Muslim Chaplains – Muslim Campus Life

Combatting Islamophobia: Training University of Virginia (UVA) Staff to Prevent Islamophobia on Campus

Muslim Campus Life Team — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:55:48 +0000

This past spring, Muslim Campus Life had the privilege of conducting an Islamophobia training session for senior administration and student-facing staff at the University of Virginia. The sessions aimed to equip staff with the knowledge and tools to recognize and address Islamophobia within their interactions with students. The sessions were designed to be informative and interactive. We covered a range of topics, including:

Understanding Islamophobia: We explored the different forms that Islamophobia can take, from overt discrimination to more subtle microaggressions.
Impact on Students: We discussed the negative impact that Islamophobia has had on Muslim college students’ well-being and academic success.
Recognizing Islamophobia: We equipped staff with the skills to identify Islamophobic behavior in their interactions with students.
Responding to Islamophobia: We provided staff with strategies for effectively responding to Islamophobic incidents.

The sessions also incorporated case studies and role-playing exercises, allowing staff to practice their intervention skills in a safe space.

The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Staff appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Islamophobia and gain practical tools to support Muslim students. Many attendees commented on the importance of creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the University of Virginia community.

Presenting at the Boston Muslim College Student Leadership Summit

Muslim Campus Life Team — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:53:20 +0000

Muslim student leaders from across Boston gathered at the ISBCC last weekend for a summit focused on addressing the challenges facing Muslim college students in today’s complex campus environment. The one-day conference brought together Muslim Student Association leaders to share strategies and build solidarity.

The summit tackled several pressing issues affecting Muslim students, including the navigation of recent shifts in campus policies around diversity programming and student organizing. Leaders discussed practical approaches for maintaining vital cultural and religious resources while building broader coalitions with other student groups.

Participants workshopped effective ways to advocate for prayer spaces, halal dining options, and academic accommodations for religious observances. Several sessions focused on documenting incidents of bias and discrimination while working constructively with university administrators to address concerns.

Looking ahead, participants developed action plans for strengthening Muslim student communities while fostering dialogue and understanding across campus. The conference concluded with students committing to ongoing collaboration and resource-sharing between institutions.

Presenting at the 15th Ivy Muslim Conference

Muslim Campus Life Team — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:25:11 +0000

At the Ivy Muslim Conference, Muslim Campus Life presented on the systematic underreporting of Islamophobic incidents and encouraged students across New England to more systematically report incidents of Islamophobia that they may be experiencing or witnessing. Muslim student leaders from across the Ivy League gathered last weekend for critical discussions on strengthening campus communities. As Islamophobia continues to impact Muslim students’ experiences, this year’s conference provided an essential space to share strategies and build collective resilience.

Particularly valuable were the breakout sessions, keynote speeches, and coffee chats where MSA leaders shared their experiences navigating different campus environments. The conference reinforced that while campuses face distinct challenges, Muslim student leaders share common goals of creating more inclusive and equitable universities. The connections forged will strengthen collective work moving forward inshAllah.

Presenting at the Inaugural Qalam MSA Leadership Summit: Reporting Islamophobia

Muslim Campus Life Team — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:43:23 +0000

Muslim Campus Life recently presented at the inaugural Qalam-MSA Leadership Summit, a gathering of student leaders from Muslim Student Associations at various colleges. The summit aimed to provide professional development, resources, and networking opportunities for Muslim student leaders. Muslim Campus Life discussed the importance of reporting incidents of Islamophobia to campus officials and community-based organizations.… Read More »

Presenting at ICNA 2024: Lessons from the Campus Islamophobia Tracker

Muslim Campus Life Team — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 13:55:32 +0000

At this year’s ICNA convention in Baltimore, MD, Muslim Campus Life presented a powerful session focused on combating Islamophobia on college campuses. The session, “Navigating the Current Campus Climate: Lessons from the Campus Islamophobia Tracker,” leveraged data and real-world student experiences from dozens of college campuses to equip students with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate this complex issue.

Islamophobia on college campuses continues to be a persistent issue across the nation. The Muslim Campus Life Campus Islamophobia Tracker documents these incidents, providing a crucial resource for understanding the scope of the problem. The ICNA session delved into the data we collected, analyzed trends, and identified common themes taking place.

The session empowered students by providing them with actionable strategies for responding to Islamophobia. There was a significant emphasis on the need to engage in reporting incidents of Islamophobia, due to the severe underreporting taking place on campus. Many students attended the session and shared their own experiences this past year.

Combatting Islamophobia: Training Harvard Staff to Prevent Islamophobia on Campus

Muslim Campus Life Team — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 11:07:03 +0000

This past spring, Muslim Campus Life had the privilege of conducting two Islamophobia training sessions for student-facing staff at Harvard University. The sessions aimed to equip staff with the knowledge and tools to recognize and address Islamophobia within their interactions with students. The sessions were designed to be informative and interactive. We covered a range of topics, including:

Understanding Islamophobia: We explored the different forms that Islamophobia can take, from overt discrimination to more subtle microaggressions.
Impact on Students: We discussed the negative impact that Islamophobia has had on Muslim college students’ well-being and academic success.
Recognizing Islamophobia: We equipped staff with the skills to identify Islamophobic behavior in their interactions with students.
Responding to Islamophobia: We provided staff with strategies for effectively responding to Islamophobic incidents.

The sessions also incorporated case studies and role-playing exercises, allowing staff to practice their intervention skills in a safe space.

The 2nd Annual Ramadan Webinar: Helping Campuses Prepare for Ramadan

Muslim Campus Life Team — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 22:30:30 +0000

After the success of the inaugural Ramadan Webinar, the second annual Ramadan Webinar brought together over 100 college staff members from across the country for another insightful session on supporting Muslim students during the holy month of Ramadan.

Building on the foundation laid last year, the webinar featured returning speakers Joshua Salaam and Asma Malik. They offered a fresh perspective on Ramadan observances, the evolving needs of Muslim students, and practical strategies for fostering inclusion on college campuses across the country.

The success of the second Ramadan webinar initiative demonstrates a growing commitment to inclusivity in higher education. By equipping college staff with the knowledge and tools they need, we can ensure that campuses are welcoming and supportive environments for Muslim students observing Ramadan. The momentum is building, and we look forward to even more inclusive college experiences for Muslim students.

The webinar was attended by over 100 college staff from several universities including Columbia University, Stanford University, New York University, Elon University, Stony Brook University, Louisiana State University, Rutgers University, University of Vermont, University of Miami, and more.

Joining the Critical Talk Podcast: Muslim, College, & Student Life

Muslim Campus Life Team — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 04:37:38 +0000

On February 12th, Salman Khan, a member of the Muslim Campus Life team, joined Dr. Aminah Al Deen and Dr. Nisa Muhammad on the Critical Talk podcast for a conversation on Muslim student life. The conversation focused on the challenges and experiences of Muslim students on college campuses, Islamophobia on campus, and how the American Muslim community can improve the campus environment. The episode emphasized the significance of Muslim organizations and initiatives that promote engagement, advocacy, and a sense of belonging for Muslim students. Listen to the full episode here:

The Second Muslim Campus Life Summit: Connecting Muslim Higher Education Leaders

Muslim Campus Life Team — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 12:03:35 +0000

The Muslim Campus Life Summit (MCLS) project aims to bring together university professionals who serve and/or do research on Muslim students, as well as Muslim professionals in the higher education space in various roles. The goals of this convening are:

1) to engage diverse perspectives and frameworks (academic, chaplaincy, DEI, administrative, student affairs, etc.) on key issues and

2) to determine strategic collaborations, learning models, and future prospects for Muslim campus life in the US.

The second summit, MCLS 2024, was held at the Center for Muslim Life at Duke University in January 2024. In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attacks and the ensuing war on Gaza, various campuses were impacted by pro-Palestinian advocacy (and counter-advocacy), with increased activism and a rise in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian / anti-Arab bias. Professionals who gathered at MCLS 2024 thus addressed various themes in this particular political and institutional context. The first summit was held at Stanford University and hosted by the Markaz Resource Center.

Centering Muslim Student Voices: Muslim Campus Life Hosts Two Student Listening Sessions with United States Department of Education

Muslim Campus Life Team — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:23:52 +0000

In December 2023, Muslim Campus Life (MCL) partnered with the U.S. Department of Education’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (CFBNP) to host two virtual listening sessions for Muslim college students across the nation. The sessions provided a crucial platform for students to share their experiences, concerns, and hopes for their campus life. Students shared horrifying stories of their experiences with Islamophobia, Anti-Muslim racism, Anti-Arab racism, and Anti-Palestinian discrimination from the past three months. Students also shared their ideas on how the United States Department of Education could best address their concerns and improve the campus climate for Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students in the wake of rising discrimination and campus polarization. Overall, the listening sessions marked a significant step forward in fostering understanding and collaboration between Muslim students, the U.S. Department of Education, and campus communities.