University of Findlay has received an $8,900 Campus Community grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education toward the development of a new student organization that will support the campus’s interfaith community. Intended “to promote a campus culture grounded in respect and understanding,” the grant will fund the creation of an interpath student council, which will promote interfaith outreach on campus and in the Findlay community.

Creation of the interpath student council represents a collaboration between University of Findlay’s Buford Center for campus, community, and global engagement, campus ministry, and the department of English, philosophy and religious studies. In November 2024, employees from these areas reviewed data collected through University of Findlay’s participation in the INSPIRES Index. This index helps institutions assess their efforts in creating a community that welcomes students of various faiths and worldviews. Based on the data, employees agreed that an interpath student organization could help expand and enrich current campus programming related to shared values. Such an organization could also develop students as spiritual leaders by increasing their capacity to share values across communities.

“We chose the term interpath because it encompasses the range of beliefs, culture, and faith traditions on campus,” said Wesley Sutermeister, PhD, assistant professor of religious studies. “We see this organization as grounded in a spirit of kindness, compassion, and community service.”

Grant funds will pay for student leadership development opportunities as well as intercultural and community service experiences to occur spring semester and summer 2025.

Students interested in joining the interpath student council are invited to contact Sutermeister at wesley.sutermeister@findlay.edu.

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