Founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, Hillel International is now the largest Jewish organization in the world. Hillel International exists on more than 650 college campuses across the world and is present on 4 continents.  Millions of Jewish students have passed through the doors of Hillel facilities and interacted with thousands of professionals who have dedicated their lives to supporting Jewish identity on college campuses for generations.  Now, as Hillel International celebrates 100 years since its inception, it is a time to celebrate as well as reflect on the impact of religion, spirituality, and Jewish identity in higher education. In an age when higher education believes itself to be “secular”, Hillel International and its on campus presence continually proves that religious and spiritual identities matter in several significant ways.  Hillel International is arguably the most comprehensive “campus ministry” organization in the United States and has the ability to serve as a model for other religious communities seeking to deepen their engagement on campus and as a case study for why institutions must take religion and religious life more seriously at the systems levels of the academy.

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Today’s episode directly challenges the media-created assumption that parents are “problems” to be managed by the institution and instead posits a model of parent and family engagement and connection. Particularly relevant as institutions seek to connect with parents and families of first generation college students during points of transition and orientation, seeking engagement and partnerships with parents is one core strategy for fostering student success. Today’s episode features a panel of administrators and scholars with deep appreciation for the contributions of first-generation students and their parents and families. The episode also includes several recommendations for campuses with established (or new) parent and family programs.

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