Reflections of a New Seminarian
I am a long-tenured professor
and university administrator who is presently privileged to pursue studies at
Sacred Heart School of Theology. In my
brief time at this institution, I have become convinced that it does
exceptional scholarly work while maintaining a well-balanced Program of
Priestly Formation. Every aspect of this
program is well planned and presented: pastoral,
spiritual, human, and intellectual formation.
While I am learning from
every facet of the program, I will confine my remarks to what I consider my
area of expertise: Intellectual
Formation. The intellectual program at
Sacred Heart School of Theology is not only comprehensive, but also very
demanding and rigorous.
My opinion is not uninformed. I have served as a university president, as a
provost, and for 27 years as an academic dean and chaired professor. As the longest serving law dean in the
country, I was often called on for accreditation visits or academic evaluations
at other universities. I believe that I am
familiar with every standard established for quality graduate level
studies. With those academic standards
in mind, I am confident in stating that the program of studies at Sacred Heart
School of Theology is one of the best and most demanding graduate level agendas
in the country.
There is one additional
comment about the academic program. The
faculty members who are my present instructors are highly competent. They know their subject areas well, prepare
skillfully for classes and organize classroom discussions with precision. As noted earlier, the faculty has developed a
very rigorous and demanding curriculum. However,
faculty members demand as much or more from themselves as they do from their
students. The faculty at this school has
high standards, not only for course preparation but for availability to
students. The faculty and administration
care deeply about the intellectual welfare and progress of each individual
student. The accessibility and time-commitments
by faculty members and administrators are exceptional. There is a true dedication to education at
this place. I would be proud to have any
of my present instructors serve on a faculty for which I was selected as a dean
or other academic administrator.
I know am enrolled in a truly
remarkable program; learning much about pastoral, spiritual and human
formation. The fourth leg, the intellectual
program, is absolutely superb. It is
demanding, yet caring. It is rigorous,
yet bolstered by a strong and compassionate academic support team.
I am proud to pursue a new
career through this school. Others
interested in seminary studies would do well in considering Sacred Heart School
of Theology.
Dr. David T. Link JD, LL.D., D.Litt. D.Sc.
The Joseph A. Matson Dean and
Professor Emeritus