Recommendation from the Faith Task Force:
Charge the Men’s Leadership Team, Center for Vocational Reflection, and Chaplains’ Office to explore strategies to intentionally mentor Gustavus men in faith exploration and leadership.
Additional explanation:
This addresses the disproportionate involvement of men compared to women regarding campus initiatives on faith development. We offer the following as relevant ideas for Student Affairs and the Men’s Leadership Team to consider:
• Offer annual inter-generational retreat(s) for men’s development in areas of leadership, service, vocational reflection, and faith
• Establish mentorship training for faculty, staff, student, alumni, and/or clergy
• Develop a mentoring structure resulting from the annual retreat that provides yearlong mentorship opportunities
• Similar to the Womyn’s Awareness Center, provide a physical, dedicated safe space for men to engage in conversation and service relating to issues surrounding men today
• Expanding servant-leadership initiative could also be used to engage men
• Hire, within the Student Affairs division, a Gender Issues director to:
o provide structure, support, and resources for student-led initiatives
o advise both Men’s Leadership Team and Womyn’s Awareness Center
o cultivate methods to create a community of learners that includes faculty, staff, and students
• Graduating responsible young people who live with a sense of purpose and an increased interest in honoring God with their labors
• Enhanced collaborative work with outside institutions to promote increased learning opportunities for students, staff, alumni, and friends of the College.
• Increased alumni interest, connection, and engagement with Gustavus by giving back to an institution that supports life values.
This recommendation was placed in the Spiritual Growth and Development Strategic Framework Substantive Category using the language:
Create a strategic plan to develop church leaders by offering ongoing opportunities for exploring church vocations; exposing students to a variety of careers and leadership opportunities in the church; helping students explore how to connect their sense of purpose with leadership opportunities at Gustavus; nurturing and supporting students wrestling with a sense of call; and intentionally ensuring both men and women are involved.
This recommendation was placed is Tier 2 and is being monitored by the President.