A Letter from Dr. Jake Bucher
“Context Matters”
In one of my first communications last year, I organized thoughts around the phrase “place matters,” and I’m starting this year with a somewhat similar spirit and sound. The difference is that last year I was attempting to use a common sociological phrase to highlight the value of the Regis community, and this year is a chance to utilize a term from the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) in an attempt to center us for the upcoming year.
The IPP identifies “context” in a call to always be mindful and attentive to how the time and space we occupy impact teaching and learning. As we enter this academic year, we navigate a complicated time and space at the global, national, and Regis-community levels. Context is ever evolving, as is evident by our faculty and staff colleagues across the institution who are in the midst of significant changes to the context of our work at Regis. Our students are facing socio-cultural influences and obstacles to their mental health and their education. We face a likely inevitable tumultuous political season in our country, and violence and loss are ever present globally, nationally, and in our community.
Our context also includes incredibly talented and caring colleagues who are innovative and committed to meeting students from all backgrounds where they are – and taking them through to transformative outcomes. Speaking of students, our context includes absolutely amazing students, who are resilient, have the highest intellectual capacities, and are committed to a more just and humane world. And, finally, our context includes an institution highly regarded (evident by our recent rankings) that is willing to adapt to difficult situations, and pursue ambitious and high standards – while ensuring those standards are pursued in alignment with our values.
What is missing from that context, or at least is buried, is joy. Yes, parts of our work feel different – but joy is still there. Our students do face seen and unseen obstacles and hardships, yet the joy of an educational experience has not been removed – it has only been suppressed under worry and fatigue. And that’s where I want to place my focus this year, not just adapting to the context our teaching and learning exists in, but committing to ensuring joy exists in that context. As Provost I am privileged with a broad purview, and I will readily add “joy” to the things I am accountable to – but as we start the year, I encourage you all to add joy to your context. Doing so will have significant impacts on you, and will inspire and nurture joy in others.