How Interfaith Initiatives Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at U.S. Universities

This session is composed of faculty from three universities in the United States who have led teams participating in the AAC&U/Interfaith America summer institutes for interfaith excellence. Together, the session discusses how they have created and are now implementing interfaith/religious diversity strategic plans; they answer questions about how interfaith cooperation can be grounded in, not apart from, the mission and values of an institution, including Historically Black Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Christian/Catholic affiliated colleges. Each presenter spotlights one aspect of their work: faculty & staff development, co-curricular programming, or student leadership. Together these initiatives demonstrate how to effect genuine institutional change. The session invites participants from multiple fields to consider their own road maps for enhancing equity and belonging through interfaith cooperation.