At Cardinal Stritch University (Stritch), we are committed to the successful implementation of our civic action plan not only because of a belief in the Campus Compact mission, but also because of the clear alignment this work has with our institution’s mission and values. Indeed, we are deeply invested in this plan because creating a caring community gets at the very heart of who we are and what we value as a Franciscan institution founded by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.  We don’t merely want to be engaged local and global citizens, we must be.

Section I of the plan contains Stritch’s Civic Action Statement and a review of our civic action planning process.  Section II highlights the University’s “present state” of civic engagement actions, including how we are working to integrate civic action into curricular and co-curricular activities, as well as into our strategic planning and academic identity initiatives.  Section III provides the framework for our civic action efforts and how they inform an integrated approach to engaged scholarship and institutional action.  As a result of the successful implementation of our civic action plan we envision wide recognition that, “In every Stritch graduate, you will discover a servant leader.”

The plan focuses on the following goals and actions:

1. To deepen how civic action will be further institutionalized at Stritch we intend to incorporate the civic action plan into the University strategic plan; facilitate dialogues with campus stakeholders; and, incorporate the commitments made into student, faculty, and employee handbooks
2. To strategically grow civic action programs and activities, we plan to implement “The Stritch Experience” which integrates civic responsibility throughout the undergraduate curriculum. Further, we will clarify the approach Stritch has with signature partners; determine ways to celebrate and support community engagement efforts; look for innovative ways to forward Stritch’s civic action commitment; provide input and consultation regarding how civic action and community engaged scholarship can be effectively integrated into the faculty rank and tenure process; and, continue to speak out about our civic action commitment in the form of public discourse.
3. To more effectively document and measure civic action efforts on campus, we plan to catalogue existing civic engagement actions; highlight civic action work in University marketing and public relations efforts; explore specific opportunities for resources and philanthropic support for civic engagement; and, work with Campus Compact colleagues to incorporate civic engagement evaluation processes.