About UNM Peace Studies

MISSION STATEMENT

Preamble

In the context of peace and social justice traditions of scholarship and non-violence, the faculty, staff and students commit the Peace and Justice Studies Program (PCST) to the advancement of the art and science of peace education through personal excellence. This central mission consists of strategic peace building education, transformative optimism and teaching conducted in a social atmosphere of solidarity (shared epistemic community) and scholarly inquiry into the nature, causation, prevention and therapy (alleviate suffering) of structural violence.

Article I: Human Security

In this academic, research and service program, the responsibility to teach and transfer shared knowledge in the classroom and in the community enhances the fundamental goal of agency related to social/public goods. PCST will strive to provide superlative structure, content and pedagogy of peace studies education, considered the requisite model for learning.

Article II: Education

The educational process will aim to graduate individuals who are committed to life-long learning while contributing in many and diverse ways to the ‘sense of possibility’ (hope) of comprehensive peace (negative and positive) in local, national and global settings. PCST will be responsible for the certification of community peace-builders at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels, as well as the certification of peace-builders at the community level, and as appropriate, will undertake the education of other student-learners and professionals.

Article III: Research

Since the praxis and reification of peace studies education relies upon meta-theories, meta-psychology and meta-philosophy, as an art and science, it must draw upon transcendent and cross-disciplinary approaches, thus all discipline are intentionally included as relevant. Interdisciplinary and project-based research models (diagnosing, prescribing, implementation and evaluation) for community change primarily centers on understanding and transforming conflict; creating peace; and supporting peace. PCST will encourage, support, and evaluate innovative ideas and programs in peace studies education and peace studies service learning modalities.

Article IV: Dissemination of Knowledge

PCST will participate as a local, national and global resource in the gathering, analysis, and dissemination of information pertaining to nature, causation, prevention and therapy (alleviate suffering) of structural violence.

Article V: Concern for the Community

PCST will be ever culturally sensitive (humility) to the social, cultural, political, economic, personal, institutional, health and pedagogical needs of the many different communities it serves. As a center for social transformation, PSCT will be a participant in efforts to define, interrogate and resolve the causes and dimensions of conflict in population groups and communities through its capability in developing reflective and participatory capacities for applying peace (achieving possibilities) and overcoming problems.

Article VI: Organization

In a framework of shared governance and collegiality, PSCT will strive to create a stable evolving environment conducive to individual critical and divergent (creative) thinking and problem solving.