Constructing Belonging in a Diverse Campus Community

A diverse student body holds the promise of enriching the learning experience of all students at a particular college or university. What is less clear is whether this diversity inhibits students’ sense of belonging at that institution. This essay discusses how the sense of belonging relates to student success. It also explores how higher education professionals can support students through the purposeful cultivation of collective identity among a diverse student body, as well as through the use of cultural tools that promote a sense of belonging. In addition, this article describes a model of student engagement recently developed at one large, private university in the Southeast with a highly diverse student body.