Reflection, Prayer, and Meditation Spaces

The Gathering Space is used as the primary place for 20+ student organizations and community members for prayer, mediation, and reflection on campus. Given increasing student need, and increased focus within Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b),  and the national shift uplifting the importance of faith and spirituality in the lives of college students, it has become abundantly clear that there was a significant need for additional prayer, reflection, and meditation spaces on campus.

As our campus and community continue to navigate health and wellness crises, students with closely-held religious identities face additional burdens of living their truth safely as they practice their religious obligations and build community around their religious identities. As recently as January 2022, citizens across the country have experienced being accosted, threatened, and more because of their religious and spiritual practices – these events have impacted our very own campus community.

i3b strives to support all students across identities but takes seriously our need to advocate for students living at multiple intersections of marginality, including religion or spiritual identity. As we continue to deepen our infrastructure for spiritual and religious diversity and interfaith and pluralistic engagement opportunities at UMBC, i3b is excited to maintain these additional prayer spaces on campus. Through working closely with Dean Keith Bowman from the College of Engineering, Dr. Timothy Hackman in the Albin O. Kuhn Library, and Ryan Sheldon from the English Language Institute, we have secured three additional spaces to expand additional accessible options for prayer, meditation, and reflection.

*If your department or college is interested in exploring space options to expand and support prayer needs on campus, please contact Matt Hoffman at matt.hoffman@umbc.edu.

This space is designated only for prayer, reflection, and meditation and can accommodate up to three people praying at a time. The space is equipped with a small bench and prayer mats. UMBC ID is required to access the space using a card reader. This space is available according to Library building hours.

This space is designated only for prayer, reflection, and meditation and can accommodate up to 3 people praying at a time. The space is equipped with a small bench and prayer mats. UMBC ID is required to access the space using a card reader. This space is available according to the Information Technology Building hours of 7:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Additional Spaces for Reflection and Community:

The Maxine Tracy Wellness and Lactation Room inside the Women’s Center is designated as an accessible space for prayer, reflection, and meditation. This space is available according to Women’s Center Hours. This space can be reserved by ​​contacting the Women’s Center staff at 410-455-2714 or womenscenter@umbc.edu. This space is also available outside of the Center’s hours of operation when The Commons is open through reservations only.  Please reserve the Women’s Center using this form. 

The Mosaic Center is designated as an accessible space for prayer, reflection, and meditation and can accommodate up to 3 people praying at a time. UMBC ID or sign-in is required to access the available spaces. Be sure to check the Mosaic Center’s hours.

The Pride Center is designated as an accessible space for prayer, reflection, and meditation and can accommodate up to 3 people at a time. UMBC ID or sign-in is required to access the available spaces. Be sure to check the Pride Center’s hours.

The Gathering Space is designed for congregational or large group prayer, as well as other faith-oriented, mindfulness, or spiritual well-being activities. The Gathering Space can accommodate up to 26 people praying at a time. UMBC ID or sign-in is required to access the available spaces. Be sure to check the Gathering Space’s hours.