Every university is unique and has its own operating environment that aids in students’ identity development. Jesuit institutions, such as Gonzaga University, Marquette University, and Saint Louis University, declare faith as important in their mission statements. For example, Saint Louis University’s mission statement indicates its commitment to “developing the whole person...nurturing within its community an understanding of and commitment to the promotion of faith and justice in the spirit of the Gospels” (Saint Louis University, 2021). With the mission statements discussing their promotion of faith through coursework, the religious and spiritual identity and development of non-Catholic students comes into question. According to a recent survey by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, about half of students at Jesuit universities nationwide identify as Catholic (The Atlantic, 2014). Students who identify as non-Catholic and BIPOC face negotiation not only of two marginalized identities as they navigate their collegiate education. As such, in order to understand how their unique experiences in Jesuit education, this study examples how non-Catholic BIPOC students negotiate their social identity at Jesuit universities, as well as how they perceive that their religious identity is constrained or supported.

To achieve this aim, focus group interview methodology was used to understand experiences of non-Catholic, BIPOC students from Jesuit universities. The findings of this study offer better understanding of the challenges that students have in negotiating their identities and how non-Catholic BIPOC students perceive their (ir)religious identity as constrained or supported. The results offer important insight as to how Jesuit universities can enhance experiences of non-Catholic students at the university level to better support the development of their “whole person” in consideration of their (ir)religious background.

Aubra Ladd would live to thank Dr. Jennifer Ohs, Dr. Timothy Huffman, and Dr. Amber Johnson for the countless consultations and suggestions presented.