St. Thomas’ Center for Catholic Studies is housed in Sitzmann Hall – the former Chiuminatto Hall – on the northeast corner of Summit and Cleveland avenues. In the few years since Catholic Studies moved into the building in 2003, its academic programs and its two institutes have grown in size and prominence.

The Department of Catholic Studies counts 212 undergraduate majors and minors among its students in the fall of 2007. In addition, 10 percent of this year’s freshmen have indicated interest in the Catholic Studies program. The Master of Arts program in Catholic Studies has 90 students enrolled.

While the move into Sitzmann Hall provided a welcome relief to space concerns of the center in 2003, the continuing success of all Catholic Studies activities has brought the matter forward again sooner than expected. The great popularity of Catholic Studies degree programs, in particular, has created a need for additional office and meeting spaces as well as more instructional space.

In an effort to meet the current and growing demand for Catholic Studies programs, plans are being made for an expansion of Sitzmann Hall.

Sitzmann Hall expansion

An unusual aspect of this expansion is that it will be largely below grade. The plan is for the lower level of Sitzmann Hall to be expanded into the back yard of the property, connected to an above-ground space built to look like a carriage house, in keeping with the architectural style of Sitzmann Hall.

The lower-level expansion will contain faculty offices; two seminar rooms in which small-group instruction and discussion can take place; a graduate-student common room with commuter lockers, mail boxes, and meeting space; restrooms and storage space. Above this, on grade between Sitzmann Hall and the detached structure, will be a terrace suitable for outdoor receptions and programs. Unobtrusive high-technology skylights above ground will provide ample natural light to the spaces below.

The above-ground structure will be a two-story open-beam building suitable for receptions, lectures, Masses and small luncheons, providing flexible space that is lacking but much-needed today.

An additional feature of the expansion will be the installation of an elevator in Sitzmann Hall. This will make the lower level and first and second floors of the 1920s building wheelchair-accessible. The existing building also will be modified to expand the space occupied by the center’s quarterly journal, Logos, and the John A. Ryan Institute for Catholic Social Thought and the Terrence J. Murphy Institute for Catholic Though, Law and Public Policy.

This expansion will about double the usable square footage of Sitzmann Hall. Current plans envision a 2008 groundbreaking for the project.

Endowment for student programs

In addition to an increase in physical space, the Center for Catholic Studies is in need of increased operational support to maintain and expand two successful student programs. This will be accomplished by attracting endowment gifts, the income from which will bolster these efforts.

Residential-living options

In 2005, St. Thomas began offering Catholic residential-living options for both men and women. Today there are two Catholic Studies men’s houses on Summit Avenue, a Catholic Studies women’s house on Grand Avenue, and a Catholic-women’s floor in Dowling Hall. These arrangements bring together students in faith-filled environments that promote practical as well as spiritual formation.

The students share time in faith-centered activities such as prayer, Eucharistic adoration and Mass, as well as activities such as meals together, weekly conferences on practical daily living, recreational activities off campus, and gatherings with larger numbers of St. Thomas students. They are committed to their faith and, through these residential opportunities, encourage and support each other in many aspects of student life.

Plans are in the works to designate a Catholic men’s floor in a residence hall and to add another Catholic women’s house to the existing residential-living options. The goal of the university is to raise endowment funds to support programs and activities to keep students’ faith vital and connected to these living environments.

Student Leadership Interns

Grounded in the Catholic tradition, St. Thomas’ mission is to educate students "to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good." 

In keeping with this charge, the Catholic Studies Department offers a leadership development program called Student Leadership Interns, which aims to help students understand and cultivate leadership through a Catholic prism. It asks questions such as, "How do you bring your faith to bear on the St. Thomas community?" and "What effect should faith have on leadership roles in larger civic life?"

In addition to getting involved as leaders in many Catholic Studies and campus-wide organizations and events, Student Leadership Interns participate in a Fall Vision Retreat, regular meetings, and a yearly Spring Institute. Last year, they went to France to examine questions about the principles of building a Christian culture. This year’s Spring Institute will take place in Washington, D. C., where the interns will pursue a deeper understanding of the Catholic leader’s responsibilities toward civil society.    

Endowment funds will support these important activities as Catholic Studies students prepare for their roles in professional life and other vocations after college – as St. Thomas leaders.