USD Magazine, Summer 1997

ALCALA

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USD LauncheJ BUJineJJ CUUJeJ for Clergy U SD is tolling its bell for clergy in Southern California. The reason? The university's School of Business

isn't extensive training today. There have been so many advances in business - even for people who gained experience the hard way, by working as administrators in the parishes - we're not aware of the latest techniques in the business world." USD's business faculty embraced Monsignor Eagen's idea and quickly devel– oped a curriculum that represents a cross– section of business issues. Seminars cover legal issues, interpersonal communication skills, computer technology, information management, budgeting, taxes and financial reporting issues, human resource manage– ment, marketing the religious institution, and how to lead organizations. The seminar topics came together easily, says Cindy Pavett, professor of management and coordinator of the certification program. Faculty started with common-sense business issues and added to the mix their experiences consulting with religious institutions. The program is open to leaders of any religious institution, not just Christian alumni, parents and friends completed the challenge last year - boosted by a $3 mil– lion gift from philanthropist and former trustee Joan Kroc - the foundation "for– gave" the loans, allowing the university to keep the full amount. While 14 colleges and universities in Southern California partici– pated in the challenge, USD is one of only three to fully meet the matching requirement. "This loan fund makes a huge difference to our students," says Judith Lewis Logue, director of financial aid, adding that no other source offers interest-free loans. "Each year, we have been able to offer the loans to more students. USD students who receive trust loans are very grateful." This year, 71 7 students benefited from loans averaging $2,100 each. Additional no-interest loans may be made each year, as long as the student remains in need of assis– tance. Students have borrowed more than $10 million from the fund since its inception

organizations, Pavett says. While seminars will cover issues common to church-run insti– tutions, such as tax laws, they won't be so specific as to represent only one denomination. "This program is more about current business practices than it is about church practices," Monsignor Eagen adds. Seminars will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. each Friday, from Sept. 19 through Nov. 21. This schedule enables religious leaders across Southern California to participate in the program by traveling to USD just one afternoon a week. Organizers hope to draw clergy from San Diego, Imperial, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties. For more information, please contact Cindy Pavett [phone: (619) 260-4851, fax: (619)260-4891, e-mail: pavett@acusd.edu] or Monsignor I. Brent Eagen [phone: (619) 260-2247, fax: (619) 260-2262, e-mail: ibeagen@acusd.edu]. in 1986, with more than 99 percent of recipients repaying in a timely manner. Although there is no academic requirement, Lewis Logue points out that grades have never been a problem. "The average grade point average of students receiving loans from the fund is 3.0," she says, and notes that almost half of the current recipients are the first in their families to attend college. Although the trust sustains itself by collecting and investing enough money to ensure loan funds are available each year, students who have repaid their loans in full are beginning to make additional gifts to the fund. Their sense of responsibility toward future students and the strong bond the fund creates between loan recipients and the university are just a few of the many extra benefits USD has realized from the no– interest loan program.

Administration is launching this fall a cer– tification program through which religious leaders can update their business skills. "Contemporary Business Issues in Religious Institution Management" is designed to provide cutting-edge business knowledge and techniques applicable to the management of any religious institution. The 10-week certification program was inspired by Monsignor I. Brent Eagen, USD's vice president of mission and ministry, who observed a similar program at St. John's University in New York. Considering how helpful it would be to update his own busi– ness skills, Monsignor Eagen thought that many religious leaders would share this desire. "Most clergy are not trained in basic business practices," Monsignor Eagen notes. "I can testify to that. I never had any busi– ness training in the seminary and there still

USD permanently added $14.4 million to its financial aid funds in December with the completion of a 10-year challenge sponsored by the Los Angeles-based Weingart Foundation. The money provides no-interest loans to undergraduate students from Cali– fornia high schools who need financial assis– tance for tuition. In order to establish the USD No– Interest Student Loan Trust on a permanent basis, the university was required to match $7.2 million in loans and grants provided by the Weingart Foundation. When USD's

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