Rethinking Religious Studies Programs

The place of Religious Studies programs, majors, and courses feels precarious: departments and programs are being cut, enrollments are down, and the question of how to maintain thriving programs is on many of our minds. The challenges of attracting and retaining students is ever-present. We propose a lightning-round-style roundtable to focus on practical and innovative strategies that departments have used to successfully increase and retain enrollments. Our colleagues are changing department names, changing program goals, redesigning courses, and renaming classes. This is an opportunity to discuss and share strategies that have and are working in response to these challenges.
The work of figuring out how to reimagine our place in the landscape of higher education is falling on us, as scholars and professors in Religious Studies. This proposal for Teaching Tactics/Teaching Gift Exchange centers solutions and strategies for maintaining vibrant Religious Studies programs.