Presidential Seminars on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition

At Sacred Heart University, the Presidential Seminars on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition invite faculty and staff to explore how the University’s Catholic mission informs teaching, leadership, service and community life. Rooted in the spirit of dialogue, renewal and engagement inspired by the Second Vatican Council, these year-long formation programs foster deeper understanding of the Catholic intellectual tradition and its relevance in today’s world.

Presidential Seminar for Faculty

Designed for full-time faculty members, the Annual Presidential Seminar is an immersive academic and professional development experience focused on the Catholic intellectual tradition and its impact on scholarship, pedagogy and research. Participants engage in a week-long summer seminar followed by academic-year sessions that encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and reflection. Faculty complete a final project—such as a new course, publication or research initiative—that integrates the Catholic intellectual tradition into their professional work.

Presidential Seminar for Staff

The Presidential Seminar for Staff extends this mission-centered formation opportunity to full-time staff across the University. Through guided discussions, readings and collaborative reflection, participants examine how Catholic identity and Catholic social teaching shape leadership, decision-making and service within university life. The program culminates in a mission integration project that connects each participant’s professional role with Sacred Heart’s values and institutional mission.

Together, these seminars strengthen Sacred Heart University’s commitment to cultivating a campus culture grounded in intellectual inquiry, ethical leadership, service to others and the ongoing dialogue between faith and contemporary culture.