Spring 2026 — Reaching All: Working Toward Collective Care and Belonging

When we picture an undergraduate student, we may often default to the traditional 18–22-year-old who comes straight from high school. But that image captures only a fraction of the students in our classrooms.

Our students bring a wide range of lived experiences and identities with them every day, both visible and unseen. They are students who work. Students from different religious traditions. Neurodivergent students. Students navigating family responsibilities, financial pressures, health concerns, different political ideologies, or a sense of not fully belonging. As educators, we are called to serve all students.

Faculty and student-interacting staff shared lightning talks (4-7 minutes) focused on sharing best practices or lessons learned related to inclusive excellence in teaching, as well as initiatives that extend beyond the classroom (e.g., advising, housing, student workers in offices, student organization activities and outreach).