Building a Sense of Belonging in Online Learning

Is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) the secret ingredient for empowering students and increasing student engagement and belonging?

Student engagement and student persistence play an important role in Higher Education. Engaged students are more likely to persist which in turn benefits the university and educational partners. Students need a welcoming, engaging, and inclusive environment to thrive and to help foster engagement and empowerment. As the world continues to change, higher education must reflect the changing demographics. Diversity, in terms of ethnicity, race, gender, gender identity, mental, and physical ability has continued to increase over the past decade. The number of people of color continues to increase in the USA, and by 2050, according to the Center for American Progress, there will not be a clear racial or ethnic majority (Kerby, 2021). Colleges and universities must have diversity and inclusion practices and processes that reflect the changing demographics. An educational institution that supports and fosters a culture that cultivates DEI, improves the student’s cultural and intellectual engagement, and citizenship (Tsuo, 2015). An organization’s goals, practices, and processes need to reflect the communities and the organizations they serve.

This presentation and discussion will explore how DEI practices impact belonging, student engagement, and student persistence. Presenters will share DEI best practices and diversity training techniques that may contribute to increased student engagement, and persistence. Presenters will explore the importance of diversity student organizations, working with diversity committees, diversity curriculum policies, and how acknowledging diversity and inclusion could increase feelings of belonging, student engagement and persistence. DEI may be the secret ingredient for empowering students and increasing student engagement, belonging and persistence.