Foster Belonging through Connections

WatSEE-aligned Actions

  • Employ short ice breaker activities in student meetings
  • Create a positive environment that respects diversity (e.g., use inclusive language, model respect, strive to learn student names)
  • Foster a sense of belonging (e.g., normalize but don’t minimize academic stress or lived experience, learn how to respond to students in distress, refer students to supports and services)
  • Foster a growth mindset (e.g., share own academic and personal challenges while a student, communicate ability can be improved and developed, provide constructive feedback on how students can improve)
  • Encourage students to determine how they should mediate their UWaterloo experience and support their well-being via organized activities (e.g., sports), unstructured activities (e.g., crafts), and/or university services and supports

Resources

Office of the Associate Provost, Students
Campus Life

Centre for Career Development
CareerHub Home – Further Education

Centre for Teaching Excellence
Reflection Framework and Prompts

Student Success Office
Concept mapping: A powerful tool for notetaking

University Relations
UW Inclusive Communications Guide

Wellness Collaborative
Creating a sense of belonging

Equity Accelerator
Creating a Belonging Story