Santa Clara University

The Commitment to Justice:

In Jesuit Higher Education

Twenty-five years ago, the Society of Jesus committed itself to the promotion of the justice that is an imperative of Christian Faith. Faith and justice were to inform its entire apostolic works. Leaders of the Jesuit Universities in the United States examined that commitment to justice during a two-year process beginning with a self-study at each university. They planned three regional conferences in 1999 and one follow-up national conference at Santa Clara University in the year 2000. This was the first systematic attempt to examine the effect of the commitment to justice upon the Jesuit institutions of higher education in the United States.

The process began in mid to late 1998 with the self-study. Each school was to examine the effect of the commitment to justice on the academic and curricular aspects of institutional life. The self-studies were due to be completed by June 1, 1999. University leaders discussed the implications of these self-studies at the three regional justice conferences.

National Justice Conference 2000

at Santa Clara University

• Keynote – Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. - The Service of Faith and the Promotion of Justice in American Jesuit Higher Education [.PDF]
  • Italian Translation [.PDF]
  • Spanish Translation [.PDF]
• Keynote – Claire Gaudiani - Academy Institute as Citizens for Justice[.PDF]
• Keynote – Leon Panetta - The Pursuit of Justice in Public Life [.PDF]
• Kolvenbach Sunday Homily – Rev. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J.[.PDF]
• William C. Spohn Opening – Opening Session: Thursday, October 5th, 2000 [.PDF]
• Framing the Questions – Justice Education and the Core Curriculum [.PDF]
• Model Justice Programs at Jesuit Institutions of Higher Learning [.PDF]
• Online Publication of Conference Proceedings – Justice In Catholic Higher Education [.PDF]

Follow-up Gathering 2002

at Loyola University Chicago

• Conference Report – Justice Conference Participants discuss ways to integrate justice into research and teaching in Jesuit higher education
• An Assessment Tool [.PDF]
  

Justice Conference 2005

at John Carroll University

• Proceedings found at Justice Web – Loyola College Maryland