It’s an exciting time to be a student at Pacific School of Religion. As a community of students, staff, and faculty, we have been and continue to be transformed as we evolve beyond the COVID pandemic. The pandemic, alongside major shifts and transitions in theological and higher education, have re-shaped our understanding of what it means to be and how we become “communal and connected” in a world that is forever molded into hybridity.  

The nature of our student body has changed by virtue of the fact that the majority of our students study remotely or as commuters. For those who live on or come to campus to take classes, our physical learning environment has become intergenerational with the location of both a Middle School and a UC Berkeley School of Engineering on our site. That reality offers new opportunities for engagement and cross-pollination of ideas that we are still exploring.  

At the root of our life together at PSR, we still rely on the presence of the Divine among us as we build a community that values diversity, mutual respect, and listening and learning from one another. We endeavor to live in covenant with each other. These values show up beautifully through our weekly Community Chapel experience. Additionally, the importance of these values transcends PSR: when we work to create community with others different from ourselves, we acquire important skills for leadership in congregations, other faith communities, justice-oriented organizations and more. 

At PSR, you’re sure to be with others different from yourself. We welcome students who have diverse theological views and cultural backgrounds, international students, new college graduates as well as second-career professionals, LGBTQIA+ students, families with children, and people with disabilities. We actively emphasize anti-racist work in our academic and community life, nuancing it with a deep understanding of intersectional and interlocking oppressions. We do not tolerate racist, sexist, homo/trans-phobic, or xenophobic speech, acts, or beliefs on campus or in our classrooms or remote community settings. 

We also benefit from the active engagement of powerful student leaders who make up our Community Life Council (CLC).  This council of peer leaders – supported by the staff and pastors of the Office of Community Life act as liaisons between the student body and PSR’s institutional and administrative staff.  They also plan some of the major student life events throughout the year such as the Online Café, Annual Prom, Town Hall meetings, Community Garden activities, collaboration with other Centers and academic cohorts. Additionally, there is, in fact, a 2-year Student Trustee position that represents students with both voice and vote.