Faith-Based Institutions, Institutional Mission, and the Public Good

Rooted in historical foundations and demonstrated by continued government financial support, one purpose of higher education is to contribute to the “public good,” or support and further social causes and human flourishing.  This notion has received renewed attention in both the literature as well a...

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Main Authors: Jessica Rose Daniels, Jacqueline N Gustafson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Laureate Education Inc 2016-06-01
Series:Higher Learning Research Communications
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hlrcjournal.com/index.php/HLRC/article/view/300
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author Jessica Rose Daniels
Jacqueline N Gustafson
author_facet Jessica Rose Daniels
Jacqueline N Gustafson
author_sort Jessica Rose Daniels
collection DOAJ
description Rooted in historical foundations and demonstrated by continued government financial support, one purpose of higher education is to contribute to the “public good,” or support and further social causes and human flourishing.  This notion has received renewed attention in both the literature as well as in professional practice.  Given the variety of institutional structures (e.g., public, private, religiously affiliated, nonprofit, and proprietary), the influence of institutional mission varies.  Yet, aside from institutional leadership, an institution’s mission is potentially most significant in influencing public good.   Faith-based higher education institutions often have missions that are inextricably interconnected with service and community engagement.  With these missions, faith-based colleges and universities are distinctively positioned to address social issues, engage in service to the local and global community, and to involve students, faculty, and administrators in this shared purpose. These institutions are uniquely accountable and have the greatest potential in this outcome precisely because of their faith commitment that both informs and motivates their policy and practice. In this essay, the role of faith-based institutions of higher education in promoting public good is explored.  In addition, an analysis of both opportunities to enhance public good, as well as obstacles and challenges faced are provided.
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spelling doaj.art-b59013a7e11546488a72f59dad37a7592022-12-22T03:41:09ZengLaureate Education IncHigher Learning Research Communications2157-62542016-06-016210.18870/hlrc.v6i2.300300Faith-Based Institutions, Institutional Mission, and the Public GoodJessica Rose Daniels0Jacqueline N Gustafson1Bethel UniversityCalifornia Baptist UniversityRooted in historical foundations and demonstrated by continued government financial support, one purpose of higher education is to contribute to the “public good,” or support and further social causes and human flourishing.  This notion has received renewed attention in both the literature as well as in professional practice.  Given the variety of institutional structures (e.g., public, private, religiously affiliated, nonprofit, and proprietary), the influence of institutional mission varies.  Yet, aside from institutional leadership, an institution’s mission is potentially most significant in influencing public good.   Faith-based higher education institutions often have missions that are inextricably interconnected with service and community engagement.  With these missions, faith-based colleges and universities are distinctively positioned to address social issues, engage in service to the local and global community, and to involve students, faculty, and administrators in this shared purpose. These institutions are uniquely accountable and have the greatest potential in this outcome precisely because of their faith commitment that both informs and motivates their policy and practice. In this essay, the role of faith-based institutions of higher education in promoting public good is explored.  In addition, an analysis of both opportunities to enhance public good, as well as obstacles and challenges faced are provided.http://hlrcjournal.com/index.php/HLRC/article/view/300Faith-based higher educationhigher educationmissionmission statementglobal goodcommon good
spellingShingle Jessica Rose Daniels
Jacqueline N Gustafson
Faith-Based Institutions, Institutional Mission, and the Public Good
Higher Learning Research Communications
Faith-based higher education
higher education
mission
mission statement
global good
common good
title Faith-Based Institutions, Institutional Mission, and the Public Good
title_full Faith-Based Institutions, Institutional Mission, and the Public Good
title_fullStr Faith-Based Institutions, Institutional Mission, and the Public Good
title_full_unstemmed Faith-Based Institutions, Institutional Mission, and the Public Good
title_short Faith-Based Institutions, Institutional Mission, and the Public Good
title_sort faith based institutions institutional mission and the public good
topic Faith-based higher education
higher education
mission
mission statement
global good
common good
url http://hlrcjournal.com/index.php/HLRC/article/view/300
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