The American Catholic Historical Association (ACHA) writes to express its strong opposition to the recommended termination of tenured faculty in the departments of theology and religious studies, history, and other core areas of the humanities at St. Norbert College.
Founded in 1919, the ACHA is the nation’s leading professional organization for scholars, students, archivists, and others dedicated to the study of Catholic history. For the first time in its history, the ACHA planned to hold its bi-annual spring meeting at St. Norbert from March 27–30, 2025. This gathering was set to include several days of scholarly panels and presentations, alongside opportunities for participants to visit St. Norbert Abbey, attend Mass on campus, explore the St. Norbert archives, and experience local sites such as the shrine at Our Lady of Champion. However, in light of St. Norbert’s decision, the ACHA has no choice but to cancel its spring meeting at the college.
According to its mission statement, St. Norbert College is dedicated to fostering the intellectual, spiritual and personal development of its students in dialogue with the Catholic, Norbertine, and liberal arts traditions. However, without the expertise of its tenured faculty in theology and religious studies, history, and other core humanities disciplines—expertise refined through decades of research, teaching, and professional engagement—St. Norbert cannot fulfill this mission. Scholars engaged in Catholic history and Catholic studies play an essential role in upholding the Catholic pedagogical tradition.
The proposed termination of tenured faculty at St. Norbert not only jeopardizes the college’s ability to fulfill its stated mission but also poses a broader threat to the health and sustainability of Catholic studies in higher education. The intellectual contributions of Catholic history extend well beyond the Church itself, deepening our understanding of the complexities of American and global history. The research and teaching of tenured faculty in these fields provide an essential foundation for the advanced study of Catholicism.
The ACHA urges St. Norbert College to reverse its recommendation to terminate tenured faculty in theology and religious studies, history, and other core humanities disciplines. We sincerely hope the college will reaffirm its commitments to the Catholic, Norbertine, and liberal arts traditions and to supporting scholarship in Catholic history and Catholic studies.
The Executive Council
Mary Dunn
ACHA President
Charles Strauss
ACHA Executive Director