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Being and Belonging:

A closer look at this key pillar of the Framework

Being is the idea that all learners should be free to be their authentic selves, in all educational environments. Belonging is not only about fitting in; it’s also about being celebrated for standing out. Students relate better to instructors, faculty, and other campus leaders when they can see themselves in them.

If students don’t feel engaged with their university or community, that will have long-term effects on their satisfaction.

—Dr. Tanya Joosten,

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Being and Belonging: A Video

The student body is more diverse than ever, but many students still feel they don’t belong.

Percentage of women representation in full-time faculty

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Percentage of racial/ethnic representation in full-time faculty

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What other institutions are doing

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Purdue University

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The Chandler Center at Southern New Hampshire University

Purdue University supports a great many diversity organizations on campus, such as The Black Caucus of Faculty and Staff, Latino/a Faculty and Staff Association, Purdue Employee PRIDE, and The Office for Institutional Equity. All connect students with campus support resources, and accessibility resources, to enable them to report accessibility concerns and incidents.

What other institutions are doing

1

Purdue University

2

The Chandler Center at Southern New Hampshire University

The Chandler Center at Southern New Hampshire University creates immersive experiences that teach students to become active citizens in their global community. Students travel to serve a community with issues like illiteracy, poverty, homelessness, gender-based violence, and disaster relief.

Questions worth considering

To find answers, it’s always helpful to ask the right questions.

Is accommodation being made for students who have limited time or resources to participate in extracurricular activities?

Is the diversity of the faculty and administration reflective of the diversity of the student population?

Are different cultural perspectives and norms promoted and respected?

Are opportunities for formal and informal networking and community-building being fostered?

Do the course materials reflect the diverse range of achievements and experiences of both the student and instructor populations?

Institutions can create real change.

Being open to hearing issues when they are raised, working together to address them, harnessing technology to achieve things humans cannot, and leaning on the community at large for creative solutions, are some of the initiatives within reach.

Listen to Your Students

Institutions that want to be the change can start by really listening to the marginalized and minoritized voices who have been shouting into vacuums for too long.

Create Student-Centric Programs

Learners need a combination of programs working in concert to thrive.

Leverage Your Community

Look to the local community for strategic partnerships.

Let Innovation Help

Institutions currently leading the way with successful initiatives are those that aren’t afraid to try new methods.

What are some actions you are taking at your institution to promote a sense of being and belonging?

We share your passion for learning, and we believe that all students should have access to affordable, high-quality learning solutions built to help them succeed.