They believe there needs to be a change.
A new initiative aims to highlight how faith-based colleges and universities are striving to make higher education more affordable and foster collaboration with secular institutions. The American Council on Education (ACE) has launched the Commission on Faith-based Colleges and Universities. This commission emerged from a January 2023 conference, where leaders from prominent religious universities discussed leveraging their unique identities to address the challenges in the higher education sector.
The commission, co-chaired by Clark Gilbert of the Church Education System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Shirley Hoogstra of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, seeks to find solutions to the issues both faith-based and secular institutions face. ACE President Ted Mitchell emphasized the importance of the commission, noting that religious institutions play a crucial role in connecting belief with intellectual pursuits, particularly in addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.
The commission’s Executive Committee includes leaders from various faith-based colleges and universities, such as George Fox University, Yeshiva University, Dillard University, Pepperdine University, the University of Notre Dame, and others. These members are committed to advancing the unique contributions of religious universities to the broader higher education landscape. The committee’s first event will be held in Washington, D.C., with representatives from 40-50 institutions expected to attend.
Hoogstra and Gilbert stressed the importance of collaboration among religious and secular institutions to enhance accessibility, affordability, and accountability in education. They highlighted successful initiatives, such as Southeastern University’s network leveraging church resources for affordable education and BYU-Pathway’s use of online learning and church facilities to reduce costs. These examples demonstrate how faith-based schools can innovate and support students financially.
Additionally, Gilbert and Hoogstra praised work-study programs at institutions like the College of the Ozarks and BYU Hawaii, which allow students to earn their tuition and housing costs while studying. They also discussed how collaboration between religious and secular schools can promote pluralism and mutual understanding. Examples include joint programs between Oberlin College and Spring Arbor University, and Biola University and Pomona College, which helped students from different backgrounds appreciate diverse perspectives and work together on common issues.