Home > Leaders > Leaders' Library > Campus X > First Things First > Research

Research

Getting to Know Your Campus

The campus community can be a new experience not only for lay leaders but also for student leaders, with many potential resources and real obstacles that will affect their campus ministry. Take an hour or two to get to know your campus on a weekday, generally a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday is best. This will help you be far more efficient in your overall campus ministry and something valuable to pass along to the next campus ministry organizers. Throughout this process, get to know people as best you can, folks who will be allies for your work, and who will recognize you on campus and connect you with Unitarian Universalism.

Here are some basic questions you'll want to answer:

Who are the current faculty and staff associated with Unitarian Universalism (UUism)?
Is there a campus organization for people doing campus ministry?
Where is the office of Student Activities?
What is the student newspaper and can you publicize your group in it?
Is there funding available for registered, recognized student groups?
Where do most students "hang out"?
Is there a student fair where you can do tabling outreach?

The following are twenty questions to help you know your local campus. If you take the time in the beginning to "get to know your campus" you will be far more efficient in your overall ministry as time progresses.

If possible make some of these contacts with people one-on-one in the summer when schedules are not so hectic. Then you are not just another face in the crowd. Also, if you develop a relationship with campus folks early in your ministry, this rapport will aid you when your own schedule gets hectic.

Some of the following questions are rather general due to the wide variation across colleges and universities in this country. Please make necessary translations as you go through this list. The term "college" will be used throughout this section, please substitute "university" if necessary.

As you pursue the contacts suggested on this list you will want to remember that knowing people who have contact with students and who understand the workings of the university is key to the development of a successful campus ministry. That means keeping an open eye and ear for any staff or faculty member who is helpful and sympathetic to your mission. Sometimes you will find such people in unexpected places. Again, take the time to make as many personal contacts as possible. The more people see your face, the more you will establish a liberal religious presence on campus.

What is the name of the college? When was it founded? Are there brochures or books written about its founding and subsequent years? Have any UUs played (or are currently playing) a significant role on campus? Check with local UU congregation(s) for this information.
Who are current faculty, staff, and students on campus associated with UUism? What are their interests? Areas of study?
What does new student orientation consist of? What are the names, titles and phone numbers of persons overseeing this process? Can you meet with them? Can you participate in orientation? Try to collect all the material a new student receives: phone directory, schedule of classes, maps, student activities listing, campus resources, etc.
Does your campus have an annual "Welcome Day" which student groups can participate in? Typically, this event occurs in the fall and offers an excellent opportunity for registered student groups to gain exposure. It is a chance to hand out brochures and information regarding your group.
Is there a campus organization for people doing campus ministry? Who are its members and leaders? What is its philosophy? Are lay leaders involved as well as ordained clergy?
Who is the President of the college? President's Secretary? Titles and names of all Vice Presidents, Deans, and Secretaries? Get the phone numbers for those you believe are important for your ministry.
Are there residence halls on campus? What are the names, phone numbers, and correct titles of persons overseeing residential life on campus? What are their philosophies and program efforts? Can you be a part of their efforts?
Where is the office for Student Activities? What are the names, phone numbers, and correct titles of persons overseeing Student Activities on campus? What are their philosophies and program efforts? Can you collaborate with these people? What we the criteria for a student group to become recognized as an official campus organization?
How are student crises handled on campus (i.e., a family death)? Is there a Counseling Center? Who are the persons overseeing the Counseling Center? Titles, names and phone numbers? What are their philosophies and approach to counseling? You may want to get to know some of these counselors on a personal level so that you feel comfortable referring students to them. Referrals will be important, particularly if you are not professionally trained in counseling.
How are issues of multiculturalism handled—or not handled—on this campus? Issues of homophobia? Issues of religious tolerance? Issues of sexual harassment? Are there task forces attending to these issues? Committees? Training sessions? Who oversees such groups? Are they effective? Again, titles, names, and phone numbers are important to have. Also, talk to students. Their perception of how these issues are handled may be different from those of the administration.
Is there a student newspaper? Subscribe to it. Pay special attention to letters-tothe-editor: Who is the editor? Title, name, and phone number? This is a good person to know face-to-face. Do they accept articles written by non students?
Funding? How is the college funded? What funding is available for student groups? Are there possibilities for cosponsoring programs with other student groups? For example, is there an environmental student group? African American student group? Jewish student group? Christian student group? Muslim student group? Who are the leaders of these groups? Titles, names, and phone numbers? Faculty advisors? Do any of these people know more about funding?

In addition to funding for the student organizations themselves investigate funds available specifically for sponsoring outside speakers. Colleges will often have special funds available for lectures sponsored by student organizations.

Is there an office to research grants available on campus? Who oversees this office? Title, name, and phone number?
What role do intercollegiate sports play on your campus? What are the most popular women's sports? Men's sports? Is there an intramural program? Are athletic facilities open to non-campus members?
What is the governing body of the campus? How are policy decisions made? Is there a member of a local UU congregation who has a good understanding of the overall structure, both explicit and implicit, of the college?
What is the ratio of undergraduate to graduate students? Are there any graduate programs, which are particularly well known? Is there a specific residence hall for graduate students? Are there professional schools located at this college?
Is there a gay, lesbian, and bisexual student group or center? Who advises this group? How are issues of homosexuality and religion handled—or not handled—on this campus? How can you lend the liberal religious voice of UUism as a support to this group?
Is there a center for international students? Who oversees and operates this center? Title, name, and phone number? What support if offered for the variety of religious backgrounds of international students? Can UUism be a supportive option for any of these students?
Is there a center for returning students? Who oversees the operation of this center? Title, name, and phone number? What support and resources are offered to these students?
Is there a center for women's affairs and studies? Again, who oversees the work of this center? Title, name, and phone number? Any possibilities for collaboration with this center such as a workshop on feminist theology or a presentation on famous UU women such as Susan B. Anthony and Olympia Brown?
How does your campus deal with health issues such as sexuality education, including HIV/AIDS education and prevention? Are there peer education programs, HIV + support groups on campus, support for transgender students and other programs? How are LGBT students treated at your campus health center? Is there a Health and Wellness Education Center on your campus? Is there anyone there with whom you could collaborate? Titles, names, and phone numbers?

Campus Life

As you proceed with creating the ministry, you'll want to address some more advanced questions. These will help the campus ministry program leader to identify possible topics for discussion or social action with the campus group. They will also help shape the identity of the campus ministry program as people may be drawn to a UU group because of our principles and affirmation of marginalized or oppressed people.

How are issues of homosexuality and religion handled or not handled on this campus?
What is the governing body of the campus?
What is the process to be recognized as a registered student group?
How are student crises handled on campus?
Have any UU's played a significant role on campus?
What are the controversial issues on campus?
What other faith groups could you partner with?

Interfaith Life

Most college campuses have some kind of interfaith council or campus ministry center or both. These may be coordinated by a College Chaplain or structured as a collective of all recognized/registered campus ministries at the college. While the names, mission and structure vary from college to college, these organizations and individuals may be your best resources, allies and mentors in developing your campus ministry and we strongly encourage you to get to know them. Participating in an interfaith council, either yourself or delegating to a student is a great way to stay connected to the religious life at the college. We often find UU students at schools without a UU campus ministry actively involved in interfaith activities.

If there is a designated College Campus Chaplain and Office, make it a point to stop by and introduce yourself. This person will likely have in her/his responsibilities the support role for assisting new campus ministries. Sometimes the Chaplain will have small amounts of funds available for your campus group, such as money for food, access to vans for field-trips, and use of a copy machine and computer. The Chaplain may also produce a directory of faith organizations which you will want to make sure your UU campus ministry is registered in.

Through the interfaith council you can learn from what other denominations are doing, and propose and implement collective activities. This may be a good place to build leadership skills for members of your group, whether you have a strong core group or not. Some members of your campus ministry may be more interested in interfaith activities and will welcome the opportunity to engage the other religious students, challenging and being challenged theologically and spiritually. Lastly, an interfaith council may help your group leverage student funds, advocate and guide you through student group recognition processes, provide physical space for meetings and office hours, and serve as a support community for your campus ministry.

On campus you may find several of the campus groups clustered together in a campus ministry center, house or wing of a building. This is a great place to pay an unannounced visit, getting to know the physical space, picking up printed information on what activities they are offering, and identifying who the key campus leaders are for other denominations. With this information, you can prioritize who to make more intentional meetings with. Generally if there is a college chaplain s/he is a great person to start with as they can give you a better sense of what all the groups are doing and inform you about any interfaith activities.

Interfaith Benefits:

Invite a member from another faith tradition to speak at your campus group.
Participate in an interfaith panel, addressing religious beliefs and/or current events.

Raise the profile of Unitarian Universalism on campus and with other campus groups, which may allow other questioning students to find a spiritual home with your group. Word of mouth referrals are often the best form of outreach, and one of the most common challenges UU campus ministry faces is the lack of outreach.

Questions for College Chaplains/Campus Ministers

How is your campus ministry organized?
Where do you do outreach?
How are you funded?
What other student groups do you work with and on what activities?
What advice do you have for our campus ministry?

Working with Other Denominational Chaplains

Learning what other denominations are doing on campus is another useful research task, with many of the same benefits as connecting with a College Chaplain and/or Interfaith Council. Other campus ministries may be able to provide you with ideas, information, and potentially even resources such as space. We have known other denominational campus ministers to provide pastoral care for UU students, advise and mentor UU student groups and even allocate funds for the activities of UU campus ministry. Examples of other denominational campus ministries include the Wesley Center (Catholic), Hillel House (Jewish), and United Ministries in Higher Education (Mainline Protestant).

Campus ministers in other denominations, particularly the mainline Protestant religions such as the United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ, and the Jewish Hillel groups are people who may be able to advise you regarding the day-to-day operations of your campus ministry. Note that the term campus minister is a generic term and that there are other terms which may be used on your campus such as denominational counselor, pastor, lay minister, campus chaplain, campus coordinator, and so on. You may experience some resistance to your campus ministry efforts, so be aware and you may want to talk with your congregational board and minister in order to prepare yourself in dealing with religious people who may express intolerance towards Unitarian Universalism.

Be aware that other denominations have the capacity and will to provide serious funding for campus ministry, through national endowments, local alumni giving, congregational line-items and significant financial gifts. While this can be demoralizing, we must be prepared to organize our campus ministries with an awareness of the volunteerism, effective use of limited funds and the lack of historically strong UUA district campus ministry support and funding. We are slowly building a denominational campus ministry network, and the UUA is conscious of the activities of some of the other denominational campus/young adult ministry through participation on the National Council of Churches Young Adult Ministries Team as well as developing organic ideas from leaders and congregations such as yourself.

Networking >

Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.