Building a Sense of Belonging on a College Campus
Belonging isn't just a feeling, it's a design challenge. As college campuses face mounting pressure to improve student retention, support staff wellbeing, and serve an increasingly diverse population, the physical environment has emerged as one of the most powerful and underutilized tools available. This presentation brings together a higher education practitioner and a furniture industry expert, both with deep roots in student affairs and a shared history working at Swarthmore College, in Pennsylvania, to explore how the spaces we plan, specify, and build actively shape or undermine a student's sense of belonging on campus. Grounded in student development theory and translated into practical design language, attendees will examine how furniture, fixtures, equipment, and spatial configuration can transform a campus from a place students attend to a place they belong. With real-world examples drawn from multiple campus environments, this session gives designers, planners, and facilities professionals the framework and vocabulary to make the case for spaces that truly work for every student.
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