Announcing the 2023-2024 Annual Report for the Office of Religious & Spiritual Life

By Austin Reid, June 6, 2024

The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is proud to present highlights of its activities during the 2023 - 2024 academic year.

The Office of Religious & Spiritual Life (ORSL) is excited to share the release of its 2023-2024 Annual Report! The 2023-2024 academic year has been defined by growth, engagement, and connections within our campus community.

Highlights from the Year:

  • Faith Communities Re-recognized: ORSL proudly assisted with the re-recognition of three faith communities in Spring 2024, continuing our commitment to supporting spiritual expression at Ithaca College.
  • Student Engagement: Muller Chapel served as a hub of activity, welcoming between 165 and 205 unique students each month while classes were in session.
  • Our most popular event, Noah's Ark De-Stress Petting Zoo, co-hosted with Hillel at Ithaca College, drew an incredible 334 students, offering a fun and relaxing break from academic pressures.

A Sample of Other Programs and Events Supported by ORSL:

  • Mindful IC, a volunteer community of mindfulness practitioners, led meditation sessions four times a week at Muller Chapel while classes were in session, providing a peaceful retreat for faculty, staff, and students to practice mindfulness.
  • Lighthouse Christian Fellowship organized its annual Easter Egg Hunt drawing around 200 students. ORSL was proud to co-sponsor this festive event which brought joy to campus.
  • ORSL also co-sponsored Ithaca College's inaugural Eid Bazaar in partnership with the IC Muslim Student Association, Office of the President, BIPOC Unity Center, and Student Activities Board. In addition, ORSL supported I.C.'s Muslim community through other efforts during the spring semster, including expanding the chapel's offerings around Islamic literature and funding improvements for the campus's two prayer rooms.

Throughout the year, Muller Chapel was the site of a remarkable array of activities. In total ORSL hosted:

  • 124 worship services
  • 133 text study sessions or classes
  • 138 meditation sessions

Since 2018, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life has served as the heartbeat of Ithaca College, fostering a center for learning, mindfulness, and prayer.

For a detailed look at the ORSL annual report, please visit the link here. The report is also accessible through the ORSL website