HISTORY, MISSION AND GOALS

Why the Name of St. Augustine?

The first permanent European settlement in this country was named St. Augustine and was founded by Pedro Menendez de Aviles on September 8, 1565, fifty years before the landing of the Pilgrims in New England. Just as these Spanish settlers were pioneers in their time, so are the founders of St. Augustine College in Chicago: pioneers in bilingual (dual language) higher education. The College is also named after Bishop Augustine of Hippo, an educator and philosopher whose teachings helped to shape modern thought.

History

On October 7, 1980, the Illinois State Board of Higher Education granted operating authority to the first bilingual institution of higher education in Illinois: St. Augustine College. This educational setting is unique in Illinois, as well as the entire country. It came into existence as a result of years of work, observation and research, and is based on more than ten years of community work performed by the Spanish Episcopal Services, an educational agency that was created under the auspices of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago by Father Carlos A. Plazas, Ph.D. in 1970.

College founders reacted to observation and research that indicated that a large number of Hispanic adults, because of specific circumstances, could avail themselves of dual language (bilingual) academic and vocational career training. These findings also indicated that many Hispanic adults were capable of actively participating in four-year degree programs, but needed educational assistance to be able to compete at this level of education. Since there were no institutions of higher education to respond to these educational needs and provide opportunities for dual language learning, the Board of Directors of Spanish Episcopal Services elected to support the formation of St. Augustine College.

Mission

St. Augustine College is an independent, bilingual (dual language) institution of higher education created under the auspices of the Episcopal Diocese to make the American system of higher education accessible to a diverse student population, with emphasis on those of Hispanic descent; to strengthen ethnic identity; to reinforce cultural interaction; and to build a bridge to fill cultural, educational, and socio-economic gaps.

Why a bilingual (or dual language) curriculum following the philosophy of St. Augustine?

1. Bishop Augustine of Hippo challenged the teaching methodology used by the rhetoricians who appeared to be more concerned with amusing or delighting than instructing. He proposed that the purposes of teaching is instructing students, involving them in the learning process, and assuring that they learn. Both Bishop Augustine and the College emphasize learning as the outcome of teaching.

2. Bishop Augustine developed Christian Humanism, which attempted to fuse Greek and Roman cultural ideals with the ideals of Christianity. St. Augustine College emphasizes that all subjects shall be taught within the framework of the Judeo-Christian tradition in order to add spiritual values to the new knowledge and skills that students acquire.

3. Bishop Augustine emphasized the importance of a well structured, native language in the learning process. He challenged those teachers who preferred to teach students in a second language in which they were weak. In his Confessions, Bishop Augustine reported the frustrations of his early years of instruction in a language which was not mastered by him. He was frustrated because not only was he unable to learn, but was punished for his inability to grasp the concepts being taught to him. St. Augustine College's bilingual methodology follows Bishop Augustine's ideas.

4. The monasteries were centers of education for clergy only. Bishop Augustine challenged the monks to open the teaching and learning opportunities to the entire community. St. Augustine College is committed to the education of the entire community.

5. Bishop Augustine emphasized the importance of bilingual education saying that Christian scholars must follow Moses' example, who before freeing his compatriots from Egyptian slavery, learned the language, culture, and wisdom of the Egyptians, and thus became a successful leader. St. Augustine College has the same expectations of its bilingual curriculum.