A Post 9-11 Message From Ron and Mary

A Soul-Centered Approach to Education - A Message from Drs. Ron and Mary Hulnick

As we write this, ten months have passed since the events of September 11, 2001. While many have responded with fear and cries for enhanced security, others have recognized the truth in Solzhenitsyn’s words.

At USM we know there is an alternative to “destroying a piece of one’s own heart.” We simply continue to practice the healing of the so-called “evil” in each of us. As one of our grads put it recently, “What September 11 did for me was to make it clear that the only significant response I can make is to heal the terrorist that lives within me.”

At a recent USM graduation, Dr. Jean Houston told those graduating, “There is no question that you are on the cutting edge of education, and you are really creating models here of what education could be, should be, and, in fact, has to be . . . as a USM graduate, you are uniquely qualified to respond to the global situation we face. You are among the few who are deeply prepared. If not you, who? If not now, when?” The events of September 11 drove home the prophetic validity of her words.

Here at USM, the 11th of September was the day we each decided to re-dedicate ourselves and renew our commitment to choosing the loving, no matter what.

We here at USM choose to live in the loving by doing exactly what we have always done — providing Soul-Centered education to those who hear the call, and who have the strength-of-heart to answer it. Physically, we see it manifesting in the largest class sizes and the highest levels of student retention in USM history. We are also witnessing the greatest levels of intention and resolve we’ve ever seen demonstrated by students engaged in their USM education.

In the midst of this, a new question has emerged: What might be created when people who already have the USM experience enter into co-creative partnership, committed to being of Service in the world?

Well-trained personnel means people at faculty and staff levels who: (1) have the energy of the vision strongly anchored in their hearts, (2) have integrated the skills of working their own process and demonstrate that they are a “product of the product,” (3) are willing and capable of carrying a substantial load and love it, and (4) are demonstrating competency in the area within which they are working.

Adequate financing means that we are able to move ahead quickly through the support of large donations rather than having to wait possibly several years while we raise funds through accumulation of operating surplus. As you can imagine, there are additional staff to hire, computers to purchase, database systems to develop, marketing materials to create, office space to rent, etc., etc., etc. And, at some point, there’s the possibility of an entirely new campus. Additional classroom space is needed.

Abundant, enthusiastic volunteer support means current students or USM grads who understand that service is more than giving back; it is also training in how to participate effectively in heart-centered organizations of the future.

These three elements are essential for bringing forward the expanded vision of USM that will be organized along the following four dimensions:

First, in our degree granting division, in addition to our current Master’s Degree offerings in Spiritual Psychology, Counseling Psychology, and Consciousness, Health, and Healing, we are developing what we understand to be the first degree program of its kind: A Doctoral Program in Spiritual Psychology (Psy.D.). This Program will be for graduates of the USM Master’s Degree Program in Spiritual Psychology and will be its natural extension. The focus of the doctoral program will be “leadership,” and it will be for doctoral candidates to effectively respond to the question, “What do I have to contribute to the world?” It promises to be a marvelous educational experience since each class will be a living crucible of leaders all gathered with one purpose: standing up in who they are, moving forward on their path of service, and building their way into the future. For example, one such avenue will consist of providing training for those interested in becoming facilitators for the University, the USM Extension, and Insight Seminars Worldwide.

The Second dimension of expansion will be the USM Extension that offers non-degree programs. The plan here is to formulate the essentials of the First Year of the Master’s Program in Spiritual Psychology into a weekend-delivered Certificate of Completion Program which can be distributed and administered anywhere in the world.

The Third dimension will be in strengthening the University’s Insight Seminars Worldwide division. Insight Seminars Worldwide has been offering seminars for over twenty years, and there are several hundred thousand graduates of Insight I around the world. Insight Seminars consists of a sequential series of three seminars, which all have in common the goal of awakening participants into living a more compassionate heart-centered life.

See: Insight Seminars: Nourishment for the Soul!

The Fourth dimension is in the area of product development and distribution. USM has developed a tremendous amount of potential product material over the years. Considering the worldwide demand for products on the subject of Personal Growth, Living a Spiritually Oriented Life, Relationship Enhancement, Conflict Resolution, Forgiveness, Compassion, etc., USM is in a unique position to develop many products addressing these areas.

Participate in Education for the Future – NOW!

If what we’ve said touches a chord deep inside, then there’s a place for you at USM. We invite you to learn more about the University of Santa Monica and its programs in any of the following ways:

• Attend an Open House Evening
• Visit our website at www.universityofsantamonica.edu
• Call the University today at (310) 829-7402 to speak with our Admissions team

Experience the profound, life-changing benefits of USM’s Soul-Centered education. This is school the way you always wished it would be!

For us personally, our re-dedication is also showing up in calling ourselves forward to our next level of growth and learning. We recently rediscovered something we’ve previously known: If we really want to make a more significant contribution to world peace, we need to begin by raising the bar on ourselves and standing forward in our next levels of leadership.

We leave you with a message that was shared some time ago. These prophetic words are as true today as they were when they were first shared in June of 1989 by our Founder, John-Roger, on the day of his installation as Chancellor: “You are this University of Santa Monica. In that, put the blessing of your heart and love into it. . . . We’d like you to support it and sustain it and even own it as part of your own growth.”

We look forward to meeting you!

With Blessings of Loving and Compassion,

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