“Community” is in the name: A university teacher’s guide to foster a sense of belonging by learning from community college students

Abstract

Community building is necessary for creating inclusive learning environments. In this narrative, I reflected on my teaching experience at both a large public university and a local community college. I observed two main differences: Community college students appeared to be more willing to 1) advocate for additional support, and 2) support each other to foster classroom success. I specifically provided examples for each observation and recommendations to replicate these experiences. Overall, I have found the community college students inspiring. They taught me that educators are not the only ones who facilitate a sense of belonging, but the students do as well.