Community Affirmations
Spring 2024
Sarah and Ann
The Belonging Champions initiative was initially launched to enhance our students' sense of belonging. As we progressed, it became evident that we, as faculty, were also forming our own vibrant community of belonging. This experience has led to valuable relationships that will continue to enrich our lives for years.
Jess and Ana
We affirm our commitment to empathy, support, and human connection as foundational values that enhance our teaching and students’ learning experiences while uplifting and supporting faculty. We celebrate our accomplishments in continuously improving our pedagogy, fostering inclusivity, and strengthening community through collaboration. Moving forward, we will deepen these practices, integrating diverse perspectives and innovative strategies to cultivate a greater sense of belonging for students and faculty. Together, we commit to continue to nurture a culture of belonging that supports student and faculty success and represents a model of empathy, inclusion, and connectedness within Kent State.
Eric and Shelley
Our experience in Belonging Champions has opened the door of growth, allowing us to gain skills that support students. Through the lens of belonging, we have developed a self-awareness of our own power to be agents of change for our learning spaces and classrooms by upholding policies and behaviors to give students purpose, relevance, confidence, and connection. As we grew in our own faculty community, we gained appreciation and determination to support our student communities.
Jim and Marty's
We value growth. We value diversity and freedom of thought. We value compassion, hope, and social justice. We value fairness, respect, openness, and understanding.
Participating in Belonging Champions showed us how to model our values in the classroom. The opportunity to share and discuss continuous improvement in the classroom transformed us. We are a community of instructors committed to true student-centeredness. We are advocates for our students. We are advocates for equity.
In other words, “This Shit Works.”
Scott and Leslie's Community Statement:
Participating in a semester-long program to explore and implement inclusive classroom pedagogy demonstrates dedication to student success and empathy towards students’ sense of belonging. By fostering an environment where students feel connected and valued, these champions are working to help students feel the college classroom is a place they belong, grow, and develop the skills to become successful in their future endeavors.
from Bryan and Mary’s Belonging Champions Group
Being a champion in the classroom means being able to create a positive and supportive learning environment, seeking new ways to help students feel they can achieve. It means being consistent with our values. Champions advocate on behalf of others who are marginalized or otherwise vulnerable without fear of personal consequences, because to have the power to be a champion already positions you to be able to make a personal sacrifice on behalf of others. Champions elevate the voices of those around them who are more likely to be silenced or ignored.
Molly and Nicole's Community:
In good faith as Belonging Champions, we affirm that Belonging is critical to our students' and our own success, and provides a sense of social connectedness, creating comfortable classroom experiences for everyone while enabling students to achieve their goals.
We have accomplished the creation of a healthy community working toward the greater good.
We intend to model peace, to continue our work of inspiring students, and to stay curious and keep exploring.