What do you think SJC does best? In what area(s) can it improve?
Carrie Bhada: Educate! The College delivers a first-rate education. We can — and are working to — communicate and connect more with our donors and friends.
Christopher Frost: At its best, it provides the same kind of educational experience that “Honors Colleges” do, but it does so for all of its students. It can improve by re-envisioning the academic programs that it provides, and extending into those areas that align with our mission.
Shantey Hill: St. Joseph’s is really good at putting the student first! We have great faculty, staff and administrative personnel who all want what’s best for our students and will stop at nothing to create programs and initiatives to do so. An area of improvement would be to ensure that these efforts work together simultaneously and not in silos, to ensure we are utilizing our resources wisely and creating sustainability.
Rose Mary Howell: SJC’s one-on-one support for students is exemplary. This is demonstrated in the classroom through faculty/student support and through support and mentoring provided by Student Life and Athletic Program staff.
Gigi Lamens: Students have always been our top priority. What SJC does best is maintain an emphasis on high-impact, cross-disciplinary learning that empowers our students to take active roles in their education and encourages them to view opportunities and challenges from different perspectives. Moreover, the learning that occurs outside the classroom through engaging campus life activities is an essential component of their development as well as their preparation for career and for life. SJC is a community in every sense of the word. I have worked at other institutions and none has the sense of fellowship among students, faculty, staff and alumni that exists at SJC.
Jessica McAleer Decatur: Members of the community work toward a common goal—the greater good of the student experience. SJC provides a high-quality value education to its more than 5,000 students and has prepared more than 33,000 alumni for a life characterized by its five pillars: integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility and service. How can we improve? Just continue to find better ways to further develop this common goal. It is at the heart of who we are and, I think, what makes us most unique.
Michelle Papajohn: SJC is a community. Our faculty, staff and students are part of something bigger than themselves. The experiences and opportunities they have and the relationships that they develop stay with them forever. In order to improve we need to let go of some of our past and move forward into the future. This can be done while holding true to our traditions and history, but adapting to the changing world that we live in. We need to continue to expand our offerings of new and innovative programs and delivery methods — such as Hospitality and Tourism Management, Nursing and SJC Online — in order to remain competitive today.
J. Rehmann: We support students where they’re at and get them to where they want to go.
J. Roth: I think the teaching environment with small class sizes [is what SJC does best].
