Belonging is a basic human need. That is especially true for college and university students who are finding their way in an increasingly complex—and disconnected—world. In our 2022-2023 Sodexo Student Lifestyle Survey, students told us that finding a sense of fit was their second-highest priority, just after affordability and availability of financial aid, for college selection. Belonging and fit are more important to more students than rankings or perceptions of prestige. But what is fit, anyway?
With 82% of current students reporting that they seek a friendly campus where they feel they fit, it is vital that we’re all working to foster a sense of belonging. Learn more about these best practices in belonging:
- Proactively addressing welcome & fit to mitigate isolation and mental health challenges;
- Taking a lesson from HBCUs, marrying mission and culture to build belonging for all;
- Providing wide-ranging, paid, and supported internships to help students find their way and see their futures; and
- Leaning on partners, like Sodexo, to bolster community through data-driven, insight-built approaches to dining and engagement—so students can be the SPARK for one another.
Everyone is talking about belonging. Let’s go beyond the talk to understand and deploy best practices so everyone can find their sense of fit!