Anselm House is an organization dedicated to the improvement of student and faculty life here on campus. Anselm House and its mission go back nearly 50 years here at the university, starting with the founding of the Christian Student Fellowship in 1974. In 2016, after merging with the MacLaurin Institute, the two organizations eventually became Anselm House. It was named after St. Anselm of Canterbury, whose philosophy and works aligned with the vision of the organization. He believed that our faith and our knowledge of the world are connected. His life of committed faithfulness and engagement with learning provides a model for Anselm House and its objective at the university.

Anselm House aims to bring all the disconnected pieces of life together and form a whole community rather than a separate one. This type of community would greatly benefit the University of Minnesota and strengthen our bonds with each other. Anselm House’s mission statement is the following, “You long for places where you can bring all of yourself—your ideas, your questions, your experiences, your personality—and be met with genuine embrace. You long to explore, to be challenged, and to order your life and learning around the love of God. At Anselm House, we’ve made it our mission to help you make these heart connections. We’re pursuing the integrated life—a life of wholeness—in the context of rich, Christian community.” 

It is clear Anselm House is passionate about the community on campus, and cares deeply about the connection between intelligence and faith. Their presence is an opportunity for every member of the university community to improve themselves and the world around them.

Anselm House achieves this by carrying out each of the following different aspects of its approach:

• Connected Community
  • Anselm House hosts a variety of events and community meetings to promote engaging dialogue between students, faculty, and staff.

• Christian Formation
  • Anselm House creates on-ramps into the journey toward the discipleship to Christ.
• Shared Learning
  • Anselm House gathers leaders and scholars from a variety of fields and backgrounds to speak at large public events.
• Deep Inquiry
  • Anselm House offers curricular programming and advanced academic support to students and faculty looking for further engagement.

These four parts of their approach provide distinctive opportunities for everyone and promote community engagement across campus.

After hearing about their purpose, you may be wondering, how can I connect with Anselm House here on campus? Look no farther than Anselm House at Melrose Station. Located at the corner of Washington and Oak on East Bank, Melrose Station is a center of connection and study for the University of Minnesota community. There, you can find any contacts you may be looking for, and become an active member of Anselm House’s mission. Maybe you do not want to become directly involved but want to contribute to the community they are building. Do not worry, Melrose Station is a great place to study, meet new people, grab a cup of coffee, or just relax after a long day of classes. The goal of Melrose Station is to bring members of the community together and foster a fun and comfortable environment for everyone. 

Overall Anselm House has become an invaluable group here at the University of Minnesota. Its commitment to improved education, engaged dialogue, and a deeper sense of faith all contribute to the strengthening of our community on campus. They hope to build both the minds and hearts of students, faculty, and staff. Not only this, but they offer countless gatherings and special events for the whole community. If these things resonate with you, I encourage you to check out the Melrose Station and become an active member of Anselm House today.