Informal networking among Franciscan Colleges and Universities goes back as far as 1995 around meetings of the Franciscan Federation and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. The AFCU was formally launched on February 4, 1997 at a meeting of Franciscan college presidents held at Washington Theological Union. Ten of the current 21 members were present at this organizational meeting.
In 1998 bylaws were drafted and an executive director hired. Initial activities following formal organization were the development of a mission statement and a logo, incorporation, establishment of nonprofit/tax exempt status and listing in the Official Catholic Directory. Early efforts included advertising in national journals and at national conferences in order to build name recognition. In the intervening years the organization developed a website, launched a journal, inaugurated a series of symposia, developed a student Assisi Pilgrimage program, began an on-line program in Franciscan studies and increased membership.
The purpose of the association as listed in the by-laws is to:
Activities of the association currently include an annual meeting for presidents held in Washington, DC just prior to the annual meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. This wrap around meeting allows the presidents to attend the AFCU annual meeting by making only one trip to DC if they are also attending the ACCU meeting. The Board, with the support of the executive director, guides the activities of the organization between annual meetings.
The cornerstone activity of the association is the biennial symposium on Catholic Franciscan higher education, held in even numbered years at one of our member campuses. The symposium supports dialogue about Franciscan identity within and among the member schools. Through this dialogue administrators, faculty and staff are educated about and enabled to articulate the Franciscan intellectual tradition and heritage. The long-range goal is for the symposium is to enable institutions to integrate the Franciscan tradition and heritage into the modern education paradigm. The symposium involves a two to three day program of guest speakers from and beyond our campuses in addition to presenters from our campuses.
In 1998 bylaws were drafted and an executive director hired. Initial activities following formal organization were the development of a mission statement and a logo, incorporation, establishment of nonprofit/tax exempt status and listing in the Official Catholic Directory. Early efforts included advertising in national journals and at national conferences in order to build name recognition. In the intervening years the organization developed a website, launched a journal, inaugurated a series of symposia, developed a student Assisi Pilgrimage program, began an on-line program in Franciscan studies and increased membership.
The purpose of the association as listed in the by-laws is to:
- Support the member institutions in the mission of Catholic higher education as characterized by the Franciscan values of love/respect for one another and for all of creation, recognition that God is the Father of all persons, commitment to the search for truth, and for service with those in need;
- Provide a forum for dialogue about matters of importance to the members;
- Foster and facilitate appropriate and practical educational collaboration among the members.
Activities of the association currently include an annual meeting for presidents held in Washington, DC just prior to the annual meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. This wrap around meeting allows the presidents to attend the AFCU annual meeting by making only one trip to DC if they are also attending the ACCU meeting. The Board, with the support of the executive director, guides the activities of the organization between annual meetings.
The cornerstone activity of the association is the biennial symposium on Catholic Franciscan higher education, held in even numbered years at one of our member campuses. The symposium supports dialogue about Franciscan identity within and among the member schools. Through this dialogue administrators, faculty and staff are educated about and enabled to articulate the Franciscan intellectual tradition and heritage. The long-range goal is for the symposium is to enable institutions to integrate the Franciscan tradition and heritage into the modern education paradigm. The symposium involves a two to three day program of guest speakers from and beyond our campuses in addition to presenters from our campuses. 