The Seattle Pacific University Education Plan
Executive Summary

October 16, 1998

Seattle Pacific University's commitment to the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ informs both its history and its future. We believe that a Christian university should educate people who strive to fulfill God's vision for the world. Therefore, Seattle Pacific University seeks to equip students to engage their culture with conviction, courage, and competency rather than flee from it. This Education Plan builds on our loyalty to our mission and heritage, our desire to celebrate cultural diversity, and our dedication to excellence. We are committed to graduating people of competence and character, becoming people of wisdom, and modeling grace-filled community. Remaining faithful to these goals will make Seattle Pacific University a premier Christian university.

The following eight educational initiatives establish a framework for future planning and suggest some of the specific means for implementing this vision of education for engagement. In addition, we have designated eight interdisciplinary fields, closely tied to these initiatives, in which to appoint senior scholars to provide leadership both on our campus and in the larger community.

1. The Spiritual Formation Initiative: Uniting Knowledge and Vital Piety
   
   Remaining faithful to our Wesleyan heritage, we envision a creative new partnership between the Religion Department and Campus Ministries. Higher education in the Wesleyan tradition aspires to encourage "faithful learning," not only disciplinary rigor. A unified program of spiritual formation will go beyond serious academic study to include programs to facilitate personal Christian growth, and to nourish a serving and worshipping community. Specific plans include the appointment of a Dean of the Chapel, planning for a new Chapel Auditorium, and enhancing the Religion Department.
   
   
2. The SPU Undergraduate Distinctives Initiative: Common Curriculum and University Scholars
   
   While our society and world have become increasingly fragmented, SPU presents undergraduate students with a unified picture of life through its innovative Common Curriculum program. Carefully structured to situate students in an intimate learning community, to provide a deliberate transition into college life, to challenge students progressively to wrestle with spiritual and intellectual issues, and to create a common body of learning, the Common Curriculum uniquely equips students to engage culture. This new program, currently in its first year of implementation, needs continued support, and the University Scholars' honors program needs to be repositioned within the Common Curriculum.
   
   
3. The Graduate and Professional Studies Initiative: Leadership and Service
   
   While contemporary society struggles even to identify, much less live by, moral commitments, SPU provides students in graduate and professional programs with a intentional exposure to Christian ethical thinking in addition to excellent academic preparation. This initiative is designed to strengthen and coordinate the efforts of these programs by appointing a Dean of Graduate Studies, providing graduate and professional programs to a broader constituency, and devising strategies to better incorporate graduate students into the SPU community.
   
   
4. The Science and Arts Initiative: Creation and Creating
   
   The twenty-first century needs careful Christian thought about and production of science and art. As our society becomes increasingly aware of the connections between science and religion, SPU must become a leader in reflecting upon scientific methods and practices. Also, perhaps no other cultural area has provoked such controversy in recent years as those related to the arts and media. We must produce both graduates who appreciate the fruits of culture but also faithful practitioners of music, art, theater, poetry, film, and literature. This initiative aims to strengthen the Sciences and Arts on campus by constructing a new science building, adding science faculty, and planning building and program enhancement for the arts.
   
   
5. The Cross Cultural Initiative: Learning to be Neighbors
   
   As a new global, urban, multicultural world is emerging, people from increasingly diverse cultures and faiths must learn to work together to survive in peace. SPU is committed to developing programs to equip students to lead and serve in this increasingly diverse world. This initiative includes the formation of an Urban Studies Center; increased student opportunities for cross cultural service, study, and work experience in both the Greater Puget Sound and around the world; strategies to move toward more ethnic and cultural diversity in SPU's people and programs; and additions to the language faculty.
   
   
6. The Learning and Technology Initiative: Basic Building Blocks
   
   Education in today's world includes the competent and ethical use of computers and technology. We intend to provide faculty, staff, and students with the best support systems for education in the twenty-first century. This initiative establishes a new organizational structure for the educational use of technology; updates computer, technology, and library resources; and provides for a coordinated Learning Center and academic support services.
   
   
7. The Faculty and Staff Development Initiative: The Scholarship of Wisdom
   
   Seattle Pacific University is committed to developing voices of wisdom among the faculty who can speak effectively to our students, our culture, our community, and our churches. Faculty and staff development programs will be directed toward supporting people who can educate for engagement. The creation of a Center for the Scholarship of Wisdom, regular sabbatical funding, increased travel funds, and a new compensation and housing program will provide support for better teaching, scholarship, and service.
   
   
8. The Collaborative Learning Initiative: Working Together for Change
   
   Recognizing that higher education in the Wesleyan tradition seeks to promote dialogical learning, not just individual excellence, Seattle Pacific University will establish innovative ways to work collaboratively to achieve its educational goals. A new system of individualized faculty contracts and departmental plans will assist in creating a learning community rather than a system of isolated scholars and teachers. Also, a new committee, the Campus Partnership for Integrated Learning, will coordinate curricular and co-curricular programs around rotating yearly themes endorsed by the President from the Education Plan goals.