Marianist Educational Associates: Advancing and Promoting the.Mission of Catholic and Marianist Universities

Abstract

Preparing employees to become stewards of Marianist values has become a priority at Marianist institutions because employees impact the institutions’ environment, and faculty and staff directly impact student learning. To date, there is a lack of research conducted among employees of Marianist institutions on how new understandings of the institutional mission get transferred to their jobs. Additionally, there is a lack of empirical studies that examine what enhances and hinders the transfer of such understanding. Using the Multidimensional Model of Learning Transfer as a theoretical framework, the purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the extent to which employees attending a formation are able to transfer the newly acquired knowledge to their professional lives and to understand what inhibited and supported their transfer of knowledge. Findings reveal that participants did transfer some knowledge to their positions. Based on these findings, the research team offers recommendations to increase the transfer of new religious understanding.