The founders of SJC had their vision for the College and what they wanted it to offer to students who attended it. What do you think would most impress the founders about SJC today?
Jack Calareso: While much has changed due to the culture and times, I think the founders would say in one voice that this is the College they founded, these are the students they wanted to serve, these are the values they espoused and this is the educational quality they expected.
Carrie Bhada: Our alumni are our greatest success, and the founders would be proud of how the College grew and maintained the commitment to excellence, while honoring the traditions on which it was built.
Christopher Frost: The breadth of its academic offerings, which exist while adhering to the depth of learning as originally envisioned.
Gigi Lamens: SJC holds true to its mission of fostering respect and civility, a passion for a life of learning and discovery, personal integrity and compassion and an ethic for work and service. I believe the founders would be impressed that SJC has so significantly grown while holding true to our mission.
Jessica McAleer Decatur: I think the founders of SJC would be most impressed by the fact that, after nearly 100 years, this institution has stayed true to its mission and continues to embrace the unique culture of two diverse campus populations while celebrating the College’s rich history. SJC is a co-educational liberal arts institution rooted in the Catholic tradition. I think that the founders would be pleased with the way in which we honor this tradition and the Sisters of St. Joseph, who dedicated (many of which still continue to do) their life to serving this fine institution.
Michelle Papajohn: I think the founders of SJC would be impressed with how much the school has grown over the past 100 years, while we continue to instill the same tradition and values.
J. Rehmann: We continue to be an inviting and accessible community for underserved students. We began as an institution that served primarily immigrant Catholic women, and we continue to reach out to those who are new to this country through our ACES program. In addition to students from other countries, we have many first-generation students who might get lost in the crowd at a larger, less hands-on institution. I believe our founders would be gratified to know that this aspect of their mission is alive and well.
J. Roth: The look and the feel of the facilities, as well as the technology.
Sherrie Van Arnam: I think that the founders would be gratified by the caliber of SJC’s programs and services, and by our steadfast commitment to enrolling future generations of students who will receive an excellent education rooted in the same values on which the College was established.
