UConn offers many resources for those who are religiously affiliated. Some of these resources that we’ll discuss are Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and UConn Faith.
ERGs are employee-led coalitions comprised of employees who share common interests, backgrounds, and/or demographic factors. They coordinate professional and social networking events, fostering community amongst individuals with similar identities and interests. Two religiously affiliated ERGs are Salesforce’s Faithforce and Google’s Inter Belief Network.
Faithforce was founded in 2017 and has more than 2000 members across five continents. It is an interfaith group that focuses on supporting and promoting faith and spiritual diversity. Faithforce creates educational events and employee initiatives to create inclusive spaces where employees feel comfortable in their faith at work. For example, Faithforce facilitates religious accommodations for employees, such as changing meeting times during Ramadan.
Google’s Inter Belief Network (IBN) strives to foster a culture of inclusion and mutual respect for diverse beliefs where all feel welcome. IBN has multiple chapters representing a variety of faiths, including Buddhists, Christians, Jews, and Muslims. IBN even has an interfaith chapter. In addition, IBN promotes tolerance and publishes blogs about various religious topics.
UConn Faith is dedicated to supporting students from diverse backgrounds and faiths. On their homepage, UConn Faith asserts that through spiritual wellness, “we create a set of core values, principles, and beliefs that guide us in our daily actions. Spiritual wellness promotes resiliency, clarifies purpose and fosters a sense of community belonging.” On the website, you can find a directory of faith-based organizations, secure religious accommodations, access to bias reporting, and learn about food assistance programs here at UConn.
For more information about these resources and more, check out their links and the Center for Career Development’s website here.
Photo Credit: Hannah Busing via Unsplash
