Human beings are social creatures. We are born into families, attend schools, and have friends and social connections. We are designed to be together. But it is important to remember that being together does not automatically lead to a sense of belonging.

Vicka Bell-Robinson. Photo courtesy of the Office of Student LifeStudents can be in a 1,000-person residence hall and feel utterly alone, or sitting quietly in Wells Library and feel totally connected. Belonging comes from knowing one another and sharing common experiences.

In the absence of knowledge about one another, we look for commonalities and connections. Seeing someone wear your favorite sports team paraphernalia, singing along with an audience at a concert and even talking about a scene from a popular movie before a class all provide a feeling of community and belonging.

I get to think about involvement and belonging as part of my responsibilities at Indiana University. My title, associate vice provost for involvement and belonging, is a wonderfully complex charge and an inspiring call to action. I have been in my role for about a year, and as you can imagine, my thinking about involvement and belonging has evolved over time. The more I think about it, the more I understand that it is through meaningful connections with others that students can discover more about themselves and identify ways to enhance their sense of belonging on campus.

Here are my top five reflections:

• Belonging is everyone’s job. Students spend time in class, outside class and with each other. That means that every hour and every day presents an opportunity for a sense of belonging to be created or enhanced. Regardless of our role, we must be sensitive to how we are creating warm and welcoming environments that foster a sense of belonging.
• Belonging involves kindness and meaningful interactions. Academic disciplines, housing accommodations, organizational involvement and campus jobs all shrink this large campus into groups that give students opportunities to form meaningful connections. It is best if students can experience kindness and connection within multiple places on our campus. Having one set of friends in class, a separate set in the residence halls and a third group in student organizations means that no matter where students are, they can be in community with others.
• Time on campus contributes to belonging. Using spaces like the Indiana Memorial Union, Student Recreational Sports Center, Sample Gates, Arboretum, Dunn Meadow and Memorial Stadium can enhance students’ connection to one another and sense of belonging. Students have only so much time on campus, so exploring all the neat features and characteristics is a wonderful way to make campus feel more like home.
• Involvement leads to belonging. A sense of belonging is not about becoming someone different to fit in but rather engaging in enough activities and interacting with enough people that they get to know you and you get to know them. Trying new things and meeting new people is a fantastic way for students to discover where they belong. Being involved does not strictly mean joining a student organization. Having an on-campus job, being on a research team and volunteering in the community can also contribute to students’ sense of belonging.
• True involvement requires engagement. The fall and winter Student Involvement Fairs are a terrific way to learn about different organizations on campus. Some students sign up for more clubs than they participate in; doing that does not increase belonging. To get the belonging benefits associated with being involved, students should regularly attend meetings, volunteer to lead activities and invite others to hang out socially.

There is nothing magical about belonging. Faculty and staff interested in creating spaces for belonging for students must intentionally design experiences that facilitate meaningful interactions with others. Students who are seeking belonging need to leave their rooms and change their routines to go places they have never been and engage with people they have never met.

We all must be “never daunted” when it comes to creating a sense of belonging for ourselves and others. Opportunities for belonging abound; it is up to all of us to make IU Bloomington a place where everyone knows they belong. After all, we all want to belong.

Vicka Bell-Robinson is the associate vice provost for involvement and belonging in the Office of Student Life at Indiana University Bloomington.