on c ampus
COURSE Spotlight
Urban America: Catholic Social Teaching (RELS 205) Learning about the role that religion plays in modern society may seem like a monotonous task for college students. Consequently, Manhattan decided to make the subject more interesting by sending students out into the community, so they can learn about Catholic Social Teaching while living it. Course Description: Urban America: Catholic Social Teaching is an interdisciplinary course that focuses on understanding religion as an element of human experience in relation to contemporary issues, such as peace, social justice and urban problems. Students study the body of work known as the Catholic Social Teaching and then apply those principles to urban issues that they experience by participating in student-volunteer work at Bronx-based community organizations. The course is centered on service learning, which is an experiential form of education that helps students make the connections between what they experience and what they read in the classroom. Students work with organizations such as: Ethical Culture Society, Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, Bronx Works and POTS (Part of the Solution) Soup Kitchen. Texts: Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America by Paul Tough Working Poor: Invisible in America by David K. Shipler Introducing Catholic Social Thought by Joseph Milburn Thompson
Lectures: Thursdays, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Professor: Lois Harr, director of campus ministry and social action and adjunct instructor of religious studies
About the Professor: A lifelong Bronx resident, Lois Harr has worked at Manhattan College for 14 years and currently serves as the director of the office of campus ministry and social action. She is the adviser for the on-campus clubs JustPeace and Lasallian Collegians. As for her work in outreach, Harr has participated in many Lasallian Social Justice Institute (LSJI) programs, co-developing and facilitating one program on homelessness in San Francisco. She is also a member of the newly established LSJI advisory committee for the region, as well as of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities peace and justice advisory committee. Harr received her B.A. in political science from Fordham University and her M.A. in religious studies from St. Joseph’s Seminary. She earned her professional diploma in religious education from Fordham University.
6 N fall 2011
Making the Honor Roll the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) honored Manhattan College as a leader among institutions of higher education for its support of volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. The College was admitted to the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in May for engaging its students, faculty and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community. The CNCS, which has administered the Honor Roll since 2006, admitted a total of 641 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth. Of that total, 511 were named to the Honor Roll. Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors, including the scope and innovation of service projects, the extent to which service-learning is embedded in the curriculum, the school’s commitment to longterm campus-community partnerships, and measurable community outcomes as a result of the service.