Cognitive Science

A Study in Schism: The Struggle for Polish Identity within Catholicism Strong evidence demonstrates that cultural identity is highly influenced by religious belief systems. One of religion"s core properties lies in its facilitation of social cohesion and regulation of group dynamics. Evolutionary psychologists at large argue for religion as being an adaptation towards surviving in an ever growing and changing social environment. Perhaps, then, belonging to a group is necessary for survival; the sharing of beliefs, values and views on spirituality in a communal forum helps in fostering the growth of virtues which help us functionally navigate a complex social domain. Without a religious systemthe very thing that aims to bind social behaviourit would be no surprise if social disorganization and existential chaos would ensue. Most importantly, a type of alienation can occur, especially if the religious system takes on an hierarchical form that distributes power from the top downwards. These hierarchical forms usually take on the role of an institutiona structure that"s sole responsibility is to govern the behaviour of a population by way of a systematic rule set. Usually, the institution that governs a belief system is in some way correlated to the laws of the state or country in which it is instantiated. What happens when an intangible dynamic system like religious belief becomes divorced from its more static sociopolitical domain? The cultural identities that were once present are no longer so in new sociopolitical environments and this leads to a sense of alienation which is all so common in emerging social phenomena such as emigration and globalization. A case in point involves immigrants from Poland to North America near the end of the 19 th century.

is regarded as one of Canada's leading academic and research institutions. It has the highest number of students (both undergraduate and graduate), the most faculty members, and the widest range of courses among Canadian universities. It has often been referred to as the "Harvard of the north" because of both its high academic and research reputation and the fact that it has Canada's largest university endowment 1. The University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) is the nondegree, general continuing education arm of the University of Toronto. It offers five distinct areas of study: Business & Professional Studies, Liberal Studies, Creative Writing, Languages & Translation, and the English Language Program (ESL). The school is committed to community engagement and accessibility and is open to all adults, regardless of prior educational status. SCS provides both individual courses and professional certification. enrollment for the 2008 academic year was approximately 14,000. this case study traces the school's marketing efforts that resulted in recognition by the University Continuing Education Association in the form of a gold award for the school's strategic marketing campaign in 2008. RECENT SCS HISTORY since the installation of a new director in January 2006, the school of Continuing studies has been undergoing a complete operational and programmatic transformation. renewal continues to take shape in each of its five program areas as well as in its central corporate services areas. At the beginning of January 2007, the marketing department-three full-time employees with additional components of marketing held within other positions-was eliminated and a new head of marketing position was created to engage in a more strategic approach to SCS' marketing activities.