The groups shared their findings with universities across the country including University of Pennsylvania, University of Toronto, UCLA and Brown University.

"I think what Penn State has is a model for universities around the country," Carr-Chellman said.

The survey randomly sampled Penn State students via phone and e-mail, said Andrea Dowhower, director for student affairs research and assessment.

Carr-Chellman said that students who responded to the survey distinguished between spirituality and religion.

Two-fifths of them identified themselves as spiritual, while one-third said they were religious.

Students said they felt religion was more organized than spirituality, adding that spirituality is more about connecting to "one's own sensibilities," he said.

Angela Kabernagel (junior-public relations) said religion and spirituality go hand in hand.

"Believing in something is spiritual," Kabernagel said.

"It's more emotionally sound. With all the stress of college, it's the one center you can find."

According to the survey, 92 percent of students said their religious affiliation since coming to college has remained the same.

"I think that we all have a certain comfort zone," Carr-Chellman said.

While many college students tend to remain the same faith throughout college, many explore other faiths as they learn the cultures of their peers, the survey showed.

"It's a paradoxical relationship," he said of the two findings.

He said students come to the center to learn about other cultures and look past religious boundaries.

Carr-Chellman said that these boundaries are a religion's doctrine and interpretation, which can sometimes act like "walls" that act to separate people from each other. "They are looking for things, events, opportunities that transcend those boundaries," he said.

The center, which currently houses 50 different religious and spiritual organizations, encourages students to explore different traditions, Carr-Chellman said.

"Any student that wants to practice a religion, we've got it here," he said.

The center is still working to meet students' needs and promote religious and spiritual diversity on campus, he added.

T.J. Angelo (junior-computer science) said he feels he is "moderately religious" and that religion and spirituality are linked together.

"I think religion and spirituality can be interchangeable depending on your beliefs," Angelo said.

CERA and the Penn State Pulse will conduct another, similar survey following spring break in March, Dowhower said.

This semester's survey will consist of many of the same questions to try to examine if the center has made an impact on students' religious and spiritual needs.

"I hope that I find that the spiritual center is making a difference on the Penn State community," Carr-Chellman said.