Community and Belonging in the College Classroom
Days/Times: Tuesdays 3:30-5:30pm, starting January 19
Instructor: Rosemary Russ
Location: 1214 Levy Hall
Credit: 2 credits
Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning: elective
Course Description
Students’ sense of connection and belonging profoundly shapes their engagement, persistence, and success in higher education. This course invites us to examine how classroom environments, institutional practices, and interpersonal interactions may foster or hinder community. Through critical reflection, discussion, and practice, participants will explore how power dynamics, culture, and lived experiences influence students’ experiences of learning and participation in the college classroom.
Drawing on scholarship in inclusive teaching, student wellbeing, learning communities, and belongingness, the course will investigate the conditions that support thriving for all students. Participants will engage in both self-reflection and collective inquiry to better understand their own roles in shaping classroom culture and relationships. Rather than offering a prescriptive set of techniques, the course provides frameworks for navigating the complexities of creating supportive and connected learning environments. In doing so, participants will develop a deeper understanding of how we can cultivate community, promote wellbeing, and strengthen students’ sense of belonging in the college classroom.
Questions?
Contact info@delta.wisc.edu