Dear Student:
Welcome to Santa Clara. You are now a member of the Santa Clara
University community. Over the next four years—or fewer if you
are a transfer student—you will receive a superb Jesuit education.
Santa Clara is a Catholic and Jesuit university that makes students
and student learning its central focus. Our vision is for you to
become leaders and citizens of competence, conscience, and
compassion for a globalizing world: educational competence mean
academic excellence in learning. You gain knowledge and learn from
and wit teaching scholars who have in-depth knowledge in the arts
humanities, sciences, business, and engineering. Developing a
conscience means learning to act ethically and morally, and being a
person of compassion means having the desire to construct a more
humane, just, and sustainable world, with a special concern for the
most fragile and vulnerable in our communities.
Academic excellence is a passion for faculty and staff—Jesuits and
lay colleagues alike—which is enriched by ethical and moral and
spiritual excellence. As a Jesuit university, we emphasize in our
religious studies courses not indoctrination but better understanding
your faith within a plurality of faiths and cultures.
This is a very exciting time. We are building a learning commons
which includes the tech center and library. It’s a gathering place
with the latest technology, books, a café, and spaces to learn,
to exchange ideas, and to nourish life-long friendships. We are
also building a new business school which will open in
September 2008.
In coming to Santa Clara, you are publicly saying you want to
excel in learning and also in using your knowledge and skills for
well-being of all, the fortunate and unfortunate of our community
alike. We encourage you to study wisely and also get involved in
the arts, sports, student government, campus ministry, residential
life,and community service. Practice now how you will live
throughout your lives: to make this community and the world a more
humane, peace-filled, and just place for all.
This handbook is analogous to a guide for living in community.
Please read it thoughtfully. As you carry out its spirit in your
actions, you will understand the meaning of our Santa Clara
community.
Even more, you will become a vibrant and vital part of it.
Again, welcome.
Sincerely,
Paul Locatelli, S.J.
President
