Lifting our gaze

investments in curricular and co-curricular innovation. Evolving the student experience is essential to producing healthy enrollments and exceptional learning outcomes. The schools who will successfully navigate the current headwinds are those who are wisely seeking program balance and innovation while also offering increasingly more sophisticated and impactful educational practices.

Working in higher education is a blessing every day, because our focus is on students and their holistic development. It’s on human flourishing and, ultimately, creating a better world.

At Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s, we are working to solve the perplexing problems facing society through providing every student a robust liberal arts education. Our distinct contribution to American higher education is, of course, our compelling foundation: the values which animate our Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts, and residential campuses. Generations of alumnae and alumni evidence point clearly to the unique value of Bennie and Johnnie educational experiences.

At the same time, the headwinds we face are unrelenting. We see the reality of simply fewer higher school graduates … challenging economic conditions raising questions about the affordability of college … increased competition, political malaise and postpandemic workforce challenges.

These and many other threats to the health and vibrancy of CSB and SJU require us to be creative, bold and innovative. How do we overcome and thrive in the face of these pressures?

We do so with a strategy that remains laser-focused on the essence of who we are and what we do best: producing first-class outcomes. An unapologetic focus on our missions will drive our priorities and help us invest in even more sophisticated student experiences. That focus will allow us to produce even more impressive student outcomes. Emerging from the current gauntlet of challenges will require us to lift our gaze to higher-order outcomes, recommit to our compelling and distinctive missions and accentuate our greatest strengths – our faculty and staff. Simultaneously, it will require us to respond to the needs of new generations of students.

I’m frequently asked: “Brian, how’s it going?” Without hesitation, I can honestly say: “GREAT!” Because in these first nine months I’ve seen countless examples of resilience, creativity and passion in our faculty, staff, students, alums and Common Boards. We are confronting the challenges of today with a greatness of spirit, honesty about our weaknesses, eagerness about opportunities and commitment to student learning and flourishing.

As we work to further differentiate ourselves at the intersection of teaching and learning, our focus will be on targeted emphasizing our Institutional Learning Goals, creating new programs of study and emphasizing the high-impact practices and experiences we offer. We’re increasing our investment in contemporary teaching and learning pedagogy and development.

In this issue we highlight current academic program development – one of our leading strategies for building momentum toward ensuring student flourishing and success. With creativity, innovation and much hard work, we’re building around our Integrations Curriculum, emphasizing our Institutional Learning Goals, creating new programs of study and emphasizing the high-impact practices and experiences we offer. We’re increasing our investment in contemporary teaching and learning pedagogy and development.

Be assured, we look forward to your input and support along this journey. So many of you have already made contributions to the health and vibrancy of CSB and SJU, and we thank you! We are grateful you’re sharing in this critical work of sharpening our vision and enabling CSB and SJU to deepen and broaden our contributions to the world.

It’s always been my view that there’s no better job than being a college or university president. This community has shown me something even better: getting that honor at both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University! Thank you for your role in making possible the remarkable Bennie-Johnnie experience.

Brian J.

President,

Hear The Winds Blow

For the second time in four years, the CSB and SJU Wind Ensemble was showcased at the College Band Directors National Association – one of seven ensembles selected by peer review to participate (via recording). The group has about four dozen musicians, representing 25 different majors. “The significance of this, the fact that it’s the second time we’ve been so honored in a short period, speaks to the consistent work and commitment the students have put into this group,” said conductor and associate professor of bands/brass Justin Zanchuk.