On Monday, June 9, the American Council on Education (ACE) hosted an afternoon Commission on Faith-Based Colleges and Universities at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The program featured a keynote address by author and Professor Ryan R. Burge, as well as remarks by representatives from religious schools such as Reverend Robert A. Dowd, President of Notre Dame University; Michael Lindsay, President of Indiana‘s Taylor University and Rabbi Ari Berman, President of New York City’s Yeshiva University, among others.
A new documentary, Higher Education: The Power of Faith-Inspired Learning, was also shown, which profiled students from universities such as Taylor and Catholic University in Washington, DC.
Overall, the event was highly informative and complimentary toward the role and accomplishments of faith-based schools. ACE President Ted Mitchell welcomed the roughly 125 attendees from the higher education, policy, and nonprofit sectors. He explained that while college enrollment is now trending downward, enrollment at religious schools is going up. Professor Burge elaborated that while students generally attend college to secure a better job, they are also now prioritizing purpose, moral clarity, and good values when selecting schools.
Professor Burge also disabused listeners of certain myths, especially that the college-educated are irreligious. Yes, the category of “nones”—those with no formal religious affiliation—is increasing. But Burge insisted that a majority of college graduates still attend church—you can clearly point to the positive relationship between education and religious attendance.” He also catalogued the numerous benefits of religious practice for students, including greater overall happiness as confirmed by various happiness surveys, more trust in others and greater stability across the board—employment and home life, for example—noting that religious faith also helps those on society’s lowest rung—those with lower incomes or broken homes—the most.
The documentary was also inspirational as it featured students of strong religious conviction who explained how college aided their spiritual growth and how they valued having similarly motivated classmates. While these schools enroll students from all walks of life—rich and poor, urban and rural—they obviously attract those who prioritize God-centered moral development as well as academics.
So bright spots do exist in American higher education, and not all college students are woke snowflakes hostile to traditional morality.
That said, the event sidestepped any attempt to address the serious problems associated with college itself and its suitability for so many young people. For example, no one mentioned the crisis of student loan obligations and how average salaries for college graduates are not keeping pace with tuition increases or debt levels. Today, most young people leave college encumbered by these loans, often unable to make ends meet, much less form a family, presumably a vitally important milestone for those of religious faith. Yet college itself and its costs often interfere with or hinder these critical next steps.
The documentary also featured a student with a four-year degree in theater. As interesting as this program may be, one wonders if four years on campus is really preferable to four years of actual work as a performer?
Indeed, an event like this might discourage questions about college alternatives even as they deserve to be asked now more than ever. A young person could consider missionary work or volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, for example, to grow spiritually and serve God and their neighbor. A four-year college experience is hardly the only or even the preferred path, even at an authentically religious school.
Last, surveys on happiness and trust levels are problematic. The respected 20th-century Catholic Bishop Fulton Sheen frequently stressed that happiness itself can never be the goal; in fact, when we aim directly for happiness, it eludes us. Instead, true happiness is always a byproduct— specifically, a byproduct of a good life. Interestingly, the happiest people are often unconsciously so, never thinking of their own happiness since they’re typically focused on others, rather than on themselves and their own feelings.
Trust also deserves scrutiny, as trusting others is not in itself a virtue. In fact, much of growing up—and much of education—involve learning what and who deserve trust and what and who does not.
But ACE wanted to get the word out about faith-based schools; it did not set out to address core problems with American higher education. So mission accomplished and job well done.
I discussed this event in greater detail with Jared Gould, Managing Editor of Minding the Campus, during our latest VAS News Chat, which can be viewed here.
Image: Asbury University Administration Building by Amannelle (Wikimedia Commons); in 2024, Asbury reached its highest-ever enrollment—over 2,000 students—according to Christianity Today.
