ACUI Open Forum

 View Only
Expand all | Collapse all

Prayer or Spirituality rooms

  • 1.  Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 12-16-2021 15:13
    Hello!
    I'm wondering if any of you who work at a non-religiously affiliated institution have a prayer/spirituality/reflection/meditation room (interested in the name, too).  If so, could you send me the name and contact information for the person who initiated it or manages it?  I'd like to reach out with some questions. Your assistance is appreciated.

    Thank you,
    Jean

    ------------------------------
    Jean Kwaterski
    Assistant Vice Chancellor for Campus Life
    University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
    Oshkosh WI
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 12-17-2021 05:46
    In the Husky Union Building (HUB) at the University of Washington-Seattle we have a Mediation Room. This is the name of the space which was repurposed as part of the 2010-2012 renovation of the HUB.  I would be the contact.  Paul Zuchowski Interim Associate Director Facilities & Operations. badgers@uw.edu.  (206) 543-8133.

    ------------------------------
    Paul Zuchowski
    Interim Associate Director Facilities & Operations
    University of Washington Husky Union Building
    Seattle WA
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 12-17-2021 06:21
    We do make some accommodations for prayer/ meditation/ quiet space at UMBC.  The best colleague to speak with is Dr. Jasmin Lee (jaslee@umbc.edu), Director for Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, & Belonging.

    ------------------------------
    Joel DeWyer
    Associate Director, Campus Life Operations
    University of Maryland, Baltimore County
    Baltimore MD
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 12-17-2021 09:45

    Jean,

     

    We are a state institution and have 2 spaces on campus that our Department manages. We have Danforth Chapel (https://www.usm.edu/union/danforth-chapel.php), which has Christian elements in the space. We also have 2 meditation and reflection rooms in the Union. They were created in 2020. Let me know what questions you have.

     

     

    Stephen R. McCay, Ph.D. 

    Associate Director for Operations | Union Department

    The University of Southern Mississippi

    Thad Cochran Center, Room 212

    118 College Drive #5067 | Hattiesburg, MS 39406

    Office: 601-266-4220 | Fax: 601-266-5870

    www.usm.edu/union

     

    signature_602675170

     

    Confidentiality Note: The information contained in this e-mail and/or document(s) attached is for the exclusive use of the individual named above and may contain confidential, privileged and non-disclosable information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you are strictly prohibited from reading, photocopying, distributing or otherwise using this e-mail or its contents in any way. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify me immediately.

     






  • 5.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 12-20-2021 08:57

    Hello!

     

    We have Meditation & Reflection space that I would be happy to answer any questions about.

     

    -Joe

     

    Joseph Hayes, Ed.D.

    Director

    Pronouns: He/Him/His

    Division of Student Affairs

    Campus Center and Student Experiences

    Campus Center

    420 University Blvd., Suite 370

    Indianapolis, IN 46202

    317-278-8511 / 317-517-9752

    hayesjom@iupui.edu

    life.iupui.edu

    iupui-logo

     






  • 6.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 12-20-2021 10:27
    Jean,

    We recently converted a small office to a Reflection Room. There are several on campus at University of Michigan -Ann Arbor. We've gotten good feeback from students that are gratful we added it to Palmer Commons. 

    https://trotter.umich.edu/article/reflection-rooms-campus

    Melanie

    ------------------------------
    Melanie Pizzulo
    Director, Palmer Commons
    University of Michigan Ann Arbor
    Ann Arbor MI
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 12-21-2021 16:25
    Hi Jean,

    UMass Lowell has a Serenity Center in our Student Center- happy to connect!
    Amy

    ------------------------------
    Amy Liss
    Senior Associate Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs
    University of Massachusetts Lowell
    Lowell MA
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 12-29-2021 15:37
    We have a meditation room at the University of Rochester.  Happy to connect for any additional information.  Here is some brief information from our website:

    Meditation Room Usage Policy

    Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., the meditation room is open for individual prayer and meditation use. Outside of these hours, reservations can be placed for activities appropriate for a meditation room. 

    When in the mediation room please:

    • Remove your shoes and place them in the cubbies outside the room, or put the booties provided over your shoes
    • Silence all cell phones and electronic devices
    • Be respectful of other's using the space at the same time you are

    This is not a room for group work or conversations. No food or drink permitted.



    ------------------------------
    Laura Ballou
    Assistant Dean, Student Life Operations
    University of Rochester
    Rochester NY
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 01-03-2022 10:00
    Jean,

    We have a Meditation room as well at the University of North Texas. Let me know if I can be of assistance!

    Wendy Denman

    ------------------------------
    Wendy Denman
    Executive Director
    University of North Texas
    Denton TX
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 01-07-2022 09:42
    We have a meditation room at in the Plemmons Student Union at Appalachian State. I can help you with any questions (bryantgr@appstate.edu). We converted a small meeting room into a space for meditation, prayer, or quiet reflection. We took out the carpet and installed hardwood flooring, painted the walls lavender, and built in a cabinet to store community prayer rugs, mats, and meditation cushions. We have a sound machine which can also be utilized as a speaker if anyone wants to use a meditation app or soft music.  There's also soft lighting with the use of floor lamps and battery operated candles. People are also encouraged to bring items for others to use in the room and we've collected a nice variety of prayer books, meditation books, religious books and materials from several different religions, prayer beads, etc. It is also common for people to leave encouraging notes for others in a small mailbox type container in the room. When we designed the room, we talked to various student groups on campus to find out what their needs were and what items/features would best suit their needs. We wanted to make sure that everyone felt welcomed, comfortable, and safe in the space. 

    To use the room, it is open for everyone from 8am-5pm daily and after 5pm for reservations for small groups. During the day hours, one can "reserve" the space by signing a form on a clipboard that hangs by the door. They can use it alone for up to 30 minutes. If they sign up and don't show up or show up late, then they forfeit their time and someone else can use it. We have a door hanger that indicates one side "private session in progress, please do not disturb" and on the other side "session in progress, please join." 

    Let me know if you have any questions or want more information. 

    Ginger Bryant

    ------------------------------
    Ginger Bryant
    Information Desk & Ticket Sales Manager
    Appalachian State University
    Boone NC
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 01-13-2022 14:29
    Dear All,
    I'm doing a Round Table at the Conference in March on "Spirituality and the Whole Student. The Student Union's Response to Spirituality". I would love to have you all there if you can to share the knowledge base for the Association members.
    Thanks
    MK

    ------------------------------
    Milton Karahadian
    Dir. Nicholson Commons
    Point Loma Nazarene University
    San Diego CA
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Prayer or Spirituality rooms

    Posted 01-28-2022 10:44
    Hello Jean,
     We have a prayer/meditation space as well as an ablution station at Rutgers University - New Brunswsick. I am happy to answer any questions that you may have (yakima.melton@rutgers.edu).


    ------------------------------
    Yakima Melton
    Director, Busch and Livingston Student Centers
    Rutgers University
    Piscataway NJ
    ------------------------------