The Buddhist Student and Alumni Collective — Buddhist Collective @ Union

About Us

We are a two-winged Collective, composed of Students and Alumni of Union Theological Seminary. We function independently from the seminary, while aiming to support its overall mission in the world.

Deeply connected through shared experience and mission, we work together on common goals, and provide mutual support and spiritual friendship to one another. We focus on the particular needs of our community and on supporting the growing programs of the Buddhism and Interreligious Engagement Department at Union Theological Seminary. We work closely with faculty, administrators and friends of our community, yet we are a distinct and independent gathering, representing our own voices.

Graduation, 2019

Our Mission

We are nurturing a community of students, BIE/Buddhist alumni and prospective students, to build our collective strength as an inter-generational community.
We are working to broaden the religious and racial diversity of the Buddhist/BIE student body at Union.
We are working with UTS faculty and leadership to further develop Buddhist academics at UTS, both for the growing BIE program and the enrichment of the wider UTS student community, in line with the ethos and vision of the seminary.
We are facilitating opportunities for UTS students to deepen their Buddhist practice and learning beyond the classroom.
We act as interlocuteurs within the wider Union community (administration, faculty, chapel team) to support the consideration of Buddhist constituencies within the seminary.
We bring the voices/contributions of BIEs/Buddhist students at UTS at Student Senate Meetings and with other key constituencies (faculty, administration, facilities, development team, etc).