St. Bonaventure University participated in the 20th anniversary conference of the Association of Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASACCU) at the University of Dayton July 16-19. This year’s theme was “Taking Flight: Developing Leaders for the Common Good.”

St. Bonaventure collaborated with Viterbo University and featured SBU’s model student veterans program in the presentation “Student Veterans Pilgrimage Program Takes Flight: Developing Leaders to Support the Journey and Provide Direction.”

The presentation was led by Frank Morales, director of SBU’s Office of Veterans Services/Student Veterans Program, and Rick Trietley, founder of the SBU program who is now vice president of Student Affairs at Viterbo. Also co-presenting was Dr. Paula Scraba, O.S.F., chaplain for the Student Veterans Program, and retired faculty member Dr. Barbara Trolley, a consultant for the program.

The focus of the presentation was the core of a Catholic Franciscan education. St. Bonaventure and Viterbo universities share a common mission to provide students with an opportunity to explore their own spiritual development, meaning of life, and engage in activities to promote the common good of all in a global society.

The Franciscan Pilgrimage Program for Veterans provides an approach for promoting and advocating for positive relationships in academics and social environments for student veterans. A model to mentor future student veteran servant leaders was developed through the collaboration of several campus offices, including Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and other student support services.

A second presentation by School of Education faculty Dr. Catherine Barmore, Scraba and Trolley was called “Infusion of Catholic Values and Leadership Opportunities in Online Program Student Support Services.” It addressed specific areas of ethical and moral dilemmas and challenges to leadership development that arise in online programs as well as suggestions for initiatives by Student Affairs counselors and related resources. The conference also gave attendees an opportunity to network and discuss issues such as Christian mission and values, moral wounds, and restorative justice.     

Next year’s ASACCU Conference is slated for July 20-14, 2020, and will be held at Villanova University with the theme “Gathering Around the Table: Nourishment For Restless Hearts.” ASACCU universities are encouraged to submit applications for the Mission Integration Awards for model practices and programs that articulate Catholic identity as integral to a student life program; the three categories are Residence Life; Diversity and Inclusion; and Student Activities, Leadership, Orientation.