Stewart – Alvernia College
The presenter will share how peer mentoring in professional ethics, etiquette, documentation skill and social work values helped entering field education students ease into the profession with confidence to meet the high standards of a quality field education experience.

Session 4: “Ethical Responsibilities of Franciscan Educators Toward Environmental Issues”
Bernardine Hall 215
Elaine Grose, Janet Massey, Anne Ramirez, Randy Detra, Mac Given – Neumann College
Moderator – Elaine Grose – Neumann College
Educators are responsible to instill a strong environmental ethic in our students, faculty, and staff. Through an interdisciplinary dialogue, this session will explore the question: When it comes to God’s creation and the Franciscan theology of the environment, what is our responsibility to one another and to the world?

Session 5: “Franciscan Values In-Forming Campus Life”
Bernardine Hall 19
Donald Casey, Ann Therese Kelly, CSSF, John Lawton, Alyssa McCloud-Long, Tom Orians, SA, Mary Reilly, Kevin Smith, OSF – Felician College
Moderator – Victoria Williams – Alvernia College
A panel of members of the Felician College community will share their experience in
• Identifying and animating Core Values
• Infusing values through the Core Curriculum
• Communicating the heritage
• Embodying the values in Service Learning

Session 6: Ethics and Character
Bernardine Hall 211
Moderator – Marc Lucht – Alvernia College

“Helping Students to Clarify Character”
P. Vincent Riley – Neumann College
The expression “build character” may be misleading, if it implies that anyone other than the agent is “building.” This session will consider the “Values Clarification” work of Sidney Simon, Louis Raths, Merrill Harmin, Howie Kirschenbaum, and others in the 1960s and 1970s as keys to help young adult students to clarify their values, particularly “Franciscan” values.

“Competence Without Character Is Our Greatest Threat”
Tammy Toso – Alvernia College
With today’s technology, those possessing competency while lacking character can cause far more harm than in any previous era. This session will explore ways to embed character formation and ethical considerations into every subject and school activity (academics, administration, the arts and athletics).

Session 7: “Online Certificate in Franciscan Studies: A Review of the First Year” Bernardine Hall 34
Sr. Margaret Klotz, OSF – Cardinal Stritch University
Carl Jylland-Halverson – University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne
Jeanne Washburn – University of St. Francis, Joliet
Moderator – Dina De Luca – Neumann College
The AFCU launched a pilot development program in Franciscan Studies during the 2007-2008 academic year. This panel will review the challenges and success of the new program. Presenter and participants will review the reading material, the electronic platform and the classes chosen for this exciting program. Sample copies of the four courses will be available. Responses from the participants and personal comments of the instructor will also be presented. The discussion will address the future of the program and whether there is a need for a more basic course on the lives of Francis and Clare of Assisi.

Session 8: The Franciscan Tradition and the Business Curriculum
Bernardine Hall 214
Moderator – Sr. Patricia Smith OSF – Neumann College

“How Franciscan Moral Insights can be Integrated into a Business Curriculum”
Robert Till, Sr. Patricia Smith – Neumann College
Although management textbooks refer to the socio-economic model and acknowledge the relevance of stakeholder theory, they do not integrate faith-based moral insights into the classroom. This panel discussion will introduce a practical model for integrating the Franciscan tradition into a management curriculum. Panelists will suggest ways to connect classroom dialogue to the mission and the religious traditions that play a critical role within academic traditions.

“The Franciscan Tribe of Peace and Justice”
Janet Massey - Neumann College
“Education in the Franciscan tradition” is a phrase used by many Franciscan colleges to identify the uniqueness of their programs. To promote an understanding of the Franciscan tradition in the business curriculum at Neumann College, the presenter developed a game used in the introductory accounting course. This session will report the findings of the game introduced during the spring 2008 semester.

Session 9: The Business Curriculum at Franciscan Institutions
Bernardine Hall 33
Moderator – Jonathan Silver – Alvernia College

“Successful Integration of Franciscan Values in Business Curriculum: Case Study”
Raj Devasagayam and Linda Richardson – Siena College
This presentation and discussion session will address four issues: the genesis and informing principles of the Franciscan Insight courses at Siena College, the implementation of Franciscan Insights component in International Marketing course, student feedback and evaluation of this learning opportunity, and the insights gained by faculty in implementing this initiative.

“An Exploration of the Franciscan Approach to Teaching Ethical Business Practice”
Jonathan Silver – Alvernia College
To promote the consideration of ethical issues in business several scenarios have been developed for classroom use. Students have shared a diverse set of responses to the scenarios. This session will explore the question of whether there might be a distinctively Franciscan approach to the ethical challenges.

Session 10: Franciscan Values in the Curriculum
Bernardine Hall 210
Moderator – Sr. Suzanne Mayer, IHM – Neumann College

“Excellent Servants: Towards a Franciscan Paradigm in Higher Education”
Tim Weldon – University of St. Francis, Joliet
In founding universities, religious orders have centered their institutions on their respective charism, e.g. Jesuits are justice-centered; Dominicans, truth-centered, etc. How is the Franciscan University to further integrate the emphasis of love so that it permeates the entire university, from playing field to classroom to chapel? Inspired by Francis’ words, “My God and my all,” this presentation will attempt to answer this question.

“Death as Eucharistic: An Application of St. Francis’ Writings to the Study of Theology”
Richard Nicholas – University of St. Francis, Joliet
Francis understood death to be Eucharistic. This presentation provides an example of one methodology used to guide students in an exploration of how Francis’ understanding of death developed in his writings, how it was expressed in the biographical depictions of his death, and then how to draw out the implications of such an understanding and integrate them into courses on sacramental theology and the theology of death and dying. All of these efforts are done with the intention of exposing students to the Franciscan intellectual tradition and helping them assimilate aspects of it into their own understandings of the Eucharist and Christian death.

“The Life World of the Early Minorite Movement as Found in the Admonitions and its Pedagogical Implications”
Anthony Murphy – St. Bonaventure University
The presentation discusses the early philosophical views of the Minorite movement.  He then identifies about 45 claims that the Minorites have made in the area of ethics, metaphysics, etc and explores how their claims are related to the later Theological and Philosophical Schools at Oxford and Paris. 

Session 11: Assessment of Catholic Franciscan Outcomes
Bernardine Hall 3109
Moderator – Richard Sayers – Neumann College

“Assessment of a Catholic Franciscan Education: Where Do We Begin?”
Janine Hicks – University of St. Francis, Joliet
This presentation shares the results of a survey on the assessment of Catholic, Franciscan outcomes at AFCU member institutions conducted by the Office of Institutional Research at the University of St. Francis in spring of 2008. Participants will explore questions such as: How are member institutions assessing Catholic, Franciscan outcomes? Are there solid models of assessment that are producing results? Is there interest in working together on a rubric of Catholic and Franciscan outcomes that could be assessed through a portfolio process?

“Assessing Outcomes of a Franciscan Education: Some Preliminary Findings and Suggestions of What Works”
Neil Penny – Alvernia College
This presentation will explore the findings of a study designed to examine whether an instrument used in research studies to measure changes in moral reasoning could be a useful tool to measure student outcomes toward the goal of moral reasoning articulated in the mission statement at a Catholic Franciscan college located in the Northeast region of the U.S.

“Research Proposal for Doctoral Study”
Joseph Lehman, TOR – Doctoral Student, Boston College
The presenter will share preliminary ideas for a research study to assess the impact of Franciscan values on graduates of Franciscan colleges and universities and will invite participant comments and networking opportunities.

Session 12: Mission Integration Focus Group
Bernardine Hall 212
Kevin Godfrey, Kelly Cockrum – Alvernia College
Moderators – Kevin Godfrey and Kelly Cockrum – Alvernia College
This is a session where the integration of your college’s mission into the academic curriculum will be discussed. It is a continuation of a research project on Franciscan institutions by Dr. Kevin Godfrey, Dean of Arts and Sciences at Alvernia College.

11:30 Lunch – Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center Dining Room
1:30 Plenary Session 2 – Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center

“Leadership in a Franciscan Key”
Roberta Agnes McKelvie, OSF, PhD
Congregational Leadership, Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, Reading PA

Roberta Agnes McKelvie, OSF
The concept of leadership and the performance of leaders who are Franciscans can and should be different from “secular” leadership. This session will discuss the vocabulary of Franciscan leaders, comment on the characteristics of Francis/Clare as leaders, and identify core elements of leadership that every person in a Franciscan institution can understand and embrace. Part of the time will be devoted to interactive conversation with the presenter.

2:30 Break Snacks/Drinks
Bernardine Hall Lounge and Academic Hallway 1100 Wing

3:00 Plenary Session 2 Break-Out Sessions
Bernardine Hall/Franco Library

Session 1: Franciscan Values and Leadership
Bernardine Hall 19
Moderator – Mac Given – Neumann College

“Franciscan Themes in Leadership Philosophy”
Bongrae Seok – Alvernia College
This session explores two different categories of leadership (power based leadership and service based leadership) and discusses how Franciscan ideals of service and humility are represented in service based leadership. Specifically, the presentation connects Franciscan leadership themes to several leadership models in the East and the West to analyze the idea of leading by serving.

“Virtues of Humility and Authenticity in Community, Education, and Corporate Leadership”
Theresa Adams, Kathleen Ellis, and Kathleen Nevel – Alvernia College
Three Ph.D. students will participate in a panel discussion that interconnects and weaves the Franciscan values of humility and respect with servant leadership framed around the community, education, and corporate leadership environments. The purpose of this panel is to examine insights into humility and respect in order to build a spirit of community and relationships rooted in moral leadership.

Session 2: Mathematics and Writing at Franciscan Institutions
Bernardine Hall 33
Moderator – Dina De Luca – Neumann College

“Mathematics in the Franciscan Tradition: Integrating Values into Mathematics Courses.”
Sr. Barbara E. Reynolds, SDS – Cardinal Stritch University
The presenter, a veteran math professor, will share her experience integrating the Franciscan tradition into such courses as statistics, data analysis, geometry, and algebra.

“Mathematics: When Hospitality, Courtesy, and Gratitude Enter the Equation”
Fred Savitz and Ryan Savitz – Neumann College
The father-son team, a professor of education and a professor of mathematics, apply pedagogical theory to the content of college algebra with a focus on providing low stress, high achievement experiences for students, especially those who are historically underrepresented among the ranks of college students. Theory and practice are complemented by the infusion of three Franciscan values into the teaching learning paradigm: hospitality, courtesy, and gratitude.

“The Value of Writing: Integrating Franciscan Values in Composition Classrooms.”
Ken Bugajski – University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne
The presenter shares his experience of integrating assignments on Franciscan values into a first-year writing course. The presenter will share the paper assignments, discuss the challenges and rewards of these new assignments, share results from the courses, and highlight planned changes.

Session 3: Franciscan Ideals Across the Campus
Bernardine Hall 215
Moderator – Len Di Paul – Neumann College

“Integrating Franciscan Charism into Selected Philosophy and Religious Studies Courses.”
Donald Monnin – Villa Maria College of Buffalo
This presentation will address the integration of the Franciscan charism into philosophy and religious studies courses. The presenter will share ways to embed into courses the core competences of fostering Christian values, critical thinking, interpersonal communication, information literacy, respect for diversity and a commitment to serving others.

“Karate-do and Spirituality”
Nyles Gray – Neumann College
This presenter will explain how a course which offers an introduction to the martial arts (karate-do) fosters the traits of courage, courtesy, integrity, humility, and self-control and assists students who are experiencing social and/or academic problems.

“Coming Together: Artifact Circle”
Tricia Bugajski – University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne
The presenter shares an activity that brings students together in and out of the classroom and fosters respect, community, and service. The project, adapted for a Composition Course and a Foundations for Success First-year Course, invites students to speak and write about a personal item.

“Creating Digital Media for Courses in Ethics and Social Responsibility”
Frederick Loomis – Neumann College
This session will share digital media developed for a graduate course in social and ethical responsibility within a values-based graduate program in strategic leadership. The presentation will serve as a springboard for further discussion of how best to create and share digital media that can be used to further leadership development in the Franciscan tradition.

Session 4: “Francis in the Arts”
Bernardine Hall 210
Maria Traub, Bryce Johnson, and Maria Martin - Neumann College
Moderator – Maria Traub – Neumann College
The panel will share insights into the portrayal of St. Francis in film, the plastic arts, and music.

Session 5: “Canticles: A Play Cycle”
Franco Library, Bonaventure Reading Room
Terence Gleeson and Richard Sayers – Neumann College
Moderator – Terence Gleeson – Neumann College
The presenters, professors of theater and music, share their experience of developing in workshop with students a series of short plays inspired by the Canticle of the Creatures. The session should interest performing arts faculty who wish to develop new work with students, as well as anyone exploring new ways of involving students in the Franciscan tradition.

Session 6: “A Unique Franciscan University-Italy Relationship for Leadership, Learning, and Service”
Bernardine Hall 34
Kristine Hipp, Teri Wagner, Angelo Vasta, and Rossella Vasta – Cardinal Stritch University
Moderator – Sr. Peggy Egan OSF – Neumann College
Presenters explain a long-term relationship between Cardinal Stritch University and the Villa Pieve International School near Perugia, Italy. The School has provided the perfect setting for art courses and Leadership, Learning and Service graduate retreats for the last 8 years. This program differs from the St. Bonaventure relationship and the Franciscan Leadership Pilgrimage and complements these successful programs.

Session 7: “Emersion Learning at St. Bonaventure University: Service Learning on the Bleeding Edge”
Bernardine Hall 3109
C. Joseph Coate, Todd Palmer, Jim Mahar, Susan Anders, Dave Blake, and Suzanne Kush – St. Bonaventure University
Moderator – Sr. Dorothy Bredehoft, SSJ – Neumann College
The panel focuses on “emersion learning” a new service-learning concept pioneered at SBU in the past five years. The presentations provide an overall conceptual, theoretical framework for the emerging SBU service experience as well as vivid descriptions, strategies, and prescriptions for encouraging and developing service learning and volunteerism.

Session 8: “Animating and Transforming Campus Life”
Bernardine Hall 211
Donna Barron-Baker, Sue Chalfin, June Finn, Ann Guillory, Mary Ann Joyce, Maureen Murphy-Ruocco, David Turi – Felician College
Moderator - Sr. Betty McVeigh SSJ – Neumann College
Faculty and staff will share ways in which they seek to transform their campus:
• Implementing a Freshman Year Program
• Orchestrating Faculty and Staff Retreats
• Inaugurating a Franciscan Center
• Initiating faculty, staff, and student retreat and pilgrimage programs.
Session 9: “Franciscan Resources for Classroom, Campus, & Staff Development Use”
Library 203
Pat McCloskey, OFM – St. Anthony Messenger Press
Michael F. Cusato, OFM – Franciscan Institute Publications
This presentation will highlight the resources that St. Anthony Messenger Press and the Franciscan Institute Publications offer on Franciscan topics. They will show how these resources can reinforce the vision and mission of AFCU institutions. Resource materials will be available throughout the conference; stop by on Friday evening for browsing and purchases.

Session 10: “A Franciscan View of Sports: Ministering to the Student Athlete”
Bernardine Hall 214
Ed Hastings, Sr. Marguerite O’Beirne, and Stephanie Taylor – Neumann College
Moderator – Sr. Marguerite O’Beirne – Neumann College
This presentation will open with a reflection/exploration of a Franciscan approach to sports. Themes draw upon the life of St. Francis, the writings of St. Bonaventure and John Duns Scotus (cortesia, play, haecceitas), and the defining characteristics of a Franciscan style of ministry: attentiveness, contemplation, descension (identified by Brother Ed Coughlin, OFM). Presenters describe the potential of sports for impacting student athletes and college personnel who are not reached through the traditional work of campus ministry.

Session 11: Service Learning
Bernardine Hall 3101

“Service Learning at the Intersection: Regional Collaboration Between Higher Education and Community Partners”
Moderator – Jerry Vigna – Alvernia College
Fr. Kevin Queally, Martha O’Brien, and Paula Craw – St. Francis University, Loretto
This presentation will highlight the impact of a common core religious studies course, “Faith and Franciscanism,” and the mandated service-learning requirement embedded in that course. Panelists will discuss how Franciscan ideals have shaped service learning at one institution and fostered efforts to share the Franciscan vision with an ever-widening community.

“Centers for Community Engagement”
Jodi Radosh, Ginny Hand, Jerry Vigna – Alvernia College
The Centers for Excellence: The Center for Community Engagement and The Center for Ethics and Leadership, are rooted in the Franciscan identity of Alvernia and its mission as a teaching and learning organization.  The Center for Community Engagement will discuss how it identifies, cultivates, and sustains strategic partnerships that leverage campus talent and expertise in productive collaborations with key organizations and community members. 
The Center for Ethics and Leadership at Alvernia College will discuss how it emphasizes Catholic Social Teaching (CST), especially the ideas of social justice and service, as distinctively Catholic Franciscan elements of the intersection of ethics and leadership.

Session 12: “Franciscan Infused Courses”
Bernardine Hall 213
Joey-Lynn Bialkowski, Linda L. Brobeck, Coletta Dunn, OSF – Cardinal Stritch University
The College of Business and Management introductory courses include a community service project that students plan and execute. Students complete the project by writing a reflection paper and presenting an oral presentation on how the project relates to Franciscan Values. Samples of student papers and photos of projects will be included in this presentation.

Session 13: Mission Integration Focus Group
Bernardine Hall 212
Moderators: Kevin Godfrey and Kelly Cockrum – Alvernia College
This is a session where the integration of your college’s mission into the academic curriculum will be discussed. It is a continuation of a research project on Franciscan institutions by Dr. Kevin Godfrey, Dean of Arts and Sciences at Alvernia College.

4:15 AFCU Presidents/Executive Board Social and Discussion
Francis Hall Conference Room 209 – Hosted by Dr. Tom Flynn, Alvernia College

4:15 AFCU Academic and Mission VP’s and Provosts Social and Discussion Upland Center Community Room 103 – Hosted by Dr. Shirley Williams, Alvernia College

4:15 AFCU Student Life and Student Affairs Personnel Social and Discussion Center for Student Life – Hosted by Sister Margaret Anne Dougherty, RSM, Alvernia College

5:00 Social For Conference Attendees
Franco Library Lobby

6:00 Dinner and Franciscan Celebration of the Arts
Francis Hall Auditorium
• Presentation of Certificates in Franciscan Studies – Sister Elise Kriss, AFCU Board Chair and President of the University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne

Acknowledgement of Anniversary Institutions
– Gene Mitchell, Alvernia College

• Dessert and Theatre Entertainment
The History of Franciscan Higher Education (abridged)

Evening Interest Sessions
Franco Library (with refreshments)

• Art Exhibits

• Franciscan Resources – Displays and Sales
Library – 2nd Floor
St. Anthony Messenger Press
Franciscan Institute Publications
Other Publishers

• Interdisciplinary Discussion of the Arts: Theatre and Drama
Franco Library Café

• Open Mic Creative Writing/Poetry/Music
Bonaventure Reading Room
MC: Tom Bierowski – Alvernia
Literary and Performing Arts
Readings, Discussion, Fellowship
In the artistic tradition of St. Francis, AFCU participants are invited to enjoy an open forum for the presentation of stories, poems, songs, music, and other forms of creative self-expression. To paraphrase The Master:  “Many are called, all are chosen.” 

• Medieval Art – A workshop demonstration of the Virtual Tour of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi – Franco Library 203

Saturday, June 7, 2008
7:00 – 9:00 Breakfast – Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center Dining Room
7:15 Morning Liturgy (Ecumenical Prayer) – Sacred Heart Chapel
9:15 Plenary Session 3 – Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center

“Living the Franciscan Tradition through the Writings of Saint Francis”
William R. Cook, PhD., Distinguished Professor of History
Gary W. Towsley, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Mathematics
Ronald B. Herzman, PhD, Distinguished Professor of English
Weston L. Kennison, MA, Lecturer of English and Humanities
SUNY, Geneseo, NY

Gary W. Towsley, PhD William R. Cook, PhD Ronald B. Herzman, PhD Weston L. Kennison, MA

The Medieval World View is not only the name of a book co-authored by William Cook and Ronald Herzman, but an apt title for the Plenary 3 presentation that they will be giving with colleagues Gary Towsley and Wes Kennison.  All four men have studied medieval history, literature, philosophy, theology, politics, and science from the viewpoint of their respective disciplines and will share the fruits of their knowledge and research with attendees.

10:30 Break Snacks/Drinks – Bernardine Hall Lounge and Academic Hallway 1100 Wing

11:00 Breakout Sessions – Bernardine Hall

Plenary Session 3 Breakout Sessions

Session 1: The Assisi Experience: Student Pilgrimage and Study Abroad
Bernardine Hall 3101
Moderator – Kristel Kemmerer – Alvernia College

“AFCU Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome: A 3-credit Course for Undergraduates”
Sr. Rosemary Stets – Alvernia College
The presenter will share a course syllabus used with student participants in the Pilgrimage Program, and will discuss resources that can help to integrate the travel program into the curriculum.

“Making the Most of the AFCU Student Pilgrimage”
Sr. Anita Holzmer – University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne
This presentation is a follow-up to an article of the same title in the 2008 AFCU Journal. Documents described in the article will be shared, and a student will share his/her experience of preparation, pilgrimage and follow-up.

" The Franciscan Heritage Study Abroad Program in Perugia, Italy”
Michael Chiariello – St. Bonaventure University
This panel updates AFCU institutions on the first two years of the Franciscan Heritage Program, a study abroad semester sponsored by St. Bonaventure University at the Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy. The session will discuss ways that the program might attract the participation of additional AFCU institutions, students and faculty.

“Opening Minds to the World”
Maria Mogford – Alvernia College
This presentation will discuss the benefits of studying abroad, including: exposure to different cultures; promotion of proficiency in a foreign language; development of a unique understanding of another part of the world; contribution to individual psychological growth and a greater maturity, sense of independence, self confidence, cosmopolitanism; and preparation for a career in an increasingly global marketplace. 

Session 2: “Mission: Sharing in the Grace – Sharing in the Responsibility”
Bernardine Hall 216
Fr. Kenneth Paulli, Shannon O’Neill, Keith Volsky, Mary Bumbolow – Siena College
Moderator – Claire Berardini – Alvernia College
Attention to the Franciscan and Catholic identity and mission of our respective institutions is the shared work and responsibility of ALL institutional stakeholders! Members of this panel (Executive Assistant to the President and Professor of Education, Director of the Sr. Thea Bowman Center for Women, Grounds Foreperson, and a student) will share Siena’s Franciscan, Catholic mission, and present ways in which each participant, through his/her role at the college, supports the mission.

Session 3: Franciscan Identity on Campus
Bernardine Hall 19
Moderator – Sr. Peggy Egan – Neumann College

“Imparting Franciscan Values beyond the Classroom”
Sr. Margaret Ruddy, Kathy Herrick, Lance Richey – Cardinal Stritch University
This panel will discuss various models and programs adopted by Cardinal Stritch for imparting the Franciscan tradition and values to students. Panelists will offer overviews of three venues, discussing the challenges and opportunities each presents in implementation and integration into the mission of the University. Venues include:
1. The First-Year Experience (FYE) which introduces students to Franciscan values integral to the institution;
2. Student Development Division which offers programs and services that intentionally integrate curricular and co-curricular experiences; and
3. The Keystone Experience, the culmination of the Franciscan Core, which invites students to reflect on the Franciscan values that have guided their college experience and how they might incorporate these values into their personal and professional lives after college.

“Catholic Identity at Our Franciscan Universities: Lost, Hidden, or Proclaimed?”
Mary Ellen Symanski and Mary Schreiner – Alvernia College
This presentation will explore historical and current models of Catholicism’s influence within academics, residence life, student activities, and personnel in higher education settings. Participants will be challenged to explore how Catholic identity is distinguishable from other college identities, as well as how a Catholic identity either harmonizes or conflicts with perceptions of Franciscan identity in daily life in these settings.

Session 4: Experiential and Service Learning
Bernardine Hall 210
Moderator – Sr. Betty Mc Veigh SSJ – Neumann College

“Opening D.O.R.S. Through Experiential Learning”
Jen Fraley – Siena College
The D.O.R.S. (Diversity, Optimism, Respect, and Service) initiative has been utilized on Siena College’s campus for the past several years as a method to integrate Franciscan values and tradition into the many facets of campus life. This presentation will discuss the techniques, activities, and reflection components utilized within the college’s Challenge course that enable students to learn Franciscan values through experiential learning.

“The Transformational Nature of Service Learning in the Promotion of Professional Competence and Confidence”
Karen Cameron, Catherine Emery, Neil Penny, Selena Ehlert – Alvernia College
This panel presentation will discuss the value of service learning within professional education. Specifically, it will examine the integration of service within a professional curriculum as an opportunity for transformational learning in the promotion of professional behaviors, competence and confidence.

Session 5: Service Learning
Bernardine Hall 3109
Moderator – Sr. Dorothy Bredehoft SSJ – Neumann College

“Franciscanism and the Institutionalization of Service Learning”
Mary Sacavage – Alvernia College
The presenter will share a research study examining the correlation between Franciscanism and the institutionalization of service learning at AFCU institutions. The presenter will describe challenges faced in the institutionalization process and suggestions for improvement.

“Learning and Serving in the Real World of Community Health Nursing”
Kathleen Wisser and Connie Twyman – Alvernia College
This presentation demonstrates ways in which curriculum connects to the real world of community health nursing. Panelists describe how the Department of Nursing at Alvernia College embraces its heritage and motto “to learn, to love, to serve” by providing health prevention and education activities to senior citizens and disabled individuals living in high rise apartments within the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. Through a montage of pictures and discussion, the presenters explain how students and faculty plan, coordinate, and implement a variety of health education, prevention, and screening activities for the residents.

Session 6: “Learning and Service: Development of Professional and Pastoral Expertise through a Franciscan Perspective”
Bernardine Hall 209
Eileen Flanagan, Patricia Hutchison, OSF, and Suzanne Mayer, IHM – Neumann College
Moderator – Sr. Patricia Hutchison – Neumann College
Professors from graduate programs in Pastoral Counseling, Spiritual Direction and Education describe how the heritage of St. Francis, enduring Franciscan values and writings, and the College mission undergird the various pedagogical practices in service learning and community outreach efforts.

Session 7: “Providing a Continuum of Service Learning Experiences”
Bernardine Hall 211
Mary Kay Solon, Diane Martin, and Andrew Prall, Ann Hernandez - University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne
Moderator – Kathleen McCauley – Neumann College
This panel presentation shares some of the opportunities for service learning available to the students of the University of Saint Francis, including a “stand alone” course, integration within the general education or “core” curriculum, and incorporation within discipline or major-specific courses. Faculty will present their models and lead discussion on advancement of similar initiatives on other campuses.

Session 8: A Franciscan View of Sports
Bernardine Hall 214
Moderator – Travis Berger – Alvernia College

“Sport as a Socializing Agent and Unifier of People: How to Foster and Reinforce Franciscan Values through Sport”
Travis Berger – Alvernia College
Sport reflects the dominant values and ideologies of a particular society. More importantly, sport as a social construction is used to reinforce or challenge critical values and ideologies. This presentation will explore how Franciscan Colleges can effectively use sport on their campuses to foster and reinforce Franciscan values.

“Preserving the Dignity and Worth of the Individual: A Faith-based Approach for Working with Indigenous People”
Paula Scraba – St. Bonaventure University
This presentation describes a project involving St. Bonaventure University and the Seneca Nation, specifically a physical education program at the Alternative School in Salamanca that educates mostly Native American students.  As part of the project, the presenter integrated Franciscan Spirituality with Native American Spirituality and the Spirituality of Sport and identified how Franciscans in the Americas have been an integral part of the education of Native Americans.

Session 9: “Toward the Development of Leadership Retreats Rooted in Franciscan
Spirituality and Values” – Bernardine Hall 215
James Gannon, OFM and Kate Herrick – Cardinal Stritch University
Moderator – Rev. Philip Lowe – Neumann College
This session invites participants to begin a conversation and a process toward the development of a leadership formation program for student leaders and student personnel directors based in the Franciscan Mission/Values. The intended purpose of the retreat/leadership formation program would be to form student leaders and directors in Franciscan Spirituality and Values; to infuse these values into student life and service to the college/university; and to encourage students to transform the world as a result of a value based education in the Franciscan tradition.

12:30 Closing Lunch – Bernardine Franciscan Conference Center Dining Room
Closing Remarks, Information and Invitation to 2010 AFCU 2010 Conference

2:00 2010 Planners’ Meeting with Alvernia and Neumann Departure/Free-
Time – Bernardine Hall 3101

4:00 Eucharistic Liturgy for Sunday – Sacred Heart Chapel

5:00 Dinner for remaining participants – Bernardine Franciscan Conference
Center Dining Room