Advancing Campus Pluralism
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is committed to inclusive excellence, which includes leveraging the rich religious diversity of our campus community to foster learning, facilitate connections, and diminish the ugliness associated with bigotry and hate.
In the summer of 2024, Interfaith America awarded SIUE with an Advancing Campus Pluralism Grant to support the university's continued efforts to enhance pluralism and cooperation across differences.
During the one-year grant period, Jessica Harris, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; J.T. Snipes, PhD, associate professor and chair in the Department of Educational Leadership; Matthew Schunke, PhD, professor of philosophy; Lindy Wagner, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development; and two students, Claudia De La Cruz and Nicholas Young, will develop a curricular and co-curricular general education pathway for students, focused on religious pluralism.
Cultural and Religious Observances
When planning course and campus events, such as assignments, exams, and programs, SIUE encourages faculty and staff, as well as student organizations to be aware of religious observances that may prevent SIUE students, faculty, and staff from fully participating.
To raise awareness of the range of religious and cultural observances that may be celebrated by members of the SIUE community, please review a multifaith calendar developed by The Center for Mission and Identity at Xavier University with support from the Conway Institute for Jesuit Education. This calendar is not all-inclusive and is not intended to exclude any religion, sacred time, or days of religious observance; however, it is a useful guide that can assist with planning.
Students, faculty, and staff observing religious traditions may also have specific dietary needs that may also require some individuals to fast or adjust their diet. In addition to providing for the specific dietary needs of individuals, it is important to consider how these needs may affect plans for programs and services on campus.
Academic and Workplace Accommodations
The University, in accordance with the University Religious Observances Act (110 ILCS 110/et seq.) will reasonably accommodate the religious observances of individual students in regard to admissions, class attendance and the scheduling of examinations and work requirements. Religious observance or religious practice includes all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief. Read the full policy.
INSPIRES Campus Climate Index
The Interfaith, Spiritual, Religious, and Secular Campus Climate Index, or INSPIRES Index, is an assessment tool that measures, evaluates, and represents an institution’s efforts towards, and commitment to, establishing a welcoming climate for students of different worldview identities. INSPIRES scores campuses using one to five stars to reflect overall welcome, as well as accomplishments in seven specific domains:
- Academic Engagement
- Religious Accommodations
- Space for Support and Expression
- Structural Diversity
- Institutional Behavior
- Efforts to Reduce Negative Engagement
- Extracurricular Engagement
SIUE will use this tool for benchmarking and for continuous improvement to the campus climate as it relates to religious diversity and inclusion.
