Assessing Student Engagement With Campus Chaplains: A Pilot Study From a Residential Liberal Arts College

Abstract

This article examines student engagement with chaplaincy services through a pilot survey administered at a private liberal arts college (n = 1043). Almost half of the respondents reported engagement with campus chaplains, which varied by religious tradition and race. Respondents who had engaged with chaplains were more likely to report integrating spirituality into daily life, feeling supported in wrestling with life’s big questions, and experiencing spiritual growth. They were not more likely to feel they were resilient or could manage stress. The authors encourage researchers to build on the model and findings presented here to identify empirically how chaplaincy services affect students.

Notes

¹ We recognize that there is no commonly agreed-upon definition of chaplain. For the purposes of this article, we define a chaplain as a “person who is appointed and/or approved by the college administration and responsible to it for campus religious work,” following Smith’s (1954, p. 7) usage in The American College Chaplaincy. Although some institutions of higher education confer the title of chaplain upon individuals employed by external organizations (e.g., parachurch groups, denominations), we include only those who are paid staff of a college or university.

² The survey instrument is included as an appendix. Questions 9 and 10 are from the UCLA 2007 College Students’ Beliefs and Values Survey. Questions 12–18 are from the Student Well-Being Process Questionnaire. Questions 19–21 are from the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen. Demographic questions are adapted from the Pew Religious Landscape Study.

³ However, this finding is likely the result of differences in the survey format and wording. Our “mixed” category was not listed as a stand-alone category on the survey instrument; rather, we created this category to describe students who selected multiple religious traditions.

⁴ Approximately 1/3 of domestic students at this institution reported their race as non-Hispanic White, close to 20% reported their race as Asian, and less than 10% reported their race as non-Hispanic Black.

⁵ The coefficient for spiritual but not religious is so large in model 1 because there are no respondents who affiliated with this group who reported interfaith engagement.

Additional information

Funding

This research was made possible in part by a 2018-2019 Innovation Incubator award from the BTS Center. The statements made and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the authors.

Notes on contributors

Elena G. van Stee

a

Elena G. van Stee ([email protected]) is a PhD student in sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on higher education, the transition to adulthood, social stratification, and religion.

Taylor Paige Winfield

b

Taylor Paige Winfield ([email protected]) is a PhD candidate in sociology at Princeton University. Her research focuses on culture, inequality, institutions, and religion.

Wendy Cadge

c

Wendy Cadge ([email protected]) is professor of sociology at Brandeis University. She is an expert in contemporary American religion, especially related to religion in public institutions, religious diversity, immigration, and healthcare.

John Schmalzbauer

d

John Schmalzbauer ([email protected]) is a sociologist in the Religious Studies Department at Missouri State University, where he directs the Landscape Study of Chaplaincy and Campus Ministry in the United States.

Tiffany Steinwert

e

Tiffany Steinwert ([email protected]) is dean for religious & spiritual Life at Stanford University. Her scholarly work explores chaplaincy in higher education, moral leadership, inter-faith engagement, and contemplative pedagogies.

Shelly Rambo

f

Shelly Rambo ([email protected]) is associate professor of theology at Boston University School of Theology. Her research focuses on contemporary theology and religious responses to trauma and moral injury.

Elizabeth Clifford

g

Elizabeth Clifford ([email protected]) is a sociology major at Brandeis University, with a minor in economics.