St Edwards University - Tower Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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ee grams specifically geared to presenting this challenge to the undergraduates. We have also deversified and sought out new markets for our services. For 85 years, we have been sitting on the edge of Austin educating young men and of late young women who have come mostly from outside the City of Austin. Then, somehow, we discovered we were in Austin. In the past several years, the Center for Con- tinuing Education has sponsored programs that have served nearly 2,000 Austinites. These ventures have not gone un- noticed—the public relations have improved our image in the community. A university has three functions—teaching, research, and g, community service. Teaching has always been strong here; research outside of the sciences has been limited, and for a long time there was no real community service. ... Many of us continue to think of the institutional mission as one to under- graduates solely, and yet nearly one-third of our enrollment is comprised of adults. An- “There are some among us who feel that although we have adopted the letter of our academic design, we have not entirely accepted tts spirit. There are others who have shut their eyes and are gritting their teeth with the hope that, as with all other bad things, this too will pass away. I believe it is time for us to begin grappling with the design.’ other aspect of this Critical Missions orienta- tion is the fact that many of these programs tend towards the interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach, making their existence even more tenuous because they require the good will of several departments. Allow me to say that our ability to over- come what for other institutions is an insurmountable barrier in this regard has been miraculous. , Typically in academic circles we have tended to be conservative. We cringe at talk about diversifying our markets and the pub- lic relations impact of our programs... we have been brought up to distinguish sharply between town and gown. We fear that seeking out opportunities for significant public service is perhaps merely opportun- istic. . .. Before one can accurately and effectively ‘articulate the thrust of St. Edward’s University today, he must be enthusiastic “about it or at least understand it. There are some among us—both faculty and students—who feel that although we have adopted the letter of our academic de- sign, we have not entirely accepted its spirit. There are others who have shut their eyes and are gritting their teeth with the hope that as with all the other bad things, this too will pass away. | am reminded of Brother Fabius’ priceless remark, ““There’s not a bad man among us, just a lot of tired blood.” | believe it is time for us to begin grappling with the design... it has enjoyed the pro- tection of the Academic Dean’s office long enough. ... We have a program, we have ideas, we are doing something and we must tell our various publics in clear and articulate terms what we are about. We do not have to begin all over again from scratch. We must begin to look to the future, we must begin to plan for the future because, by God, the future is ours. 27

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(he (ower EDUCATION 1972, The Register and Tribune Syndicate “You should do better than this in art. | had your brother and he was VERY good!” The Family Circus by Bil Keane Reprinted courtesy The Register and Tribune Syndicate 29