A successful Interfaith Bridges - University Edition program requires two or three school administrators to take responsibility for promoting and leading the program.  The college or university will need to provide:

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• Sites for three meetings - each meeting room needs to be large enough to host the proposed group, which could be 15 to 30 people, either as a single assembly, in four small separate discussion groups, with a way to have a shared snack or meal and accommodate group video viewing 

• Two to three school administrators or faculty, ideally representing the different represented faith communities, who will facilitate the small group discussions, and also recruit the student participants and plan and conduct the program.

• 12 to 24 student participants recruited from the student body. [Note however that a viable program could be done with  fewer than 12 students]

• A snack, lunch or dinner for participants and facilitators for each session (food is a great motivator for student participation and attendance), with the option of to go boxes; possibly a sweet treat like cookies or a gluten free dessert for the last session 

• Four large easels with flip pads and some different colored markers for each easel 

• Name tags and table place cards for participants, and facilitators 

• Video viewing equipment for the group (laptop, screen, possibly external speakers)

• Support from the staff of the facilities for setup and cleanup

• Enthusiastic support from the school administration to help promote the program and recruit facilitators and participants

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A college or university will enter into a program resources terms of use agreement with us, and pay the applicable program fee; facilitators will enter into access terms of use. See our FAQs for more information, or contact us!

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Our successful experience offering our interfaith dialogue programs with different faith communities over many years makes us confident that if you follow our Interfaith Bridges - University Edition program plan you will have a meaningful and enjoyable program for all student participants!

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​​​Recruiting Participants

• Participants are college students attending the sponsoring college or university. 

• Students are busy and fitting an extra program into their schedule can be difficult.  Choose a program schedule that will conflict the least with the class schedule for likely student participants.

• Offer a meal or snack!

• Faculty might be willing to give students in relevant classes extra credit for attending the program on request from the administration.

• The school or administration can offer a certificate of completion outlining the skills acquired in this program.  Building Bridges Together can provide a sample certificate.  Students often like to put this credential on their resumes or social media profiles.

• If the program is offered during a religious holiday period, be sure to accommodate special needs such as fasting for Lent or Ramadan, or scheduling sessions to avoid holidays.

• Social media is a critical recruiting tool to invite student participants. Encourage word of mouth recruitment. 

• The school's affinity groups and centers for inclusion and belonging may be additional sources of potential participants.

• To build a community of trust, it is important that student participants commit to attend each session absent an emergency. 

• The facilitators can set a goal for both the minimum and maximize number of participants. 

• The key to recruiting students is often a personal invitation. 

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The key to recruiting participants to an Interfaith Bridges Program
is a personal invitation!​