The William Jewett Tucker Center for Spiritual and Ethical Life is expanding its Foundations of Interfaith Engagement course to faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdocs this winter.
Initially launched for undergraduate students in the fall, the self-paced online course includes material that introduces essential knowledge and skills that integrate interfaith literacy into everyday practice through storytelling, reflection activities, and real-world scenarios. The five-hour course spotlights Dartmouth voices through video reflections from students, chaplains, and campus ministers while showcasing religious spaces across campus.
It is intended to equip people who take the course with the skills, language, and confidence to engage meaningfully across religious, spiritual, and secular worldviews.
“The Tucker Center is always looking to deepen our learning, our work, and our leadership with ‘conscience and heart,’” says the Rev. Nancy Vogele ’85, chaplain and director of the Tucker Center. “This course will empower participants to engage with empathy and curiosity while strengthening inclusive teaching, advising, and workplace collaboration.”
The course was developed in partnership with Interfaith America, Religion and Public Life, the Tucker Center, and Institutional Diversity and Equity.
“I realized how unique and individual each religious experience is,” said Ayla Zook ’29, who took the course in the fall. “Being grounded in respect and compassion can help drive connection and understanding between faiths.”
Last term, 20 undergraduates participated in the course as a wellness education credit. Students are encouraged to explore well-being through a wide range of offerings that cultivate personal growth, integrate spiritual well-being, and foster connections with others.
Extending the course to all community members reflects Dartmouth’s broader Commitment to Care—the comprehensive strategic plan that aims to support student mental health and well-being. This course complements a suite of employee benefits provided by Wellness at Dartmouth.
By selecting from two engagement paths, faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdocs have the opportunity to build interfaith skills and knowledge and may opt to earn a certificate from Dartmouth.
- Course Completion Path: Participants who complete the five-hour course are invited to an end-of-year community gathering and celebration meal sponsored by the Tucker Center.
- Certification and Badging Path: In addition to completing the course, participants can take part in an information session at Rollins Chapel (in person or via recording), a sacred spaces tour, and a short project connecting interfaith engagement to their own sphere of influence. This provides a pathway to certification and badging.
The Tucker Center will host an online information session at 2 p.m. on Feb. 3. Advance registration is requested.
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Dartmouth community members are also invited to participate in a facilitated interfaith conversation with someone from a different secular or religious worldview. These dialogues are coordinated by One Small Step, and registration is open until Jan. 26.
