Introducing iLIVE

Article By Christopher Cameron, Director of of the Office of
Co-Curricular Programs

Student Affairs is launching the Ignatius Loyola Institute for Values Education (iLive) in Fall 2009. An exciting new program, iLive seeks to inspire and guide students to lead ethical and productive lives by providing every undergraduate with a strategic co-curricular experience over his or her college career.

The Institute does not seek to impose any ideology nor any particular approach to character development, rather it is informed by the Jesuit values and process of discernment that leads a student to define a congruent moral/ethical code. As such, iLive serves as an umbrella for existing programs and also serves as a springboard for best practices in preparing students for civic-minded lives of purpose.

Events such as workshops, speakers, films, group discussions, and leadership development seminars challenge students to identify a governing set of values and utilize their strengths to attain success. The Institute will encompass first-year, sophomore, and capstone experiences; learning communities; wellness initiatives (substance abuse prevention & decision-making); student leadership; honor code; civic engagement (service learning & community service); and spirituality.

For example, through learning communities we would engage, ground, and provide social connectedness to students with a focus on discovering their values. In the sophomore year experience the iLive team would focus the student on answering vocational questions such as, “Who am I and where am I going?” The capstone experience then provides students the opportunity to answer questions like, “What does the good life mean, and to what end does my education help?” These opportunities may take the form of a professional experience such as internship, service based project, or student leadership role.

Students and parents want to learn more about what colleges and universities are doing to encourage values such as honesty, service, respect, and personal responsibility. The long-standing philosophical approach by Student Affairs supports the development of the whole person. As such, we know that iLive will promote and reinforce positive values that strengthen individuals and our society at large.