At the beginning of her class, sophomore Jackie McAdams lowers her head and recites the Lord’s Prayer. When many college students pray during class, it’s usually a silent beg for help on an exam. But for Jackie, praying in class is a common morning ritual. As a student at University of Notre Dame, a school affiliated with the Catholic church, Jackie says professors often begin class with a prayer. “You can just be open and pray,” she says. “At public schools, I doubt someone would walk into the room and say the Our Father.”
The ability to combine both spirituality and academics is one of the many reasons some students seek a religiously affiliated college. A practicing Catholic, Jackie says attending a school associated with the Catholic church allows her to be herself in an environment in which she feels comfortable. “Coming here, I think I’ve found morals, who I am and who I want to be,” she says.
While Jackie enjoys attending Sunday mass in her dorm and seeing crosses on the walls of her classrooms, her experience at Notre Dame does not describe all Catholic or religious colleges. Each school differs in their beliefs, their affiliation with the church and their religious expectations of students.
Diversity can still exist
The difference between schools and religion can run the full spectrum. While Jackie enjoys a prayer during class, Xavier University sophomore Simone Harris is glad her Catholic university doesn’t initiate group prayer. “I see people pray individually before a test. I think it’s a better route,” she says. “People here have different backgrounds and religions. If a person doesn’t agree with the prayer, it’s not conducive to their learning environment.” Since Simone is not a Catholic, she appreciates the school’s sensitivity towards its diverse population.
In her required theology class last semester, Simone was surprised to see the many religions students represented in the class. “There was a Buddhist, a Muslim, all different religions,” she says. The course was taught by a Sister, and Simone was overwhelmed by the teacher’s open-minded attitude. “We learned so much about each other’s religions,” she says.
Unity on campus
Religiously affiliated schools often attract students of various creeds, such as Simone, who chose to attend a school outside her faith tradition. While some schools, like Xavier, promote an environment open to all faiths, other schools attract mainly students who share the same religious ideals. At Baptist-affiliated Baylor University in Texas, a variety of Christian religions are represented. Southern Baptist is the predominate religion at the school. “Forty-six percent of our students are Baptist,” says associate vice president of media relations Larry Brumley. Regardless of their faith traditions, students are required to complete six semesters of Bible-related courses in order to graduate.
Junior Kevin Worton says Baylor promotes Christianity, and professors openly share their beliefs outside religion classes. “Professors often profess their faith in Christ,” he says. “Baylor is unapologetically Christian.” Although Kevin has met several students who do not share the school’s religious beliefs, he says attending a school outside your religion can be a challenge. “You’re going to find Christ everywhere you go on campus,” he says. “You could find a lot of opposition here.”
What the label means
Some schools boast a strong religious affiliation, but other schools are often mislabeled religious. While schools may be described as religious in college guidebooks, school officials say it’s important to understand that campus religion may be a diluted version.
Millikin University, for example, is a private school once affiliated closely with the Presbyterian church. However, the school no longer receives church funding, and religion does not have a strong presence on campus. “It’s not a part of the life,” says media relations director Bryan Marshall. “Most students don’t realize we’re affiliated with the church.”
At Monmouth College in Illinois, students
celebrate the Presbyterian affiliation in connection with the school’s strong Scottish Heritage. “Since the mid-1960’s, the Presbyterian religion has leveled off,” says communications director Jeff Rankin. “We celebrate our Presbyterian heritage, but we don’t limit ourselves.” Students are not required to take religion classes, attend daily chapel, adhere to an honor code or profess their faith.
On my honor
Some religiously affiliated colleges ask their students to abide by similar ethics. At Notre Dame, students sign an agreement promising not to drink on campus, use illegal drugs or violate visiting hours at dorms of the opposite gender. Students are also prohibited from tailgating before athletic events. Baylor has a similar code, but also bans student organizations from having alcohol at on- or off-campus events.
Some students admit they would not want to adhere to a strict honor code. But both Jackie and Kevin say they appreciate the honor code. Kevin says the honor code is similar to his own personal beliefs. “I value everything they value,” he says. “If there were not an honor code, I would still adhere to those principles.”
Jackie says she appreciates the honor code at Notre Dame and feels it promotes an environment where students can more easily focus on their studies. “I went to visit my friends at a public school, and I noticed right away they have more distractions,” she says. “I like our rules.”
The role of community
While Jackie, Kevin and Simone all practice different religious traditions, they each feel they’re experiencing a great sense of community at their schools. Jackie says she feels religious colleges offer a sense of community not found at public schools. “It makes me feel comfortable,” she says. “Everyone seems so welcoming to every different type of person.”
Kevin says Baylor’s Baptist community has enabled him to develop as a person. “Baylor stimulated me to think about myself and grow in my faith and develop my own beliefs,” he says. “There is not a single person I’ve met on campus that has not allowed me
to grow in the three years I’ve completed here.”
For students interested in a school with a strong sense of community and sensitivity, Simone recommends they consider a religious college. “You can expect community,” she says. “The whole sense of community, sense of belonging, if that’s what you’re looking for, you should go to a school routed in those principles.”
Questions to ask
A school affiliated with a religion may ask you to agree to several religious requirements in order
to enroll. If you have concerns whether you’re comfortable with the requirements, here are four questions to ask admissions officers.
1. Do I have to profess my faith? Some religious colleges ask students to sign a statement agreeing with the school’s faith. Many schools, however, welcome students of all religions regardless of faith. “I have friends from different religions,” says Jackie.
“I think they feel comfortable and welcome here.”
2. Do I have to attend religious services? Understanding the religious requirements includes not only what you’re asked to believe, but also what you’re asked to perform. Each school has different faith requirements for their students. Notre Dame, for example, does not require students to attend mass, but has a chapel in each dorm.
3. Do I have to sign an honor code? Honor codes are used at some schools to ensure students will practice the school’s ethics. Some schools ask students not to drink alcohol while school is in session. Others, like Baylor, ban it from campus and school activities. Coed dorms are also not permitted at both Baylor and Notre Dame. Understand the honor code ahead of time so you’re not surprised when your little brother wants to visit, but you live in an all-girls dorm.
4. Do I have to take religious courses? Some schools require general spirituality or theology courses, while others require more specific religious studies. Simone took a general theology class and learned about different religions. Kevin’s requirements, however, are more specific to his Baptist religion. Besides two semesters of Christian history and literature, he also had to take two semesters of chapel forum. “We had guest speakers from all around the world share different
Understanding the difference
A school affiliated with the church receives funding from the church. Often, church leaders teach classes and are present on campus. At Notre Dame, for example, a priest lives in Jackie’s dorm. “He’s a father to all 200 of us,” she says. A school affiliated with the church may ask students to profess their faith, sign honor codes or complete religion classes.
A public or private, nonreligious school is not affiliated with the church. The school does not receive funding from the church. Other than student-run organizations, religion is not present on campus.
A divinity school or rabbinical college is specifically for training students to become spiritual leaders in their faith. A Bible school
