Through a variety of faith-based organizations, Elon University students are finding ways to remain connected to their beliefs while balancing coursework and extracurricular commitments.
The Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life is used by students on campus to explore different religious worldviews and identities. They offer many ways to get involved on campus through religious organizations, including Catholic Campus Ministry; Chabad; Hillel; Elon Muslim Society; InterVarsity Christian Fellowship; and Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Friends.
Elon University is a multifaith campus with 17.1% of students being Catholic, 11.6% Christian, 10% Jewish and 0.4% Muslim, according to the registrar’s report.
Elon senior Brooke Gustafson is the community director for InterVarsity, a nondenominational Christian ministry. She said having the organization on campus is especially meaningful because it brings together students from diverse backgrounds.
“There are people from, like, so many places across the world – different majors, passions and identities,” Gustafson said. “and all of us are, like, united on the same purpose, which is Christ.”
Gustafson said college is a place where students aren’t under the influence of their parents and can find out who they are independently.
“It’s finally this time where we get to explore ourselves,” Gustafson said.
Elon senior Ellie Griffin, a student leader for InterVarsity, said the ministry makes an effort to build community on campus through weekly small groups, large-group worship and Bible studies, while also encouraging students to grow deeper in the word and apply faith in their own lives.
“We make an effort to build community on campus while also helping students grow deeper in the word and connect with their own faith and learn more about Jesus,” Griffin said.
According to the Truitt Center, Jewish student organizations such as Hillel and Chabad emphasize consistency and community for students navigating busy academic schedules. Hillel, a student-led and staff-supported organization, serves Jewish students across a wide spectrum of religious observance.
Co-President of Hillel and Elon senior Zoe Klein said Hillel is where students find a community to connect with.
Klein said Hillel serves students with varying relationships to Judaism, including both observant individuals and those who participate for social reasons.
“That’s where they find a community to connect with,” Klein said.
Hillel operates out of a house on campus, which Klein said contributes to its welcoming and accessible environment. The space includes a kitchen, living room and study areas where students can gather outside of formal events.
“If I could just sit on the couch and get things done and have a snack while I’m at it, that’s how I really started becoming involved,” Klein said.
The organization hosts a range of events throughout the year, including Shabbat dinners and celebrations for major Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover. Klein said these moments are especially meaningful for students celebrating away from home for the first time.
Klein also said Hillel encourages flexible participation, allowing students to attend events when they can or simply use the space to study.
“You don’t have to stay for an entire event,” Klein said. “You can come to what you can.”
Chabad at Elon also provides Jewish students with a home-like environment, offering weekly Shabbat dinners, holiday observances and daily meals during major religious periods. Elon senior Abby Krause, Chabad co-student leader, described the organization as a “home away from home,” emphasizing the importance of community.
“There's a lot of big holidays that usually you're with your family for but we're at school for, and so getting to have somewhere to go and still be able to celebrate all the traditions and get all parts of that, and eat all the right foods and do all the right things and still participate in the Jewish holidays is great,” Krause said.
The Elon Muslim Society offers opportunities to practice faith across campus. The organization hosts weekly Jum’ah prayers on Fridays, along with community meals and educational events such as Chat and Chai, which welcomes both Muslim and non-Muslim students.
Elon senior Fatmata Bah, vice president of the Elon Muslim Society, said having set times for prayer and gathering helps students balance school and faith.
“Having that sort of set in stone helps me balance my faith because I know I can pray and be around people in a similar community,” Fatmata said.
The organization also collaborates with the Truitt Center to host celebrations for Ramadan and Eid, bringing together students, staff, faculty and members of the local community.
Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Friends — known as LEAF — focuses on inclusivity and faith exploration, offering worship services, Bible studies and informal coffee hours designed to fit into students’ schedules.
Elon sophomore River Cranford, treasurer of LEAF, said the organization creates a low-pressure environment for students at all stages of faith.
“It’s okay to ask questions,” Cranford said. “You don’t have to have everything figured out.”
Across campus, leaders from faith-based organizations emphasized flexibility, accessibility and community as essential tools for helping students manage their spiritual lives alongside academic demands. By offering both structured worship and informal gathering spaces, these groups aim to support students navigating faith during a formative period of independence.