Is this Retriever Integrated Health (RIH)/Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS)?
No, this is The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being (The Gathering Space, for short), but we share the Center for Well-Being building with RIH and SCCS. You can find the Office of Health Promotion across the hall from us and the Retriever Integrated Health/Counseling Center and Retriever Integrated Health/Health Services upstairs on the second floor. You can also find SCCS on the first floor past the elevators at the rear of the building.
What is The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being?
The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being serves as a spiritually-centered space where students and UMBC community members can gather at the intersection of religion, faith, spirituality, and other lived experiences. The Gathering Space prioritizes individual religious practice, opportunities to explore holistic well-being connected to religion and spirituality, and creating spaces to engage across differences by centering the importance of interfaith work and dialogue. As part of its connection to Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b), within the Gathering Space, we emphasize three core themes:
- radical love & belonging,
- spiritual well-being, and
- energetic pluralism.
Woah, but where is the Interfaith Center?
The Center for Well-Being is now where Campus Life’s Interfaith Center used to be. Our new and improved space includes our main large prayer and meditation space, The Gathering Space (CWB 103), The Spiritual Advisory Office for lounging or meeting with Religious Council members (CWB 109), two foot-washing rooms (CWB 107 & 108), our Assistant Director’s Office (CWB 105), and a kitchenette/lounge in our main corridor that houses our student staff work area.
Are you a student organization? How can I join?
No, we are not a student org. The Gathering Space is one of three identity-based spaces under the Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b) department and is funded by our Student Engagement Fee. In our work, we partner with many religion and belief student organizations and other campus partners. As with other i3b spaces across campus, we encourage and welcome you to spend time here! Also, feel free to get involved with our Gathering Space Spiritual Advisory Board.
What are The Gathering Space’s hours of operation?
It varies by semester, day, university holidays, and staffing. Please check the front desk or website for our most up-to-date hours. Though the space is open and staffed year-round, The Gathering Space is only available for reservations in the Fall and Spring semesters and not reservable during Summer and Winter Sessions. You are welcome to join our regularly scheduled events, to come and pray/meditate/reflect as you are able, or to find a cozy spot to relax and just be.
The Gathering Space looks full. Are there any other designated areas on campus where I can pray?
Yes, we know that space can be tight on campus, so stop by the front desk to see who uses the various spaces within the Center for Well-Being. If everything is full, check out our other prayer and meditation spaces located across campus! Our Linktree will always house our most up-to-date map.
I’m agnostic/atheist, is it possible for me to engage with the space even if I am not spiritual or religious?
Yes, this space is for you, and we want you to feel welcome! The Gathering Space is designed for students and UMBC community members of all religious, spiritual, and non-religious worldviews to find a place for community. In addition to providing space for students who identify with specific religious traditions, the Gathering Space is committed to providing programming that allows an opportunity for everyone to connect to spirituality and mindfulness (check out our Mindfulness Monday and Gathering with Gratitude programs). Also, your voice would be most welcome on the Gathering Space Student Advisory Board. Radical love and belonging is a central tenet of The Gathering Space.
I’m not an undergraduate student, is this place for me?
Yes, we welcome all UMBC community members, including undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff, religious council members, and alumnx. All community members are welcome to use this space for prayer, reflection, and mediation. However, some of our programs may only be appropriate to particular campus community members.
Who can I talk to about my [religious/spiritual/ethnic/racial/LGBTQIA+] identity?
Each of i3b identity spaces has full-time and student staff members dedicated to serving students of a particular identity. Specifically, the Assistant Director welcomes any and all conversations about religion and identity, religion, food & social justice, and religion and meaning-making, especially for folx who have a complicated/difficult/intersectional relationship with religion and spirituality. Additionally, for more information about how to reach out to specific Religious Council members, head over to the Spiritual Advising page.
Can I report an act of bias, harassment, or discrimination here?
Yes, you can report incidents of bias here. However, please recognize that as university staff, both our professional & student staff are mandated reporters. As such, we are required to report to the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI), which handles all bias & hate-related issues on campus. You can submit an anonymous report online.
Anything else I should know?
We are glad you took the time to learn more about the Gathering Space. Please know that this is a place for you to
- find love, belonging, and acceptance, just as you are;
- find moments and spaces to interact with and uplift the spiritual components of ourselves; and
- to engage across religious and spiritual differences to find places of commonality, disagreement, and celebration.
Please drop by anytime!
You should also check out our Linktree page to connect with us virtually or to just see what’s going on in our i3b community!