Tuesday, April] 7, 2012 I

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UTSAV GANDHI

9

Dean of Students encourages student
feedback on campus religious climate

By Utsav Gandhi
CAMPUS EDITOR

A few days ago, the Office of the Dean of
Students sent students a link to an important
survey which is being conducted by the
University in conjunction with the Interfaith
Youth Core (IFYC) about student perceptions
of the university’s spiritual andreligious climate
This survey is meant to explore the ways that
campus climate affects student experiences and
development while in college They are hoping

. How do students perceive various spiritual and religious facets of campus life?

to hear from students who represent a wide
spectrum of worldviews, includingreligious and
nonereligious perspectives To access the survey
please copy and paste the following linkto your
internet browser’s address bar:

http://studentvoicercom/p/?uuid:0b7695
SSCb164aOb972702067d383d7b

Recognizing that student time is limited;
in appreciation of student efforts, they will be
offering students the opportunity to enter a
raffle in exchange for completing the survey
The raffle prize is a gift certificate for lunch for
two at the Pritzker Club at IIT If you have any
questions about this project, please feel free to

contact them at: dos@iitredur

The IFYC report says, “National research
on college students in the last decade has
documented student interest in and commitment
to exploring spiritual issues of significance and
the remarkable potential of the college years
to enhance positive spiritual qualitiesr Such
efforts promise to bring a new, holistic approach
to postsecondary education and prepare
students for leadership and engagement with
the religiously diverse world beyond campusr
Integrating interfaith and spiritual initiatives
in higher education, however, is complicated by
the realities of religious and worldview diversity,

. Do students perceive campus as a safe space for diverse religious and non-religious identities, beliefs, and practices?
. What are the most positive aspects of campus climate? What areas of campus climate present challenges or opportunities for improvement?

. How are students engaging in curricular and co-curricular initiatives, particularly those that relate to interfaith action, dialogue, and service on campus?
. How do students respond to and interact with others representing different worldviews?
. What are students’ attitudes toward diverse worldviews? How do they perceive their own capacities to effectively engage religious and worldview pluralism?
. To what extent are students committed to their spiritual, religious, or non-religious worldview?

. What changes or transformations do students perceive in themselves during their years in college?

. How do dimensions of the religious and spiritual campus climate influence students’ attitudes and behaviors?

as well as the contentious discourse around
religious diversity currently prevailing in
American public life Given these realities, there
is aneed to assess both the campus climate and
the outcomes of emerging programming The
Campus Religious and Spiritual Climate Survey
(CRSCS) is an assessment tool designed to assist
campus leaders as they navigate the challenges
and possibilities that religious and worldview
diversity bring to higher education institutions
The survey gauges college students’ perceptions
of key climate dimensions and profiles attitudes
and behaviors related to interfaith engagement”

 

ASME—IIT chapter visits Caterpillar Plant in Aurora, IL

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Pile/[U by Narayan Namrajan