University Minister For Social Justice

Description

The Department of Student Life and Ministry (SLM) is committed to providing learning opportunities which fortify our Jesuit identity and students' educational experiences. SLM empowers and partners with students to create a vibrant and pluralistic campus community through: leadership opportunities that foster integrity and collaboration; reflective practice that deepens self-knowledge and faith formation; and high-quality programs that spark curiosity, community-building, and inspire contemplative action. Student Life and Ministry fortifies the mission of Loyola by educating the whole student, encouraging meaningful and accountable citizenship, and promoting interaction within a diverse and global society. Student Life and Ministry utilizes a learning-centered development model, which fosters academic excellence and student success; teaches responsible citizenship and critical thinking skills, nurtures interpersonal and spiritual development; and encourages healthy behaviors and self-management.

The University Minister for Social Justice is responsible for contributing to the overall goals of the Department of Student Life and Ministry by providing direction to integrated student learning and spiritual development, learning outcomes based on assessment, and student success strategies. While creating a mission-driven, co-curricular experience, the University Minister is committed to fostering a collegiate environment that supports the Jesuit mission, fosters the development of a transformative learning community, and recognizes, affirms and celebrates the educational value of diversity. A successful staff member is dedicated to applying best practices in pedagogy, advocacy, and ministry, fostering students' ability to integrate academic knowledge with experiences outside of the classroom, thinking critically and innovatively about student success interventions, effectively communicating with students, peers, and supervisors, and collaborating with campus and community partners. The primary responsibilities of this position include coordinating social justice advocacy and education, management of the university food pantry and facilitation of the Ignacio Volunteer immersion programs.

Examples of Duties

• Implements social justice education and leadership development programming, specifically through the advisement of student groups. This includes the advocacy of issues relating to equity, inclusion, privilege and justice.

• Oversee planning of awareness campaigns.

• Schedule periodic awareness raising activities such as social justice speakers, films, and table display panels.

• Assist students in planning and implementing the annual student led Evolve Retreat, focusing on understanding intersecting identities and being agents of social change.

• Coordinate with relevant offices, the planning and execution of various days of service (e.g. Wolves on the Prowl and MLK Day Celebration).

• Coordinate service and/or justice related trips such as the Ignatian Solidarity Network Teach-In, IgnatianQ, and other national or regional social justice Jesuit conferences.

• Serve as the departmental liaison to advocacy-focused student organizations. Convene student groups focused on justice issues for discernment, education and action in light of the Catholic Jesuit mission of the university.

• Provide opportunities and develop a reflection component to all initiatives that assists students in examining and responding to current issues which impact human dignity and the sanctity of life by using Catholic Social Teaching and principles, history of Catholic activism for social justice and peace, Gospel understanding of "preferential option for the poor," foundations for interfaith collaboration for the common good, and Jesuit ideals in higher education, such as "Faith That Does Justice".

• Serve as an advisor to the Loyola University Community Action Program (LUCAP), specifically assisting LUCAP student leaders through social justice education and leadership development to facilitate the active involvement of students in service and faith-in-action reflection.

• Serve as a partnership manager for all LUCAP partner agencies including recruiting, approving, and retaining new partner agencies; collaborating with Loyola Office of General Counsel and Office of Risk Management to draft and execute memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with all LUCAP partner agencies.

• Recruit, select, train and advise LUCAP student leaders and volunteers/members engaged in community service, social analysis and reflection.

• Oversee collection, maintenance and evaluation of all performance data for LUCAP and generate reports on progress annually.

• Connect students with community service and advocacy entities to foster "faith that does justice."

• Facilitates the Ignacio Volunteer immersion programs.

• Recruit, select and train volunteers and staff. This also includes the preparatory period before the trip and the post-trip reflective activities.

• Oversee risk-management procedures.

• Coordinate with partner sites.

• Responsible for the volunteer fundraising as well as financial accounting of all funds raised and spent for all community engagement and Ignacio Volunteer programs, events and trips.

• Management of Iggy's Cupboard, the university's food pantry.

• Primary staff person responsible for operation of the pantry.

• Complete weekly food orders.

• Interview, hire and supervise undergraduate student staff and volunteers as well as IVC Volunteers.

• Train student staff on safe food handling protocols for receiving donations, stocking shelves, and tracking usage.

• Maintain operations handbook to ensure continuity of operations.

• Plan and coordinate on and off-campus donation initiatives including collecting items from donation bins.

• Develop marketing and educational materials for the food pantry including maintaining the food pantry website.

• Compile and analyze assessment data on food pantry usage and produce a report at the end of each semester.

• Develop relationships with local food pantries to ensure best practices are being implemented.

• Oversees the processing of the Claver grant. Conducting outreach to potential recipients, reviewing applications, meeting with recipients, and verifying that university financial guidelines are being followed.

• Responsible for the long-term strategic planning, goals, learning outcomes and key performance indicators.

• Develop, conduct, and analyze assessments related to functional areas and monitor national trends.

III. Additional Responsibilities:

• Serve as the departmental liaison to the Director of Multicultural Affairs.

• Collaborate, consult, support SLM staff as they address justice issues, Catholic Social Teaching and its principles, and service in their functional area.

• In partnership with the Career Development Center, assist in marketing post-graduate service opportunities which align with Loyola's Jesuit Catholic mission.

• Coordinate equitable distribution of Swipe Out Hunger meals.

• Other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

• Required Education, Experience, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor'sDegree and Master's Degree required.

• Minimum of 6 months prior experience in social justice work.

• Valid passport. Ability to travel outside the United States. Due to the nature of this position, ability to work outside of normal working hours.

• Knowledge of Ignatian spirituality and philosophy of Jesuit education, as well as Catholic Social Teaching.

• Must possess and maintain a current valid driver's license as a condition of employment, and must also be able to successfully pass any driver background information investigation and any driver education courses required by Risk Management.

• Additional Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with the spiritual and faith development of young adults.

• An understanding of and active commitment to Roman Catholic faith and strong background in Ignatian spirituality and Jesuit education preferred.