ABSTRACT

College campuses have a responsibility to cultivate campus climates that are reflective and welcoming to students from all faith traditions. This chapter explores the context of religious diversity in higher education by discussing the following: (1) the undergirding of Christianity as the religious majority in the early development of higher education institutions, (2) the continued prevalence of Christian privilege, (3) the significance of religion and the experiences of religious minority students in college, and (4) conceptual frameworks for understanding the campus climate and aspects of religious minority students’ religiousness. Through these frameworks, this chapter aims to highlight institutional responsibility toward enhancing the nature and quality of experiences for religious minority students. Implications for practice are offered to help educators and higher education administrators improve campus climate for religious minority students.