The role of a Catholic University

The Youth Cultures study was conducted by IFCU’s Center for Coordination of Research in the spring of 2012. Over 70 universities were invited to participate, including Loyola Marymount University. The survey assessed the values, aspirations, experiences and cultural backgrounds of first and fourth year students attending Catholic universities worldwide. In this paper we will examine the relationship between students’ involvement in social-service/religious organizations and their degree of social awareness and orientation. We hypothesize that those students who are more involved in social-service/religious groups will tend to show a greater and more ethical sense of social awareness and orientation. These differences will tend to increase from first year to fourth year. The results show that student involvement in service/religious oriented groups is significantly related to increased sense of social awareness and ethical and pro-social behavior. We observe that for those involved in service/religious activities, growth appears to occur from first to fourth year in Loyola Marymount students, in not only the expression of increased social awareness of issues and concerns of social equality but also in establishing a priority in their future plans to dedicate portions of their lives to real and meaningful social action. The strengths and limitations of the cross-sectional design of the survey are discussed. The findings are interpreted as supporting the important role that a value-driven education plays in the formation of “whole students” inspired to lead and create a more just society.