Notre Dame, Brigham Young University, Yeshiva University among schools uniting to foster collaboration between religious and nonreligious colleges and universities
ACE announced today the establishment of the ACE Commission on Faith-based Colleges and Universities. The commission’s mission is to increase visibility for the important contributions of religious and faith-based colleges and universities and to foster collaboration between religious and nonreligious colleges and universities that benefits the whole of higher education, such as on access, affordability, and completion.
“ACE is honored to support and convene this important commission,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “Faith-based institutions connect feelings of belief and belonging with intellectual expression and considering the social, economic, and environmental challenges facing us today, we can ill afford for religious universities to be hidden.”
Commission members include leaders from 13 schools, including University of Notre Dame, Yeshiva University, Pepperdine University, Brigham Young University (BYU), The Catholic University of America, and George Fox University. The commission will focus on increasing visibility for research and academic contributions of faith-based colleges and universities.
On June 4, the commission will host its first meetings in Washington, DC, which will feature:
- A panel focused on religious identity as a driver of access and innovation in higher education. Speakers include the presidents of The Catholic University of America, BYU–Pathway Worldwide, and Oakwood University.
- A panel focused on religious mission as a driver of scholarly excellence and innovation in research. Speakers include the presidents of Yeshiva University, Pepperdine University, Baylor University, Brigham Young University and Georgetown University.
- Keynote addresses by Ruth L. Okediji, Jeremiah Smith Jr. Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and co-director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, and Freeman A. Hrabowski III, ACE Centennial Fellow and president emeritus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
The idea for the commission came on the heels of the successful “The Fate of the Religious University” conference hosted by ACE in January 2023. The convening gathered presidents of America’s leading religious universities to discuss the largest challenges facing the higher education system and how distinctive religious identities can be used to combat them. Discussions focused on the lack of access, affordability, completion, and scholarship. The commission will continue to host similar events to bring leaders together, explore ideas and seek solutions to issues facing faith-based institutions and the rest of higher education.
Clark Gilbert, commissioner of the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Shirley V. Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, have been appointed to serve as inaugural co-chairs of the commission.
“A faith-based mission on campus can unite people with diverse backgrounds and drive accessibility in education,” said Gilbert. “This is happening all across America, where young adults are looking for somewhere that will value and recognize their faith. And they don’t often feel that in other institutions.”
“In today’s higher education climate, it is vital to celebrate and advance the different contributions that various sectors of higher education represent,” said Hoogstra. “Religious universities offer a unique contribution to the world and we are grateful for the broad involvement and support of the institutions represented on this inaugural committee and ACE’s leadership.”
Other members of the commission’s executive committee include President Robin Baker of George Fox University, President and Rosh Yeshiva Ari Berman of Yeshiva University, President Rochelle L. Ford of Dillard University, President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Gash of Pepperdine University, President John I. Jenkins of the University of Notre Dame, President Peter K. Kilpatrick of The Catholic University of America, President D. Michael Lindsay of Taylor University, President Thayne M. McCulloh of Gonzaga University, President Candice McQueen of Lipscomb University, President Leslie Pollard of Oakwood University, President C. Shane Reese of Brigham Young University, President Philip G. Ryken of Wheaton College, President and Professor of Economics Beck A. Taylor of Samford University and President Dwuan J. Warmack of Claflin University.
*Media who are interested in attending the inaugural meeting of the Commission on Faith-based Colleges and Universities, to be held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, click here to register or contact Audrey Hamilton at auhamilton@acenet.edu.