Communications students at BYU are applying hands-on public relations tactics they learned in class to promote religious diversity in Utah.

The director of fund raising for BYU's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, Rachel Call, is also working as the account executive for the chapter's client, Utah Valley Interfaith Student Association at Utah Valley State College.

Call and her team of public relations students have been working for the client since January and have used new media avenues including Facebook and blogs to implement the campaign.

"It has been a great experience for our students to gain hands-on experience, and at the same time serve another group of students," Call said.

The Interfaith Student Association at UVSC has made significant progress the last few months and, with the college's transition to university status, even more opportunities are becoming available to the organization.

In February, an executive committee named new officers: Curtis Jensen as president, and Hillary Kirkman as vice president.

"I am impressed by the enthusiasm and hard work that the new officers are showing toward the membership of the Interfaith Student Association," UVSC Interfaith Chaplain Linda Walton said in a news release. "There are many students that are interested in safely investigating various faiths, and our officers are dedicated to helping them in the process."

Under the direction of UVSC President William A. Sederburg and Library Director Michael Freeman, Interfaith has also announced a new center for worship and prayer.

The room will be located on the fifth floor of the new library that will be unveiled July 1 as the school celebrates its official transition from college to university.

"It will be a quiet place, similar to ones found in airports and other busy places for individuals and small groups to pray, meditate, read or just clear their minds," Walton said.

On a tour of the new library, Sederburg expressed his enthusiasm for this addition to the campus.

"We're excited to have a room like this where students can come to escape a lot of the concerns that surround college life," he said. "It is going to be very beautiful."

Additional information on Utah Valley Interfaith can be found on its new Web site, www.utahvalleyinterfaith.org and the organization's Facebook group. Jensen also has a president's blog that discusses interfaith issues at http://studentpresident-uvu-interfaith.blogspot.com.