Spiritual Life

Carroll University is more than a place to earn your degree. It’s also a community where you’ll grow as a person. Through weekly programs, retreats and partnership with local faith communities, the Office of Spiritual Life and Chaplain Elizabeth McCord will help you discover a purposeful life.
 

Carroll University is both Presbyterian and inter-denominational, Christian and multi-faith. We’re affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and draw on our Christian heritage, but our students, faculty and staff come from a wide variety of faith traditions. The Office of Spiritual Life celebrates and supports this diversity of spiritual paths through opportunities for service, reflection, inter-religious education, annual retreats and regular faith practice. Student organizations, such as InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and WELS Campus Ministry, offer additional experiences for faith development and leadership on campus.

Carroll’s partnerships with external religious and nonprofit organizations enable students to extend their spiritual community. Together with these groups Carroll offers countless opportunities for learning, service and spiritual growth on campus and in the broader community.

The Carroll University and the Presbytery of Milwaukee are excited to announce our Chaplain Residency Partnership for the 2021-22 academic year. The Chaplain Residency is bringing Jackie Rodriguez, an emerging faith leader to our region.  Jackie will serve halftime on the Carroll University campus and halftime at with West Granville Presbyterian Church.  This partnership is made possible through the generosity of Carroll donors and the support of the Presbytery of Milwaukee.

A Vision of Partnership for the Gospel

Partnered in Leadership. The heart of the Chaplain Residency Partnership is the initiative to bring a recent seminary graduate to the Presbytery of Milwaukee who will engage in creative, committed pastoral leadership in two vital ministry settings: a local congregation and Carroll University. The resident will be employed half-time by the congregation and half-time by Carroll. They will receive supervision and mentorship from season clergy members of the Presbytery and opportunities for continuing education through Carroll. They will nurture opportunities for collaboration and innovation in both ministry settings, serving alongside each community with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.

Carroll University: A Legacy of Partnership with the Presbyterian Church

As the first four-year institution of higher education in the State of Wisconsin, Carroll University roots our mission in our Presbyterian and liberal arts heritage. Since 1850 Carroll has been affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, a relationship reaffirmed in our 2010 Covenant with the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. The University has had a long history of serving and being served by the church, and Carroll’s mission and core values reflect the educational excellence, purposeful living, and Reformed spirit expressed throughout Presbyterian culture. 
Carroll University’s Strategic Plan, Pioneer Driven, charts an ambitious and dynamic course forward, one characterized by innovation and entrepreneurship and fueled by the dedication and drive of today’s Pioneers. As part of Pioneer Driven, the Chaplain Residency Partnership will celebrate our Presbyterian heritage and enhance our core mission: to provide a superior education, rooted in its Presbyterian and liberal arts heritage, and draws upon its Christian tradition to prepare all students for vocational success, lifelong learning and service in a diverse and global society.

• Community Service & Volunteering
• Statement of Christian Purpose
• Student Organizations
• Things to Do On Campus
• Accomodations for Religious Practice
• Religious Communities of the Region
• Student Support Resources

Carroll University supports the holistic spiritual development of every student. Here, you will have opportunities to practice your own tradition while also learning about the breadth of religious practices and expressions. Carroll offers a variety of resources and accommodations to enable you to maintain your religious heritage and deepen your spirituality.   

Absences for Religious Observances. The Office of Spiritual Life promotes holidays from many major religious traditions and provides resources for students’ religious observance. Classes are not in session during most major Christian holidays, including Good Friday. Students whose traditions require absences during regular class times should contact their professors within the first two weeks of each semester. Students are still responsible for any missed classwork, and professors will provide arrangements for missed assignments on a case-by-case basis. Similarly, students missing campus work, athletic activities or other campus commitments should notify their supervisor, coach or advisor well in advance. Students needing assistance in addressing questions regarding religious absences may contact chaplain@carrollu.edu.    

Dietary Practices. Carroll’s various dining venues offer a range of meal options and dining hours. Choose a vegetarian diet with alternative protein sources at the G8 station in the Main Dining Room or grab a late-night meal from the Pioneer Indoor Terrace to manage fasting hours. Students who observe other dietary practices, such as kosher or halal diets, are encouraged to contact dining@carrollu.edu to discuss dining options. When our dining services are unable to meet specific religious dietary needs, students may request housing with kitchens where they can prepare their own meals.    

Housing Accommodations. Carroll’s residential housing is a welcoming environment where students from a range of religious traditions live and observe their own spiritual practices. On rare occasions, students may require special housing accommodations to practice their tradition fully. Students with concerns about housing policies and religious practice should email housing@carrollu.edu for more information. 

Connecting with Your Tradition. The religious communities of our region love welcoming Carroll students for both religious practice and education. The Office of Spiritual Life will help you find a community of your own tradition, so that you can continue enriching your religious identity as a student.