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Mission Priority Examen

In 2024-25, Loyola University New Orleans will participate in a Mission Priority Examen at the request of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus and with the support of the Jesuit Provincials in the United States and the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU).

The Examen invites the Loyola community to engage in institutional reflection on it mission and to commit to a set of priorities for faithfully and creatively promoting our Catholic, Jesuit Identity and values in the years to come.

More information on the Examen prayer and on the Mission Priority Examen at a national level. 

The Process

A Steering Committee chaired by the Vice-President for Mission & Identity and made up of faculty and staff representatives from across the university will be responsible for guiding Loyola through the Examen.

The Institutional Examen moves through several stages, outlined here:

  • Loyola commits to Examen during a given year. (2024-2025)
  • National Coordinating Committee sends Loyola documents describing the process, offers conference calls/meetings to answer questions. (August/ September 2024)
  • Loyola and Province Higher Ed Assistant select peer visitors.(October 2024)
  • Loyola reflects on its mission and develops mission priorities using through listening sessions and a survey distributed to students, faculty, and staff. (Fall 2024)
  • Loyola composes a self-study (Spring 2025)
  • The Self-Study is sent to the Peer Visit Committee (One month before Peer Visit in Fall 2025)
  • Peer Committee visits. (Fall 2025)
  • After the visit, the Peer Committee sends draft report back to give Loyola opportunity to correct factual errors, express objections, and amend priorities in light of draft Peer Report. (TBD)
  • Provincial sends his advice, with final Peer Visit Report, to Fr. General. Jesuit Conference President sends his advice to Fr. General.(TBD)
  • Fr. General sends a letter to Provincial, who communicates content to school, other local constituencies including bishop, AJCU President, and National Coordinating Committee.(TBD)
  • In light of Fr. General’s response, school works to implement its mission priorities.(TBD)

The Self-Study

The centerpiece of the process is the production of a self-study. Guided by the Jesuits' four Universal Apostolic Preferences, Loyola is asked to identify strengths and weaknesses with respect to mission effectiveness, to examine and evaluate our mission goals, and to establish two or three concrete priorities for mission enhancement during the coming 5-10 years.

In developing the self-study and formulating these mission priorities, the Steering Committee will seek input from individual colleges and offices as well as a variety of constituencies, including faculty, staff, students, trustees, the Loyola Jesuit community and the Archbishop.

Throughout the fall of 2024, three points inspired by the individual Ignatian Examen, a 500-year old prayer practice originated by St. Ignatius of Loyola, will guide each conversation:

Gifts

  • What are the gifts of Loyola, especially in terms of its mission?
  • What brings you joy about Loyola?

Challenges

  • What challenges do you perceive at Loyola, especially in terms of its mission?

Looking ahead

  • How can Loyola improve in living its mission, especially in terms of the Jesuits' four Universal Apostolic Preferences?
  • What 2-5 priorities ought I/we prioritize over the next several years?

The Peer Review

A Visiting Team of peer faculty/staff from other AJCU colleges and universities will visit New Orleans to interview members of the community and engage dialogue about the insights gleaned through the self-study and the mission priorities established by the university. The Visiting Team is responsible for compiling a report that assesses Loyola's priorities, offers suggestions for new or additional priorities, and affirms Loyola's commitment to its Jesuit identity and to the leadership of the Society of Jesus.

Timeline

Planning,

Preparing and Listening

Fall '24:
Steering Committee formed, process finalize campus-wide survey distributed.

Dialoguing

Dialoguing

Fall '24:
Listening sessions conducted with students, faculty, and staff

Spring '25:
The community's collective wisdom is captured into a comprehensive Mission Examen Report.

Welcoming

and Celebrating

Fall '25:
The campus community hosts a visiting team of AJCU colleagues to more deeply explore findings from Mission Examen Report.

Spring '26:
Final Report is submitted to Jesuit Provincial and Father General Sosa & implementation of mission enhancements begin.

Steering Committee

Co-chairs

John Cunningham, S.J.

John Cunningham, S.J.

Vice President for Mission and Identity

Tom Ryan

Tom Ryan

University Chaplain

Members of the Steering Committee

  • John D. Cunningham, SJ, PhD, Chair, Vice President for Mission & Identity      
  • Tom Ryan, Co-chair, University Chaplain, Professor of Theology and Ministry    
  • Sarah Allison, Hutchinson Distinguished Professor and Director of Composition, Chair of the University Senate    
  • Caleb Bernacchio, Legendre-Soulé Chair in Business Ethics, Faculty Director for the Center of Ethics and Economic Justice     
  • W. Penn Dawson, SJ, Rector of Loyola Jesuits, Visiting Assistant Professor of Law
  • Diamond Dixon, President of the Student Government Association 
  • Aaron Johnson, Associate Director of Housing Operations      
  • Sheryl Kennedy Haydel, Dean of the College of Music and Media     
  • Mary Musso, Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid
  • Annie Phoenix, Executive Director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute       
  • Elizabeth Rainey, Assistant Provost  

 

Peer Site Visit

The peer site visit will take place Fall 2026.

Peer Visitors

TBA

Learn more

About the AJCU Mission Priority Examen

Learn More