Scholarly Learning Communities Initiative

Marian University is a vibrant community of learners from varied backgrounds, disciplines, and viewpoints grounded in the liberal arts and Catholic and Franciscan intellectual traditions. To capitalize on our rich history of innovation, Marian University has created scholarly learning communities that will foster participation by students, faculty, and staff from across the institution and promote the integration of learning across disciplines so that learners – students, faculty, and staff – explore “big” questions that address major problems in society. This innovative approach will reduce barriers between fields, academic programs, and colleges or schools so that insights may be shared from each learner’s unique perspective.

The vision statement of the Scholarly Learning Communities initiative is:

“The Marian University scholarly learning communities advance multidisciplinary approaches to complex challenges by stimulating experiential learning, practicing transformational leadership, and engaging with the community.”

Said differently:

“Want to change the world? So do we. Join a scholarly learning community.”

Our first scholarly learning communities launch in the academic year 2022-2023:

• Human Flourishing
• Innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Health Professions (STEHM) Education
• Aging and Society

These broad topics build upon existing areas of strength and distinctiveness – e.g. more than 70% of the current sponsored research programs align with one or more of these areas – while also inviting increased participation by a large number of multidisciplinary scholars from across the Marian community. Moreover, each theme allows for the incorporation of applied ethics and transformative leadership practices while advancing the Catholic and Franciscan mission and liberal arts identity of the University.

Scholarly Learning Communities Initiative Leadership