SJC President Dr. Robert A. Pastoor was selected to participate on a committee of prominent educational professionals as part of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Business Higher-Ed Policy Committee during the 2016 term. This honor will allow Dr. Pastoor to join larger discussions on higher education and serve as one of three members who have direct experience in the “Higher Education community.”
Although Dr. Pastoor is just coming upon the end of his first year as the president of Saint Joseph’s College, he has been very involved in all aspects of the College and has helped to establish several changes that have helped the College grow and expand. Through his efforts, a clearly defined plan has been developed to help the institution continue to prosper and advance. With input from alumni, board members, and friends of the College, Pastoor helped to turn many ideas and needs into a collection of common goals, which will help define the progress of the College for years to come. These accomplishments give Dr. Pastoor a unique perspective and set of experiences, which he will bring to the committee.
Dr. Pastoor also hopes to gain valuable insight from his experience on this committee. The opportunity to network with representatives from colleges all around the state will provide valuable understanding into the inner workings of Higher Education. “My hope is to learn as much as I can about how higher Education works in Indiana,” Dr. Pastoor said, “to network with people from higher education and from the business community and to represent the views of Saint Joseph’s College.” A position on the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Business Higher-Ed Policy Committee will also provide a unique opportunity for Dr. Pastoor and others to become a voice for institutions of Higher Education in the State. As major decisions are being made pertaining to Indiana law and Educational policy, it becomes more important for individuals to give Higher Education a voice — input into discussions and decisions that may determine its future.
Dr. Pastoor acknowledges that he will also bring a unique perspective to the committee, based upon his time at Saint Joseph’s College. “My experience at [SJC] that I have gained from my conversations about certain topics with various constituents, such as the condition of teacher education requirements, will help enlighten those individuals who make the legislation that directly affects all of the State schools, from [kindergarten] through higher education.”
Named a “character-building college” by the Templeton Foundation, a “Best Midwestern College” by the Princeton Review, and “Best Value” and “Best Midwestern College” by US News & World Report, Saint Joseph's College is a four-year, Catholic college offering 27 majors, 4 group majors, 35 minors, and 9 pre-professional programs, complemented by the nationally acclaimed Core Program. Founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, SJC is located in Rensselaer, Indiana, approximately 90 minutes from both Chicago and Indianapolis, on a park-like campus of 180 acres and has an enrollment of nearly 1,200 students.
