There are currently about 30 active and long-standing student religious organizations on campus that are based in the Chapel and Building W11. Ministers representing the major faiths devote all or a large part of their time to on-campus activities, counseling individual students, and advising student religious organizations.
The first chaplain to the Institute was appointed in 2007. This decision reflects the recognition that religious convictions appear increasingly important as personal identity markers. MIT considers that one of its responsibilities is to maintain an atmosphere of religious freedom for all and to provide all members of the MIT community opportunity for the exercise of spiritual interests. The chaplain to the Institute monitors that responsibility and offers support and counsel in times of loss and trauma.