June 14, 2024

Belonging June Resource

As we move into the summer and plan orientation, campus welcome, and first weeks of classes, how can we incorporate this knowledge into our practices, approaches and pedagogy?

Gen Z is considered the loneliest generation, which affects our students as well. Please watch this video and reflect on how this affects our students. 

Belonging: An Inclusive Learning Community
Belonging: An Inclusive Learning Community

As society works to understand the experience of loneliness, I want to share with you a video essay from a non-US institution entitled Why Gen Z are the Loneliest Generation. This video dives into the causes behind the unique experience of loneliness that students are facing today. It highlights research-backed causes and student perspectives in an elegant way that can be consumed in less than 15 minutes.


The video reinforces the challenge we face: many students are arriving on campus feeling lonelier and less able to make connections than previous cohorts. This reality underscores the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and connection in our classrooms – a crucial aspect of their academic success and overall well-being.


As we move into the summer and plan orientation, campus welcome, and first weeks of classes, how can we incorporate this knowledge into our practices, approaches and pedagogy?