The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 40, No. 2 & Volume 41, No. 1 - 161

Accommodating Spiritual Practices

REFERENCES
willing to support Native American students'
spiritual and cultural activities on campus
by advocating for these activities, providing
funding for them, and adapting relevant
policies to be sensitive to and accepting
of their spiritual and cultural expression.
Additionally, they are encouraged to plan and
implement professional development sessions
about Native American students' spiritual and
cultural practices for all residence life staff.
strategic in providing a list of resources
about supporting Native American students,
including information about their spiritual
and cultural beliefs and practices, to all who
are charged with working with the Native
American student population.

CONCLUSION
Though this incident greatly impacted the students, staff, and overall living environment of
the Native American students in their livinglearning community, it resulted in a better
understanding of how residence life professionals could collaborate with the Ofﬁce of
Multicultural Affairs to acknowledge and
support the spiritual and cultural practices of
Native American students. The resulting recommendations can help other residence life
departments work more effectively with Native
American students and other student groups
whose spirituality and culture are key factors
in their ability to ﬁnish their degrees while
away from home. It is important that colleges
and universities take responsibility for, and be
committed to working with, all students by
being inclusive of their spiritual practices on
campus and by honoring their cultures.

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