Grand Valley State University has dedicated much of its past year to increasing religious inclusivity, and that dedication has been recognized nationally by the President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge.

GVSU was chosen as one of the top five finalists out of 500 worldwide colleges and universities that entered the challenge.

The challenge, which is in its fifth year, is an initiative that was started by the U.S. Department of Education Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and works with the White House and the Corporation for National and Community Service to invite higher education institutions to commit to interfaith and community service programming.

The challenge recognizes colleges and universities that are exceptionally dedicated to interfaith community service on campus and in their local communities.

“I’m really proud of how much GVSU has embraced interfaith community service over the last couple years,” said Katie Gordon, program manager of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute. “I know that the commitment will only continue moving forward.”

The Kaufman Interfaith Institute exists to promote interfaith understanding not only on campus, but in West Michigan as a whole. The institute is housed in GVSU and does work on campus, but also makes a point to be involved with the wider interfaith community in West Michigan.

“I think Kaufman’s work on campus has helped strengthen the focus on interfaith that has been building for years,” Gordon said. “(We) have been able to provide expertise in interfaith projects on campus that helps increase the knowledge and awareness of interfaith engagement in higher education.”

In previous years, GVSU found itself on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, which annually highlights civic engagement. GVSU is the only public, non-religiously affiliated college to be named a finalist in the President’s Challenge this year.

“To be considered a finalist alongside Georgetown University as well as Nazareth College shows that GVSU is garnering national attention for the meaningful local work we’re engaged in,” Gordon said.

The Kaufman Interfaith Institute spearheaded the start of the Year of Interfaith Service (YIFS), an initiative that encourages organizations and congregations in Grand Rapids to act and serve in their local communities. Through YIFS, Kaufman established an Interfaith Service Council that collaborates on projects within the faith community.

The challenge recognizes not only the service that has been done, but also GVSU’s interfaith support and resources. The application is judged based on institutional resources and overall campus support, which is shown through the existence of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute but also through Student Services and the Division of Inclusion and Equity.

“With regard to religious diversity and interfaith work, the Kaufman Institute does a great job with that,” said Andrew Plague, an intern for Vice President Jesse Bernal in the Division of Inclusion and Equity. “Katie Gordon has really focused more internally and spent a lot more time working with students and Inclusion and Equity, so that’s been really beneficial and productive.”

Gordon said that events like Better Together Day, the Ravel/Unravel video campaign and a panel hosted with Habitat for Humanity of Kent County on faith and sustainability were also high points of interfaith service.