Principles of Good Practice

LIVING THE

for Student Affairs

Living the Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs at Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount UniversityMission Statement

The AssociATion for sTudenT AffAirs AT cATholic colleges And universiTies (ASACCU) issued a document in 2007 that identified principles of good practice for Student Affairs in Catholic Higher Education.

Members of Loyola Marymount University’s Division of Student Affairs, under the direction of Senior Vice President Dr. Lane Bove, reflected upon and actively reviewed those principles and our practices. The result of that process is this brochure, a collaborative work that includes LMU-specific summaries of the Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities and how they inform our work. Included within that framework are some examples that illustrate how the Division lives those Principles each and every day. The purpose of these examples is to demonstrate a few of the many ways these Principles come to life in our Division on a daily basis.

In order to provide context for these Principles, we have included the Mission statements of LMU and the Division of Student Affairs as well as the Division’s goals and Learning Goals. Additionally, at the end of this brochure, we have included a brief glossary of terms and a limited reference guide.

The Principles of Good Practice

According to the ASACCU, the Division of Student Affairs at a Catholic University or College:

Principle IWelcomes all students in a vibrant campus community that celebrates God’s love for all.

Principle IIGrounds policies, practices and decisions in the teachings and living tradition of the Church. Builds and prepares the Student Affairs staff to make informed contributions to the Catholic mission of the institution.

Principle IIIEnriches student integration of faith and reason through the provision of co-curricular learning opportunities.

Principle IVCreates opportunities for students to experience, reflect and act from a commitment to justice, mercy and compassion, and in light of Catholic Social Teaching to develop respect and responsibility for all, especially those most in need.

Principle VChallenges students to high standards of personal behavior and responsibility through the formation of character and virtues.

Principle VIInvites and accompanies students into the life of the Catholic Church through prayer, liturgy, sacraments and spiritual decisions.

Principle VIISeeks dialogue among religious traditions and with contemporary culture to clarify beliefs and fosters mutual understanding in the midst of tensions and ambiguities.

Principle VIIIAssists students in discerning and responding to their vocations, understanding potential professional contributions and choosing particular career directions.

loyolA MAryMounT universiTy offers rigorous undergraduate, graduate and professional programs to academically ambitious students committed to lives of meaning and purpose. We benefit from our location in Los Angeles, a dynamic city that brings into sharp focus the issues of our time and provides an ideal context for study, research, creative work and active engagement. By intention and philosophy, we invite men and women diverse in talents, interests and cultural backgrounds to enrich our educational community and advance our mission through:

• The encouragement of learning• The education of the whole person• The service of faith and the promotion of justice

The University is institutionally committed to Roman Catholicism and takes its fundamental inspiration from the combined heritage of the Jesuits, the Marymount Sisters and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. This Catholic identity and religious heritage distinguish LMU from other universities and provide touchstones for understanding our threefold mission.

Loyola Marymount UniversityDivision of Student Affairs Mission

Departments within the Division ofStudent AffairsAdministrationThe Division of Student Affairs believes that undergraduate and graduate students are central to the mission and values of the University and, therefore, the Division’s administration area is committed to student learning and development.• Office of the Senior Vice President for

Student Affairs• Student Affairs Dean’s Office• Assessment & Research• Budget• communications• Development• lMu cAres• Judicial Affairs • Mission & Identity

AthleticsThe Intercollegiate Athletics Program supports the overall Mission of the University by complementing our commitments to inclusive excellence, cura personalis and social justice with championship sports programs.• 21 Varsity Sports• Academic Services• Development• Compliance• Facilities• Media Services/Marketing• Strength and Conditioning

Student LifeDepartments in Student Life strive to enrich and improve the quality of students’ lives by providing co-curricular programs, opportunities and services that engage the community. Student Life departments are committed to the total development of students, inspiring them to grow and become men and women for others.• Campus Recreation• Center for Service and Action• Ethnic and Intercultural Services• Ignatian Leadership Institute• Office for International Students and

Scholars• Residential Life• Student Leadership and Development• student Media• student success

Student ServicesDepartments in the Student Services area are dedicated to providing services, opportunities and experiences to complement academic pursuits, facilitate personal development, promote student retention and create a safe and healthy campus community.• Student Housing• Student Employment Services• Student Health Services• Student Psychological Services

In the belief that the glory of God is a human being fully alive and grounded in both Jesuit and Marymount traditions, the Division of Student Affairs supports the Loyola Marymount University mission through programs and services designed to advance student learning.

Student Affairs GoalsAs student affairs educators at a Jesuit/Catholic university, we commit ourselves to the holistic development of all students as they discover how their talents can be used to create a more just world. In partnership with our faculty colleagues, we strive to create a learning environment where this discovery occurs through a dynamic integration of a student’s total college experience – inside and outside the classroom. As we accompany all of our students in their educational journey of self-discovery, we commit to making these goals a living reality:

• Promote innovative programs and events that develop an enlivened and engaged campus community.

• Instill in students the value of service and the promotion of justice.• Guide students through a process of reflection, self-discovery and character development.• Foster students’ respect for each other in an intercultural community.• Advance the University’s recruitment and retention efforts.• Promote the integration of body, mind and spirit.• Encourage students to find God in all things.• Commit to the practice of excellence.• Prepare students for a life where their greatest passion meets the world’s greatest need.

Student Learning GoalsAs leaders who transform the world, graduates of Loyola Marymount University will:• Develop as whole persons through the integration of mind, body and spirit.• Be socially responsible citizens committed to building a more just world.• Commit to the practice of interculturalism and make meaningful contributions as citizens of the

global community.• Make decisions congruent with their personal beliefs, values and faith through continuous reflection

and discernment.• Lead a life where their greatest passions meet the world’s greatest needs.

Principle I Principle IIWelcomes all students in a vibrant campus community that celebrates God’s love for all.The Good Practice at Loyola Marymount UniversityThe Division of Student Affairs, practicing cura personalis—care of the whole person — creates an inclusive environment for our students. Our work, actions, services and programs reflect our belief in the dignity of and the respect for each individual created in the image of God.

Principles in Practice• The Division of Student Affairs

encourages students to live by The Lion’s Code, which recognizes dignity in others, in groups and in traditions. It illuminates the dignity of all and promotes respect for individuality, culture and beliefs of others while encouraging each student to explore his or her identity.

• The LMU Experience guides students in finding value throughout their journey at Loyola Marymount University. At the core of the LMU Experience are five pillars that inspire students to integrate knowledge with action so they become leaders that transform the world: + Integrate mind, body and spirit + Commit to service and justice + Become a global citizen + Practice Ignatian values + Live a life of purpose

• Student Success is a comprehensive approach to fully engaging students in their collegiate experience, deepening their connections to the University and transforming them into leaders resulting in increased student retention, graduation and post-graduate success.

• The OfficeforInternationalStudents&Scholars engages with local, domestic and international communities through services and programming to provide opportunities to reflect on the human dignity of all people at the margins of society.

• Student Housing creates a living learning environment within our community that honors human diversity and accepts students as individuals.

Grounds policies, practices and decisions in the teachings and living tradition of the Church. Builds and prepares the Student Affairs staff to make informed contributions to the Catholic mission of the institution.The Good Practice at Loyola Marymount UniversityThe Division of Student Affairs strives to integrate the living tradition of the Catholic Church into its decisions, policies, practices and staff development. In conjunction with the best practices of American Higher Education, our work is informed by the tenets of the Jesuit and Marymount charisms, the vision of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Principles in Practice• Student Affairs administrators and staff

are informed of the Catholic identity of the institution, its implications and the expectation to respect that identity through NewStaffOrientation, DivisionalConvocation and Mission andIdentity programs.

• Through the efforts of the Student Affairs MissionandIdentityCommittee, staff members are engaged in Divisional activities and collaborative efforts with Campus Ministry and Academic Affairs that underscore the tenets of the Jesuit and Marymount charisms and Catholic Social Teaching.

• The Mission and Identity Committee’s Into the Streets day of service engages all divisional staff in direct service and reflection. This provides a model for staff members to develop service programming in their own departments as well as in their personal lives.

• Each month, Mission and Identity publish the Compañeros newsletter to highlight staff members involved in the work of fostering growth of others within the Division of Student Affairs.

Principle IIIEnriches student integration of faith and reason through the provision of co-curricular learning opportunities.The Good Practice at Loyola Marymount UniversityThe Division of Student Affairs provides a wide range of co-curricular opportunities that engage students in dialogue, reflection and discernment. By intentionally engaging students in these practices and in enlivened conversation, we seek to create a lifelong habit of integrating relevant issues of faith with daily decisions.

Principles in Practice• IgnatianLeadershipInstitute uses

the social change model of leadership to help students make connections between their personal beliefs and those of the group and community, whereby teaching students to strive for congruence in their leadership styles.

• Departments within the division create programs that challenge students to examine their beliefs, as seen in the Los Angeles Loyolan’s First Amendment Week and programs sponsored by ResidentMinistry.

• Through service immersion, the AlternativeBreak program challenges students to join in solidarity and action on various social justice issues.

• each Greek Life organization conducts an annual Chapter Standards of Excellence review to ensure the alignment of chapter values and activities with the University mission.

• The division’s WellnessCommittee, through cross-divisional collaboration, promotes the interconnectivity of psychological, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being activities and wellness-promoting events.

Principle IVCreates opportunities for students to experience, reflect and act from a commitment to justice, mercy and compassion, and in light of Catholic Social Teaching to develop respect and responsibility for all, especially those most in need.The Good Practice at Loyola Marymount UniversityThe Division of Student Affairs intentionally weaves the University’s commitment to faith and justice into the fabric of the campus community by providing direct service opportunities and programs that bring awareness to local and global social justice issues. These experiences bring to life in a personal way the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching, including the Common Good, Solidarity and the Preferential Option for the Poor. As our students develop into men and women for and with others, they are empowered to take social action.

Principles in Practice• The CenterforServiceandAction

supports the priority of creating community service and justice opportunities through collaboration with other departments and through its immersion trips, service organizations, post-graduation service program, community-based learning courses, Community Partners program and the El Espejo and Underwings Praxis programs. Reflection leading to action is a key component of these programs.

• Many programs within the Division incorporate service into the students’ experience, including those sponsored by Greek Life, UpwardBound, Student Success, TheLearningCommunity and StudentMedia.

• Through the McCarthy Experience in Service and Action, Rains Intercultural Suite Experience, the International House and the Service and Action House, Student Housing offers intentional communities that promote service opportunities, intercultural understanding and deepened awareness of justice issues.

• As a member of the ClintonGlobalInitiativeUniversityNetwork, LMU provides students the opportunity to make a “commitment to action” by designing and implementing a socially responsible program to address an area of need. Additionally, student participants commit a year of service toward the fruition of their program idea.

Principle VChallenges students to high standards of personal behavior and responsibility through the formation of character and virtues.The Good Practice at Loyola Marymount UniversityThe Division of Student Affairs through its policies, practices and guidelines helps students to further develop their character and intentionally explore their values. Informed by Church teaching and dialogue, Student Affairs professionals encourage a life of congruence where students’ actions are aligned with their goals and beliefs.

Principles in Practice• JudicialAffairs upholds community

standards by individualizing sanctions and providing an array of educational and developmental programs such as Choice Theory, Alcoholics Anonymous, mentoring, community service and reflection papers.

• each Greek Life organization conducts an annual Chapter Standards of Excellence review to ensure the alignment of chapter values and activities with the University mission.

• studentPsychologicalServices provides opportunities for students to reflect on their behavior and encourage change that is congruent with their faith through counseling services and programs such as the WellnessEducators.

• LMU CARES is committed to building a community based on the creed of the Lion’s Code where individuals act with integrity, stand in faith and serve one another. Student safety is our top priority and we have zero tolerance for sexual and interpersonal misconduct in the LMU community.

• A collaborative leadership conference, iLead prepares students for leadership positions across the division, where they meet with staff, advisors and moderators who engage them in dialogue to promote ethical decision-making.

Principle VIInvites and accompanies students into the life of the Catholic Church through prayer, liturgy, sacraments and spiritual decisions.The Good Practice at Loyola Marymount UniversityThe Division of Student Affairs, in collaboration with Campus Ministry and others throughout the University, provides an inclusive environment where faith can be celebrated and the spiritual journey explored. Students are invited to participate in a variety of spiritual activities offered in all dimensions of the co-curricular experience. Ignatian Spirituality and Catholic faith traditions are articulated and promoted as integral parts of everyday University life.

Principles in Practice• Student Affairs administrators and staff

serve as chaplains and ministers for a variety of departments and programs, including athletic teams, residence halls, service organizations and the ServiceWorkerProgram.

• The Jesuit and Marymount charisms and Catholic Social Teaching provide context for student policies such as the Student Conduct Code and Guiding PrinciplesforProgramming.

• Student Housing’s TheologyofIgnatianLeadershipCourse provides resident advisors with the knowledge and resources to embrace the University mission and serve and support their resident communities.

• In collaboration with Campus Ministry, the division supports faith-based retreats and a full menu of developmental retreats such as the FirstYear, Silent, Koinonia, Kairos and Service retreats.

Principle VIISeeks dialogue among religious traditions and with contemporary culture to clarify beliefs and fosters mutual understanding in the midst of tensions and ambiguities.The Good Practice at Loyola Marymount UniversityThe Division of Student Affairs embraces the critical role it plays in helping students negotiate the pressure, stress and uncertainty of an increasingly pluralistic and secularized modern culture. By engaging students in the conversation regarding our Catholic tradition and other faiths and experiences, we move beyond tolerance to mutual respect and understanding, believing that we are all created in God’s image and graced with God’s love.

Principles in Practice• EthnicandInterculturalServices

partners with Campus Ministry in the work of imbuing the campus with the celebration of the Catholic faith and other faiths through a variety of interfaith and liturgical services. These services include: Welcome Mass, Virgin de Guadalupe, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Service, Cesar Chavez Interfaith Service, Pistahan and Misa de Herencia.

• Through StudentHealthServices, StudentPsychologicalServices and CampusRecreation, Student Affairs guides students in the discernment of choices surrounding healthy living.

• InterculturalFacilitatorsoffers the LMU community a venue by which they may engage in dialogue about important social divides concerning race, gender, sexual orientation and religion in an increasingly diverse world. IFs are experienced, upper-division students, who enjoy facilitating difficult dialogue about important issues related to our intercultural and interfaith community.

• Jewish Student Life offers an environment that fosters interreligious understanding and a thriving Jewish campus community at LMU through immersion trips, holiday services and student-peer engagement activities.

Principle VIIIAssists students in discerning and responding to their vocations, understanding potential professional contributions and choosing particular career directions.The Good Practice at Loyola Marymount UniversityThe Division of Student Affairs is actively involved in the discernment of life choices and vocations by helping students integrate their beliefs, ambitions and hopes in accordance with the world’s needs. Preparing students through experiences, conversations and reflection, Student Affairs professionals encourage self-discovery and self-actualization in order to help our students balance professional excellence with personal commitment.

Principles in Practice• Ultimately, the Division of Student

Affairs through programs, practices and experiences encourages our students to become fully alive, life-long learners, men and women for and with others, positive-change agents and contributing members of society.

• StudentEmploymentServices employs more than 3,000 students each year. On-campus work serves as a foundational professional development opportunity for each student employee.

• Through leadership opportunities in ASLMU, Greek Life, Athletics, KXLU, Student Workers, SpecialGames and many other clubs and organizations, students become aware of their talents, gifts and potential.

• CampusRecreationsupports several student-run campus operations including the DejaView movie theater, Lion’s Den coffee shop, The Loft sports lounge, Lion’s Express transportation service and our student activity programming office Mane Entertainment. Students are responsible for all operations of the venues including hiring staff, management, budgeting, marketing and promotions. Through these valuable work experiences, students gain workplace competencies while connecting to their professional aspirations.

Glossary of TermsCatholicIntellectualTradition — The Catholic Intellectual Tradition rises out of the belief that God is revealed in and through every facet of nature and history, and so values the intellectual journey as a process that ultimately leads to God. It entails an understanding and affirmation of rational inquiry as a tool for the human search for meaning, and holds that knowledge achieved through reason and knowledge attained by faith are not only equally valid, but compatible with each other.

CatholicSocialTeaching — Within Catholic Social Teaching are the Catholic Church’s guidelines for building a more just society and living holy lives in the midst of modern challenges. Rooted in Scripture and the tradition of the Church, these guidelines have been articulated through several Church documents, in which ten major themes are highlighted: human dignity, the common good, the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, rights and responsibilities, the role of the government and subsidiarity, economic justice, participation in society, stewardship of creation, promotion of peace and global solidarity and development.

Charism — A defining characteristic of a religious order’s mission or values.

Co-curricular—An activity that is not part of the regular curriculum, but complements it.

CuraPersonalis —A Latin phrase meaning the “care of the whole person.” It refers not only to attention of the mind, body, heart and spirit, but also emphasizes the importance of individualized attention to others’ needs, fueled by an awareness of their unique circumstances.

Discernment — A process of deep, critical listening that results in one’s gaining a greater, more honest understanding of God’s will for him or her.

ExCordeEcclesiae — Translated as “From the Heart of the Church,” this is the papal constitution promulgated in 1990 by Pope John Paul II. The highest level of decree issued by the pope, it laid out Pope John Paul II’s vision for what a Catholic University should be, and its aim in part was to both define and refine the Catholic character of Catholic institutions of higher learning.

Ignatian — A descriptor for that which is related to St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits (e.g. Ignatian spirituality, Ignatian discernment). Ignatian spirituality can be understood to have six major components: an incarnational world-view, an attitude of reverence, interior freedom, a propensity to being action-oriented, humility and communality.

Interculturalism — Refers to a philosophical exchange between different cultures, one that entails an openness to different cultures and ultimately seeks to build community based on commonality and mutual respect for and acknowledgment of differences.

Jesuits — A religious order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church. Founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century, the Jesuits, also known as the Society of Jesus (S.J.) are a sponsoring religious order of Loyola Marymount University.

Lion’s Code —Loyola Marymount University’s Lion’s Code spells out the expectations for all Lions, focusing on the Lion’s obligation to take responsibility for the actions of the mind, hand and heart, thereby building a community that sustains all.

Magis — Latin for “more,” continuous quality improvement which suggests [not the quantity but rather] the spirit of generous excellence in which ministry should be carried on.

MarymountSisters — A religious order of sisters in the Catholic Church co-founded by Fr. Jean Gailhac and Mother St. Jean Pelissier Cure in the 19th century, the Marymount Sisters, also known as the Religious Sacred Heart of Mary (R.S.H.M.), are a sponsoring religious order of Loyola Marymount University.

SistersofSt.JosephofOrange — A religious order of sisters in the Catholic Church founded by Fr. Jean-Pierre Medaille, S.J. in the 17th century. The charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange (C.S.J.) is in part defined by a call to identify with the self-emptying love and obedience of Jesus, as well as a call to develop a deep relationship with the three Persons of the Trinity and the Holy Family.

Resources for FurtherStudy and Review

Associations• Jesuit Association of Student Personnel

Administrators (JASPA) supports Student Affairs professionals at the 28 American Jesuit colleges and universities. jesuitstudentaffairs.org.

• Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) supports the 28 Jesuit institutions of higher learning in the United States. www.ajcunet.edu.

• Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASACCU) promotes understanding of the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and its relevance for Student Affairs professionals at Catholic colleges and universities. www.asaccu.org.

Texts• Estanek, Sandra (ed.), Understanding

Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities, Sheen & Ward, 2002.

• Fleming, David L., S.J., What is Ignatian Spirituality? Loyola Press, 2008.

• Jesuit Conference, Communal Reflection on the Jesuit Mission in Higher Education: A Way of Proceeding, Jesuit Conference, 2002.

• King, Irene and John Wilcox, Enhancing Religious Identity: Best Practices from Catholic Campuses, Georgetown UP, 2000.

• Lowney, Chris, Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company That Changed the World, Loyola Press, 2005.

• Traub, George W. S.J., A Jesuit Education Reader, Loyola Press, 2008.

• Traub, George W. S.J., Do you Speak Ignatian? Xavier University, 1997.

division of sTudenT AffAirs

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Los Angeles, California 90045(310) 338-2885

Published May 2015