USU Interfaith Initiative collection
Scope and Contents
This collection will continue to grow as materials are added.
Dates
- Creation: 2013-2014
Language of Materials
Material in English
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the USU Interfaith Initiative must be obtained from the Curator of the Fife Folklore Archives and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Historical Note
The Interfaith Initiative was started by Bonnie Glass-Coffin, PhD of Utah State University’s (USU) Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology. She discovered the need for religious literacy on USU’s campus after teaching a course titled, “Introduction to Shamanism” in spring 2012. Following this course, Dr. Glass-Coffin took the need for religious literacy into her own hands by starting a campus-wide search for a program that fit USU’s specific needs and culture. Though the initiative took on several shapes, Dr. Eboo Patel’s Interfaith Youth Core based in Chicago took root. Dr. Patel’s core belief that “religion is a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division” became the foundation for USU’s Interfaith Initiative. The initiative is focused on creating a safe place for religious literacy and interfaith cooperation through service projects and activities.
Extent
1 box (.5 linear feet)
Abstract
This is a collection of information on how Utah State University’s Interfaith Initiative project began and the shaping process it endured. It includes emails, flyers, PowerPoints, meeting notes, roundtable summaries and transcriptions, IRB forms, grant applications.
Arrangement
- A breakdown of the collection organization follows
- SERIES I: ADMINISTRATION
- Sub-series A: Correspondence
- Sub-series B: Documents
- Sub-series C: Media Recordings
- SERIES II: PUBLICITY/PUBLICATIONS
- Sub-series A: Publicity
- Sub-series B: Publications
- SERIES III: ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
- Sub-series A: Correspondence
- Sub-series B: Administrative Documents
- Sub-series C: Oral Histories
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was created by Dr. Bonnie Glass-Coffin who desired to bring religious literacy to the campus of Utah State University (USU). Through the gathering of administrative materials, Dr. Glass-Coffin accumulated a chronological paper trail which tells the story of how USU’s Interfaith Initiative began. With approval from USU’s Institutional Review Board and assistance from several student researchers, Dr. Glass-Coffin interviewed students at USU gathering a qualitative picture of spiritual/religious acceptance on campus; these interviews were not allowed to be included in this collection. All materials were donated by Dr. Glass-Coffin to Utah State University’s Special Collections and Archives in hopes of preserving the campus movement.
Processing Information
Processed in Summer of 2014 and updated Winter of 2015 by Heidi Williams
- Title
- Guide to the USU Interfaith Initiative collection 2013-2014
- Author
- Finding aid/Register created by Heidi Williams
- Date
- ©2014
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English
Revision Statements
- 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu