It’s About Transformation

Five professors tackle a nebulous subject at the core of the St. Mary’s Catholic and Marianist tradition

by Gina Farrell (M.P.A. ’11)

The new St. Mary’s University Core Curriculum, implemented in fall 2011, brought about fundamental changes in the way that academics, professional preparation, and Catholic and Marianist values were intertwined. One of the most striking changes was the addition of a class known as Foundations in Civic Engagement and Social Action.

This semester, five instructors are teaching this course, putting their unique twists on a vital and yet somewhat nebulous subject.

“The idea of ‘What is civic engagement and social action?’ is really an open question,” said Megan Mustain, Ph.D., director of the Core Curriculum and an Associate Professor of Philosophy. “This is really a conversation about, ‘What are the different forms of civic engagement, and what is our obligation as citizens and members of a community?’ ”

The intent of adding this class to the Core was to take what St. Mary’s has always done well — engage students in working for the common good — and make that a more formal part of the University.

“Having this course in our Core highlights and further institutionalizes our commitment that, as a Catholic and Marianist university, education is really about transformation.”

Brother Brian Halderman, S.M.

Adjunct instructor

The Catholic and Marianist tradition calls for us to be engaged citizens, and Halderman guides his students to engage in their communities, developing awareness of social issues such as education and poverty. While volunteering is an important part of any community, he wants students to develop a deeper understanding of their impact. “Volunteering is a one-time shot, such as spending an afternoon at the soup kitchen serving the homeless. If one is consistent in returning to the site on a regular basis, it becomes a form of civic engagement by helping solve a local issue with your time and talent.”

Tom Hoffman, Ph.D.

Professor of Political Science

True to his political science roots, Hoffman delves into the structures, environments and factors that influence social engagement, including moral and ethical perspectives. He investigates the framework that a Catholic and Marianist education provides and how that influences interpretations of civic engagement and social action. His students identify and articulate a social problem and investigate how the solution might be an opportunity for civic engagement. “Having done this, the students approach a decision-maker to try to get resolution to the problem. Succeed or fail, they then analyze their process and see if they would have done anything differently.”

Sonia Garcia, Ph.D.

Professor of Political Science

Garcia’s students are focusing on the challenges facing public education with emphasis on Latino students, their experiences, and how court decisions shaped education policy. They examine the relationship between civic engagement and education, imparting Garcia’s expertise in court cases, Latino civil rights and Texas politics. As a class, they volunteered with Each One, Teach One, tutoring young adults for the GED. “Students come away from this experience with a real understanding that their service, even if it is just a few hours, has such a huge impact on the lives of these adult students.”

Jordan Humphrey, Ph.D.

Associate Director for Civic Engagement, Civic Engagement and Career Development Center

Humphrey dedicates the final third of the semester to the history of social movements, including the African-American Civil Rights Movement, the Farm Workers Movement, the Free Speech Movement, and the San Antonio Pecan Shellers’ Strike. “Examination of these movements allows my students a better understanding of what made each effort successful — for example, servant leadership — and also to see the important role students have had in advancing important social causes. Many tell me at the end of each semester that they never knew college students were (and could be) so influential. Success!”

Bonita Dattner-Garza, Ph.D.

Visiting Lecturer of English and Communications Studies

Dattner-Garza wants her students to know that civic engagement is more complex than it might seem; it is at the very heart of pluralism, liberty and democracy. She has them explore the idea of “civic virtue” and how faith obligates participation in civic life. “We read and write about important contemporary issues in which liberty is violated or at risk and explore the significance of civic engagement for influencing changes or improvements to democratic citizenship.”