Jesuit Universities Humanitarian Action Network (JUHAN)

On behalf of the JUHAN, we sincerely hope that you and your loved ones continue to remain safe after the devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy. At this time, we are in an information-gathering stage to determine JUHAN's response to the disaster. We will update this page with new information as it is available. If you would like to offer suggestions or ideas, please e-mail JUHAN.

The Jesuit Universities Humanitarian Action Network (JUHAN) was launched in 2008 through a joint collaboration between Georgetown, Fordham and Fairfield Universities on the premise that in addressing the needs of those that are suffering, our academic institutions can be more effective when working together rather than independently. The founders had come to the realization that there is relatively little going on in U.S. higher education to prepare undergraduates for humanitarian action - whether that be career development or preparation to fulfill everyday civic responsibilities. Visit the JUHAN network page for more information. Contributors to the site include students, faculty, and staff from Jesuit universities nationally and globally.

JUHAN seeks to leverage the Jesuit higher education network to make sophistication in humanitarian response a hallmark of Jesuit undergraduate education around the world. Grounded in the Jesuit tradition of developing "men and women for others," JUHAN seeks to advance both undergraduate humanitarian education and the professional field of humanitarian action by:

• bringing students into the professional field at an early stage in their education;
• forming an educated citizenry - for those students that are not pursuing careers in humanitarian action, JUHAN will provide them with the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill their responsibilities as engaged citizens.
• developing an educational program that places emphasis on the ethical dimensions of humanitarian action, an area not given enough attention in the professional field.

With the centuries-old Jesuit commitment to education all over the world, this program reaches across institutional, national and international boundaries, providing students and faculty with a wide range of resources and opportunities.

On each campus, the JUHAN project involves:

• Leadership teams consisting primarily of students with a faculty and/or staff resource person charged with raising awareness on their respective campuses about humanitarian issues and working toward strategies for response to various types of humanitarian crises
• Academic courses that focus on humanitarian issues from various disciplines
• National skill-building conferences for undergraduate students of Jesuit universities

The Fairfield University JUHAN chapter is housed within the Center for Faith and Public Life, hosts an active student group, and designates several courses each semester as JUHAN courses.