Open AccessChapter 9: Searching for Meaning on College Campuses
Author(s) -
Qualters Donna M.,
Dolinsky Beverly,
Woodnick Michael
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
to improve the academy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-4822
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-4822.2009.tb00554.x
Subject(s) - meaning (existential) , spirituality , work (physics) , process (computing) , public relations , sociology , psychology , higher education , pedagogy , medical education , computer science , engineering , political science , medicine , mechanical engineering , alternative medicine , pathology , law , psychotherapist , operating system
Discussing spirituality on a secular college campus can be risky. Yet faculty and students have expressed a need to explore meaning in their lives and work. This chapter describes one university's year‐long efforts to develop a social web of activities around spirituality and meaning in community members' lives. We describe the process of determining needs and the resulting programs. But more important, we share lessons learned, including advice on creating the climate for spiritually oriented programming to gain acceptance and be viewed as an enhancement to campus life.