Chris,
Some examples supplied by our multi-faith chaplaincy:
* Through the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy The University of Northampton provides facilities on both campuses for prayer/quiet space for all faiths and for those of no faith who seek a place of refuge and refreshment away from the pressures of university life.
* On the larger campus the provision of one main prayer/quiet room and a second room ensures that there is always space for groups or individuals to pray when their needs are different (e.g. diverse faiths or separation of sexes).
* Open availability of rooms 24/7 .When there is no Chaplain on site the rooms are still available on application to Security for a key which is provided when a student identity card is produced. The Multi-Faith Chaplaincy is within easy reach of the main Security Desk which facilitates monitoring.
* Chaplains are regularly available in the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy for those who seek advice or a listening ear. They are both proactive and reactive in offering opportunity for friendship across faith groups. The kitchen is open to anyone who wants to make themselves a drink or snack. Facilities are shared in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
* Through a grant from the University's Widening Participation funds were made available for a part-time Interfaith Liaison Research Assistant to work specifically on forging links with local faith communities. This project is in operation and already fruitful.
There are also some issues emerging around meeting dietary needs/requirements within university catering. But I don't think this helps in identifying examples of best/good practice!! Watch this space.
There have been some (rare!) issues around religious needs/requirements and shared kitchen facilities. We have taken the view that each situation will be looked at individually (where support, counselling and/or help with negotiations with flat-mates may be offered), within the overall and general perspective that one objective of providing university accommodation is to enable people from different backgrounds (all all kinds - not just in the context of religion/belief) to experience the "trials and tribulations" - and joys (!) - of living together, perhaps for the first time on leaving home, and negotiating their way through such (inevitable?) conflicts and disagreements. I don't think we would really want respond to requests for accommodation that may result in the long-term "voluntary" segregation or separation of different groups of students, except in very exceptional circumstances.
Hope these observations are useful.
Paul
Paul Crofts
Equality and Diversity Advisor
University of Northampton
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel: 01604-893887
________________________________
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list on behalf of Chris Brill
Sent: Tue 5/12/2009 11:25
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Equality Challenge Unit request for examples: Religious observance in HE - facilities and services
Equality Challenge Unit request for examples
Religious observance in HE - facilities and services
Following on from the first briefing in a series on Religious observance, 'Religious observance in HE - timetabling and work patterns' [linked], Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) is looking to produce practical guidance for institutions relating to potential conflicts between religious observance and the provision of facilities and services.
This initiative has evolved as a result of the meeting on Religion and Belief involving ECU and national student-led religion and belief organisations, unions, higher education institutions and other religion and belief organisations.
Potential clashes
The Religion and Belief meeting identified a few key areas where there may be a clash between religious observance and the provision of facilities and services.
These include:
* The provision and management of prayer facilities (e.g. multifaith rooms and 'personal reflection, meditation or prayer' rooms)
* The presence of alcohol at key events (e.g. AGMs, union elections and inductions)
* Catering for a range of dietary requirements (e.g. Kosher, Halal, vegan)
* Provision of specific accommodation (e.g. single sex accommodation, Shabbat appropriate accommodation) and the use of shared kitchen facilities.
Your experiences
ECU is interested to learn whether staff and students have approached your institutions and organisations with issues in these areas and what steps have been taken to resolve these clashes.
ECU is also keen to learn whether staff and students have approached you with other conflicts relating to religious observance and the provision of facilities and services, and also what other issues you face in this area or feel you may potentially face.
Sharing your examples
We invite you to email examples from your institutions around these issues to [log in to unmask] by 22 May 2009.
To ensure that practical solutions can be shared with the sector, ECU would ask that responses include:
* How you decided upon the course of action taken
e.g. through consultation with student religion and belief groups
* The key learning points
We look forward to hearing your responses.
Please also disseminate this to any relevant colleagues with an interest in this area, including equality and diversity practitioners, heads of human resources, estates and student services.
Contact details
Chris Brill <http://www.ecu.ac.uk/Members/ChrisB> , Policy Adviser
Equality Challenge Unit
E: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]@ecu.ac.uk>
About the Equality Challenge Unit
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