Amid uncertain and changing times, some foundations endure at Saint Michael’s College

The times they are a-changin’.

That Bob Dylan lyric was penned in a time of social unrest 62 years ago during the Civil Rights movement and while the country was enmeshed in the Vietnam War. These days, there are two major conflicts on the continents of Europe and Asia, civil wars waging in Africa, and political differences have boiled over in this country as well as all over the world. At the same time, a powerful technological leap in the form of artificial intelligence has the potential to radically change the working – and academic – world.

It can feel disorienting, the speed of change. And yet, some things remain steadfastly true.

Saint Michael’s College has persisted for 122 years through world wars, social upheaval, and massive technological leaps before now, and it continues to provide students with the grounding, skills and abilities, wisdom, and character to meet the needs of the time.

“In times of rapid growth and change, I think people are looking for their compass that can kind of guide them so they don’t lose the sense of themself in all sorts of things that are happening around them,” offered Fr. Michael Carter S.S.E. ’12, Director of Campus Ministry.

Stephon Boatwright, professor of Political Science and International Relations, notes that change can create positive progress.

“In times of constant change and societal unrest, it is easy to focus only on instability, but rapid change also reminds us that the future is not fixed,” he said. “The same forces that create uncertainty also create space for renewal and reform.”

As students prepare to meet the moment, navigating change and societal shifts, Saint Michael’s College continues to provide an enduring foundation upon which students can rely. Like a compass, the school strives to point students in the direction of their true north.

Here are grounding values and abiding foundations that Saint Michael’s College offers no matter the shifting nature of the times.

Stephon Boatwright, professor of Political Science and International Relations. Photo by Jerry Swope.

Resiliency cultivated through confluence of skills and values

The particular blend of skills the College fosters prepares students to be resilient leaders in times of uncertainty, according to Boatwright.

“For students at Saint Michael’s College, the foundations they can rely on are the habits of critical inquiry, ethical reflection, and civic engagement that a liberal arts education cultivates,” he said. “Those skills allow them to navigate uncertainty thoughtfully rather than react to it.”

He said Saint Michael’s College excels in its commitment to forming students who think seriously about ethical responsibility and the common good. “The College’s Catholic social tradition encourages students to ask not only what is possible, but what is right,” he said.  And despite shifts in the cultural climate, he said some principles remain remarkably constant. “Ideas such as human dignity, honesty in inquiry, respect for others, and a commitment to the common good have endured across generations and intellectual traditions.”

Strong sense of belonging

Due to the Edmundite values that prioritize inclusion and the smaller nature of the school that affords more direct interaction between students with faculty and staff, Carter says community connection at St. Mike’s is one of its most extraordinary characteristics.

“There’s lots of great opportunities to be present with one another, to connect with one another, and it’s based off of this more universal sense that everybody here is a person of importance, is a person of value, and has something to contribute,” he said.

The College exposes students to a wide range of perspectives, encountering people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, said Boatwright. “Learning to engage those differences respectfully and thoughtfully gives students the tools to navigate complex social questions without retreating into easy answers.”

Fr. Michael Carter, SSE ’12, Director of Campus Ministry. Photo by Jerry Swope.

Finding purpose and meaning

“The cultural tenor that we’re in now – the 21^st Century United States in Vermont, even on Saint Michael’s College campus – might be moving in a direction away from a more traditionally understood notion of religious faith or religious practice, [however] people are still searching for meaning, they’re still searching for their place or their role,” Carter said.

Due to the Catholic and Christian foundations, St. Mike’s is a place where – regardless of faith background – conversations about meaning, spirituality, and purpose naturally occur, according to Carter.

“My faith community teaches t

A life of service – in the private and public sector

hat everybody is designed for a particular purpose…and being able to help people unpack and sort of discover who they are and what that is – St. Mike’s provides a great foundation for that.”

In an increasingly digital world, Carter also finds that students are hungering for real, in-person interactions, opportunities for spiritual growth and development, and the ability to encounter the divine in nature in the beautiful landscapes on and off campus that Saint Michael’s provides.

A commitment to serving others is a longstanding tradition at Saint Michael’s College – through the MOVE (Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts) program that provides volunteer opportunities for students, Peace Corps Prep, connections to the U.S. State Department, and a variety of alumni in public service who generously share their career experiences and time with current students.

“I think more people than not, they want to help out in some way, they want to contribute, they have a desire in their heart for justice, for helping out, for being part of wider things, but they don’t always know how to get started,” Carter said.

The College helps them get started by connecting them to an abundance of ways to serve. Fr. Michael says he has seen students forge career paths that began with volunteering at St. Mike’s.

This desire to serve extends to public service.

“At Saint Michael’s, that begins with encouraging students to see public life not as something distant or discouraging, but as a space where their engagement can make a difference,” Boatwright said. “When students study political institutions, meet public officials, complete internships, or observe policymaking firsthand, they begin to see how civic participation operates beyond headlines and partisanship.”

Leaning in to politics

Politics may be considered taboo to discuss at the dinner table in mixed company these days, but at St. Mike’s, students are encouraged to go deep to understand the foundations upon which our country was founded and evolved, as well as how it functions today. Boatwright said that colleges play an important role in preparing students not only to understand politics, but to participate in it thoughtfully and responsibly.

He said he and his colleagues help students develop intellectual tools to navigate a complicated political environment, learn to evaluate evidence, distinguish argument from rhetoric, think critically about information they encounter, and cultivate civil discourse.

Part of that process involves reflection. “Students are encouraged to examine their own assumptions and recognize how personal experiences and biases can shape interpretation,” Boatwright said. “Developing that awareness allows them to approach political questions with greater humility and intellectual discipline.”

Reliance on institutions that provide societal framework

This year, the U.S. turns 250, and Vermont shares the semiquincentennial distinction next year. Americans inherit the responsibility to maintain a representative government of the people, by the people, for the people. It hasn’t always worked perfectly or effectively. The Constitution has endured, though, with 27 amendments and some substantial revisions to correct injustices and omissions – particularly around defining citizenship, rights, and federal authority, said Boatwright.

He said a strong civic education includes grounding in the constitutional framework which includes understanding the structure of government, the role of the three branches, the importance of legal precedent, and the enduring principles found in foundational documents that help students appreciate the institutions that sustain democratic life. He said this sound understanding helps students sniff out violations and corruption, which is a duty of all citizens.

“What matters most, in my view, is not that a specific document remains untouched for centuries, but that the underlying commitment to democratic governance, rights, and the rule of law continues to evolve,” said Boatwright. “The real measure of a democratic system is whether its institutions can adapt while still protecting the core principles of liberty, accountability, and representative government.”

Boatwright said civic confidence is built through participation rather than observation.

“When [students] study institutions carefully, speak with people working in public service, or take part in internships and community engagement, politics becomes something more tangible and constructive,” he said. “They begin to see that democratic systems are sustained by ordinary people doing difficult work, not just by the loudest voices in public debate.”

St. Mike’s students can feel confident they are getting a strong foundation in the skills and values they need to succeed in shifting times and, perhaps, take the lead in instigating positive change.

Boatwright, for one, is optimistic.

“If history teaches us anything, it is that periods of disruption often precede meaningful progress.”

This story was published as part of the Spring/Summer 2026 edition of The Saint Michael’s College Magazine.