Professors successfully incorporating “Jesuit” in online classes Ignatius is not sitting in the back of the class, watching the students debate the value of servant leadership. But professors and other course designers at Gonzaga seem to be successfully incorporating Jesuit ethos into online classes, nonetheless. Mike Carey, the first dean of Gonzaga’s Virtual Campus, and Anastasia Wendlinder, associate professor and co-director of graduate programs in Religious Studies, would offer that Gonzaga’s online programs are closely based upon Ignatian pedagogy’s five dimensions of mind: context, experience, reflection, action and assessment. “Ignatian pedagogy provides the grounding for the entire program and intentionally permeates all the courses,” Wenlinder says. Students concur.
GONZAGA FACULTY AND STAFF NEWSLETTER
Mike Carey prepares to record his class introduction at the Virtual Campus production studio. He has been instrumental in encouraging incorporation of the Jesuit ethos throughout GU’s online class offerings. “I believe we are all capable and gifted, and we are all called to this mission. There is nothing more Jesuit.”
Library and much of the Gonzaga campus did not. Our class continued amidst the howling winds just outside.
Justin Marquis is director of instructional design “Some instructors did this through subject matter, for Virtual Campus. “My job is to take where the “As we left campus that night in an attempt to find some through online discussion, some through instructor is and figure out how he or she can something to eat, we could not help but observe that example, some through their constant challenge to best adapt their class with new technology and the power was out just across the street to the north, students to reimagine their way of thinking and seeing pedagogies to accomplish their objectives; and how east and south of the campus. Although difficult to things from a new, Jesuit-infused perspective,” says we can best design the course online to meet the prove, I am convinced that the on-campus presence Joe Moore, who earned an undergraduate degree in learning expectations and incorporate Jesuit ideals.” of the Jesuits, as instruments of the will of God, Criminology from Fresno State. protected the campus on that stormy night.” “While on campus in November “I saw the Jesuit ethos in my studies of servant 2015, Spokane experienced one of leadership,” says Julie Pastor, who holds bachelor and the worst wind storms in the history doctorate degrees in Veterinary Medicine from Texas of the community,” recollects A & M. “It’s what the Jesuits stand for. Unity of heart, Marc Anderson (M.A. ’16), who mind and soul is key: In order to lead and serve others, did most of his studies online. “Our I must first understand myself and work on my own Father Kevin Waters, S.J., says class sessions were held at Foley he is retiring, sort of. He’s actually development.” Center, under the dome in the Rare moving to Santa Clara where he Books Reading Room with big glass One of her best memories was on a campus visit, hopes to continue counseling and windows all around. While the seeing the Ignatius quote on the Hemmingson Center: offering spiritual direction. majority of the Spokane community “Go forth and set the world on fire.” But he won’t be staying in an lost power that evening, the Foley undergraduate residence hall anymore, like he has done as chaplain in DeSmet for the past 33 years. “Lived there that whole time, and I did it without ear plugs,” Fr. Waters quips. “My dorm experiences are enough to last me the rest of my life.”
Waters ready for new challenges
Hemm Den a big hit with students Hemmingson Center unveiled the Hemm Den in April, providing a comfortably outfitted basement-level lounge for students to enjoy before finals. Former Vice President for Student Life Sue Weitz envisioned a new student center even before Crosby Center was created in 1993. GSBA President Caleb Dawson provided the vision and the push to get the student
spirit
lounge completed in previously unoccupied space. President Thayne McCulloh also lauded John Hemmingson for continuing his support of the center and this new space, along with several other contributors. The building project began Feb. 15, and opened April 19, across from the entrance to the Hemmingson Auditorium.
The gregarious priest has spent nearly 60 years in the classroom. At GU, he taught composition, orchestration, music theory, opera, and upper-division philosophy. He was recruited to Gonzaga in 1983 to serve as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, which he did for 17 years, but he never stopped teaching. And serving. He’s had stints on the Boards of Trustees at both Seattle U and Gonzaga, and served as presiding officer of the Boards of Members at both institutions. He also served as chair of the fine arts department at SU. But he hasn’t been confined by state borders. He taught in Dublin, Ireland, and throughout the U.S., including summer stints at Creighton, Fordham, Santa Clara and San Francisco. He also served residencies in Guadalajara and Rome. He counts his success in the success his students have enjoyed, particularly his music composition students, many of whom have gone onto graduate schools, some receiving doctorates. He has performed many weddings and baptisms for his former students. He finds glory in their imagination. “Imagination proves to be the foundation for all genuine problem solving, whether for world culture or for world dilemmas,” Fr. Waters says.
Students stream into the Hemm Den on opening day, April 19.
It continues to drive him.
VIEW ONLINE AT: www.gonzaga.edu/spirit
• Faculty honored, 2 • Tailoring the website, 3 • Mize always with a smile, 3 • Finding ‘Jesuit’ online, 4 MAY 2017 | VOL 18 | #8
MAKING THE MOST OF THE FINAL FOUR
Some people may feel like the Men’s Basketball team’s Final Four appearance received all the coverage it should. They’re thinking, “Move on already.” We get it. But viewed from an external lens, what the University experienced this April is like nothing in its 129-year history. Plain and simple, the positive attention afforded Gonzaga through its participation in the NCAA tournament and championship game has made Gonzaga an international and highly recognizable name, even to those who still can’t properly pronounce it.
Total inquiries from prospective students for fall 2018 rose 10,000 over the same time last year, to 55,000.
Through unprecedented local, national and international coverage, our student-athletes were articulate, kind, humble and excellent representa- time, up 275 percent over a similar period last year, says tives of their university. Gonzaga’s website was Todd Zeidler, assistant athletic director. Video, print visited in record numbers, and because GU’s web and online feature stories appeared in the country’s and marketing teams made sure that visitors were directed to some of the University’s outstanding Among several million Tweets about the Zags was academic and service enterprises, the world gained a much broader view of this outstanding University this one from WCC rival St. Mary’s College: in the upper left corner of the country. “Can’t believe we’re saying this but . . . good luck to @ZagMBB today. We’ve got your back.” Peter Tormey, who directs the Gonzaga News Service, worked with a third-party media tracking company to determine the advertising value major media outlets, including ESPN, USA Today, Wall equivalency of Gonzaga mentions during the Street Journal, CBS Sports, Sporting News, Sports NCAA Tournament. The $406.5 million reported Illustrated and NBC Sports. represents the total value of online and broadcast media mentions, but doesn’t include the value of “Thanks to good planning in anticipation of a Final the online publications also represented in print – Four appearance, we saw a big jump in the volume including the front-page coverage in the New York of gifts and pledges during the Final Four weekend, Times. including a number of six- and seven-digit gifts that were accelerated or advanced in conversations with On Facebook, Gonzaga’s content reached nearly benefactors that week,” says Brian Ruark, assistant 5.8 million users who generated 301,000 likes, vice president for development. comments and shares, says Kristie Infantine, social media specialist in the Marketing and Back on the Homefront Communications office. Jeff Bunch, web Meanwhile, back at home, nearly every electronic content manager, reports 342,000 people viewed gonzaga.edu and unfold.gonzaga.edu on National reader board in town displayed Go Zags messages, and newspapers and evening newscasts sometimes felt Championship day alone (2 million visited during like a Gonzaga rally, recalls Mary Joan Hahn, director March). Visitors to the Athletic Department web of public and community relations. “Support for our page numbered 2.5 million during tournament
team poured in from throughout the region,” she said. Karen Franks-Harding, recruitment specialist for Career and Professional Development, reported an astonishing increase in interest in GU graduates over the same “tournament” time last year. From March 15 to April 4, 2016, 133 employers posted 690 jobs with the Career Center. By comparison, from March 14-April 3 this spring, 1,089 employers posted 2,170 jobs. “I’m hoping this (Final Four phenomenon) has a long-term impact on the employers who want to recruit on campus, and these numbers give me hope that this will happen,” says Ray Angle, assistant vice president for CCPD. Zag alumni across the globe also were inspired to step up. Drew Rieder, director of GU’s Regional Chapter Program, says alumni leaders in 10 locales from Texas to Iowa, Oregon to Vermont, and even in South Carolina (home of the Zags’ semifinal victim Gamecocks), were asking to start new alumni chapters. “They really want to build strong Gonzaga communities and bring people together,” Rieder says. Alumni’s semifinal pre-game social at the Gila Arena in Phoenix drew a record 2,200 alumni, fans and family members. see Final Four p. 2
MAY 2017