Cultivate a sense of belonging on campus

A student’s experience of higher education can be greatly enhanced by an institution’s deliberate and considered actions towards building a sense of belonging on campus. But this goal is made that much more difficult in the wake of constant change brought on by industry-disrupting innovations. And with a section of the student body that lives off campus or who have commitments outside their studies, the challenge can sometimes seem almost too great. This collection of resources homes in on what belonging means in higher education, how we can cultivate it and how we can create and protect inclusive spaces for our students.

Students working together in the library

How a student-led research project can build belonging and agency

How to foster agency to help students feel a sense of belonging, based on a project that involved hiring students as intern co-researchers to explore inclusion and connection

Jen Coleman, Vicki McDermott-Thompson

The University of East Anglia

A women's sports team from behind holding a trophy

Extracurricular activities are powerful tools for building belonging

Encourage students to get involved in societies, participate in sports and engage in formal extracurricular programmes to foster a sense of belonging within the student community

Natalie K. D. Seedan

The University of the West Indies

Academics chatting

Common barriers to belonging and how to overcome them

Belonging in higher education goes beyond access – it’s about feeling seen, valued and supported. This resource explores the barriers that prevent true inclusion and offers ways to create a more welcoming academic culture

Bhawana Shrestha

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Students playing a boardgame

Make social groups work for under-represented students

Collaborate with students to create social groups that foster connection among those with shared lived experiences. Above all, ensure these groups have a clear purpose and focus on inclusion, rather than emphasising difference

Ian Norman

The University of East Anglia

Students holding hands around a glowing orb

Not all students want to fit in, but every student wants to matter

Making students feel they matter can dramatically improve lecture attendance. Here are ways to do it

Celine Caquineau

The University of Edinburgh

Students in a group walking together on campus

Creating a culture of belonging with inclusive pedagogy

Building cultural humility and meaningful relationships with students are two of several strategies to foster belonging in students from minoritised backgrounds

Yusra Siddiqui , Musarrat Maisha Reza

The University of Exeter

Students sitting together in a library

What matters to students’ sense of belonging?

Using an intersectional and decolonial lens and fostering the formation of a discipline-specific identity are some of the ways to make belonging the cornerstone, rather than merely an outcome, of higher education EDI initiatives

Salma Al Arefi

University of Leeds

A tutor helping her postgraduate students

How can we better support our postgraduate students?

The challenges postgraduate taught students face are different from those of their undergraduate counterparts. Here are some ways to help them overcome them

Ellen Bell, Kelly Edmunds

The University of East Anglia

Multiracial group of students taking a selfie in the park

Where’s Hector? How a scavenger hunt helps first-year students explore the university campus

A collaborative discovery activity has benefits that go beyond simply helping new students get to know the university grounds. It fosters belonging and fun – and even promotes physical well-being, writes Hector Viveros Tapia

Hector Viveros Tapia

Macquarie University

Students playing board games

Partner with your students to build belonging on campus

By actively fostering belonging through the strategies outlined in this resource, universities can cultivate a more holistic and supportive environment where all students can thrive, both academically and personally

Tom Ritchie, Adam Alcock

The University of Warwick

Group of people of various ages and nationalities lean in together

Belonging: why it is the next step on the equity, diversity and inclusion ladder

Belonging feels good, improves student retention rates and supports other EDI efforts. Joanna West offers six ways campuses can foster this intangible essential

Joanna West

University of Luxembourg

A group of students chatting in a study area

Using the Snowflake Method to build belonging on campus

To build a sense of belonging, institutions must create a tailored programme to match the needs of their unique demographic and local environment

Sarah Bishop

Teesside University

Students playing table tennis

How our Study Together programme promotes belonging and improves well-being

By offering students a space to meet, study and socialise outside the classroom, universities can improve engagement and reduce feelings of loneliness on campus

Gemma Standen

The University of East Anglia

Group of students smiling at the camera

How to initiate conversations about belonging

Belonging may not always look the same for all students, but creating opportunities for organic conversations can foster partnerships between staff and students and help us understand what students need

Emma Palmer

University of Hull

Students chatting to friends outside a university building

Build students’ sense of belonging to build graduate skills

Why a sense of belonging is crucial to learning and how we can rebuild it within universities, following the disruption of the pandemic, in ways that also boost graduate skills

Hilda Mulrooney

Kingston University

A group of students sitting in a group talking

Break the ice early to build student belonging

Ice-breaking activities borrowed from the performing arts that can help students form bonds and build belonging from the start of a course

Kelly Edmunds , Leanne Fridd

The University of East Anglia

Student on a laptop listening with headphones at home

Use watch parties to enhance learning and build a sense of belonging online

An educator at the University of Manchester explains how using online watch parties with live chatboxes has enhanced students’ learning in a digital environment

Jennifer Mcbride

The University of Manchester

Universities must bridge the gap between diversity and belonging

Universities must do better at bridging the gap between diversity and belonging

Lillian Nave outlines the three key interventions required for universities to help diverse students learn about, accept and participate in each other’s worlds

Lillian Nave

Appalachian State University

Student at a laptop smiling with a notebook in her hand

Partnering with students to build belonging in a blended learning environment

A sense of belonging and community plays a major role in maximising student engagement. But how can educators cultivate an authentic community?

Reimala Sivalingam

The University of Manchester

A black student raising their hand in class.

Ten actions lecturers can take to boost black students’ belonging

A 10-step guide to how lecturers can improve the experience of black students studying in predominantly white institutions

Patrice Seuwou

University of Northampton

Two students sitting on the grass outside working at a laptop

Three strategies for fostering a culture of belonging on your campus

Three practical steps you can take to cultivate a campus culture where everyone feels welcome and students can thrive, whatever their background

Penny MacCormack

Association of College and University Educators

Advice on purposefully creating a sense of belonging among black students in majority white universities

How to create a sense of belonging for black students in a majority white academy

Taking active, practical and nuanced approaches to ensuring the belonging of black students in majority white universities, at a micro and macro level, is everyone’s responsibility, explains Edith Lewis

Edith Lewis

Canterbury Christ Church University

Walkway

How to use campus design to nurture a culture of belonging

Brian W. Casey and Graham Wyatt discuss the importance of campus design and beauty in support of the student, faculty and staff experience

Brian W. Casey, Graham Wyatt

Colgate University

Group of multiracial students

A whole-campus approach to boost belonging for student success

Joint efforts among faculty, staff and students themselves can support first-year and transfer scholars to feel included and engaged, write Lorett Swank and Catherine Thomas

Lorett Swank, Catherine Thomas

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

Advice on why and how to build a sense of identity and belonging among students for better learning outcomes

Building identity and belonging among students

Proactively building students’ sense of identity and belonging is vital for positive learning outcomes, explains Blake McKimmie. In this video, he gives advice on how it can be achieved

Blake McKimmie

The University of Queensland

Group activities can help HDR student belonging

We must help HDR students experience a sense of community and belonging

A University of Adelaide team on what can be done to enhance community for higher degree by research students and how to ensure they see this culture from the outside

Multiple authors

The University of Adelaide

Students enjoying an informal get together over coffee

The power of events to build belonging among students

XJTLU’s new Entrepreneur College had to work fast to build a sense of belonging among its first student cohorts, and one way it did this was by hosting a series of events. Xiaotong Lu shares the strategies adopted

Xiaotong Lu

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Welcome sign for belonging at university

How to advance equitable learning in your classes

We must extend belonging to help students feel they’re cut out for college, lower barriers such as impostor syndrome and ultimately support learning, says Flower Darby

Flower Darby

University of Missouri

Fostering a sense of belonging among remote students to aid learning

Developing students’ confidence and sense of belonging online

With most students new to online learning, many may lack the confidence to actively participate in group classes. Georgina Blakeley offers her tips on fostering a sense of belonging that aids interaction among students

Georgina Blakeley

University of Huddersfield