Creighton University

"Creighton exists for students and learning ..." (From Creighton University Mission Statement)

Higher education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition demands two things that are essential to its mission: 

• To provide a high-quality, rigorous educational experience to all students
• To bring students into contact with the poor and underserved of the world. In Creighton’s service associations, everyone benefits from this enhanced educational experience. Students learn to reach beyond their comfort zones and grasp the plain truth of critical issues, and the community becomes a better place in which to live.

We are grateful to the many community partners -- near and far -- who help form Creighton students to become "men and women for and with others."  Many diverse communities partner with Creighton to help form world citizens of conscience and compassion. 

“Service is in the very air we breathe,” according to Creighton University President, the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J. It is the foundation of who and what Creighton is as a Jesuit institution. In emphasizing service, Creighton not only reaches out to the contemporary world but also reaches back to the more than 461-year-old tradition of the Society of Jesus.

Creighton and Community Partnership Guidelines -- Because of its vision and mission, Creighton supports:

• All levels of education
• Catholic community
• Health care initiatives and relationships
• Diverse communities
• Outreach to the underserved
• University government and civic concerns

The University describes five ways in which it carries out its mission of service for and with others.

• Professional Education – more commonly called “field education/clinicals is skill-based with emphasis on the students’ professional development.

• Service-Learning – is a form of experiential education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection as students work with others through a process of applying what they are learning to community problems and, at the same time, reflecting upon their experience as they seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves.  
  
  Service-learning at Creighton may take two forms:  1) academic service-learning and 2) co-curricular service-learning.
  
  1)  Academic service-learning is a pedagogy that integrates service in the community with academic study.  Faculty, in partnership with representatives of non-profit community organizations, design service-learning projects based on two main objectives:
  
  a.  Meeting identified community needs, which helps strengthen the community.
  b.  Advancing students' understanding of the course content. 
  
  Strong reflective components are built into the course to help students consider relationships among their service, the course curriculum, and its impact on their personal values and professional goals.
  
  2)  Co-curricular service-learning differs only with regard to a link to course content.  It includes community partnerships, direct service, reflection, and evaluation.  The Creighton Center for Service and Justice is one department of the University significantly involved in co-curricular service-learning. 

• Community Service – enables members of the Creighton community to carry out the Jesuit mission of service for and with others through a variety of volunteer opportunities ranging from one-time projects to commitments involving significant time.  Many areas of Creighton University engage in community service including Residence Life, Athletics, Alumni Relations, Staff Advisory Council, the Creighton Center for Service and Justice, Greek organizations, other student organizations, etc.

• Faculty/Staff Outreach – describes the many presentations and time devoted to service on boards, commissions, and committees that faculty and staff give to the community – locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

• Community Resources – includes incidences when the University provides venues for the education and personal enrichment of the larger community.  Examples include use of facilities for the annual Special Olympics event as well as numerous lectures such as those developed by the Center for Health Policy and Ethics:  Roundtables, Clinical Ethics Series, and Women and Health Lectures.  (Click here to find daily Creighton lectures.)   

Concerning Programs:

• Patricia R. Callone, Vice President for Institutional Relations
  pcallone@creighton.edu (402) 280-2179
• Joyce Bunger, Special Assistant to the President for Community Outreach
  jbunger@creighton.edu (402) 280-2029

Concerning Creighton's Support of Community Fundraising Events:

• Kathy R. Morgan, Executive Assistant, President's Office
  kamorgan@creighton.edu (402) 280-4079