We Belong @ Saint Paul College

We Belong is our shared commitment to creating a campus where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported—across identities, backgrounds, roles, and experiences.

Belonging is not passive. It reflects our belief that everyone deserves to feel at home here—and that a strong campus community is built through everyday actions shared responsibility, and a willingness to learn and grow together.

Belonging is more than being present. It is the experience of being:

Welcomed without having to change who you are
Heard and taken seriously
Safe from bias, harassment, and exclusion
Included in decisions, opportunities, and spaces

When belonging exists, people thrive—and our campus becomes stronger.

Measuring Belonging On Campus

Creating a strong sense of belonging also means listening and learning. To understand how people experience campus life, we gather information that helps us see what’s working—and where we can do better.

Why We Collect Belonging Data

We collect data to:

Understand how students, faculty, and staff experience campus climate
Identify areas of strength and opportunity
Improve programs, services, and campus practices
Track progress over time
Make informed decisions that support connection and engagement

Your voice matters! When you share your experiences, you help shape the campus community.

Recent data from the Spring 2026 Campus Pulse Survey tells us:

89% of respondents strongly agree or agree that they feel like they belong at SPC.
90% of respondents strongly agree or agree that people of all backgrounds at SPC are treated with respect.
82% of respondents strongly agree or agree that policies and practices on campus are applied fairly to everyone.
78% of respondents strongly agree or agree that they have adequate opportunities to participate in campus activities and decision making
88% of respondents strongly agree or agree that it is safe for them to express their identity on campus.

The information you provide helps ensure that We Belong is more than a statement, it’s a lived experience.

You Spoke. We Acted.

Belonging grows when we listen and respond. Feedback from students, staff and faculty helps shape our decisions and improve the campus experience.

Below are a few examples of changes inspired by Campus Feedback.

Feedback: Students shared feedback that the First Semester Advising appointments felt too long and overwhelming.
Action: First Semester Advising appointments were revised to provide students with opportunities to schedule two shorter meetings covering first semester advising and first semester registration separately.

Feedback: Hearing-impaired employees shared the challenge of scheduling an external ASL interpreter for meetings or conversations with co-workers, especially impromptu conversations.
Action: Saint Paul College has partnered with Convo, a nationally recognized provider of communication access services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals to provide on-demand and scheduled ASL interpreting services.

Feedback: Students reported there was too much delay between submitting an application, attending orientation, and officially engaging with the program.
Action: To address this concern, the TRIO Office combined these steps into a single one-hour First TRIO Meeting where students receive program orientation and begin developing their academic plan. This change has significantly reduced the time from application to active participation and has improved the overall onboarding experience for students.

Feedback: Employees and students requested more education and dialogue around equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Action: The Equity Institute was created, a learning community designed for Saint Paul College employees to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to understand systems of inequity, strengthen inclusive leadership, and foster belonging across the College.

Feedback: AFSCME Employees without dedicated computer access expressed challenges to accessing web-based resources, electronic communications, etc.
Action: A computer schedule to provided dedicated computer access was developed for AFSCME Employees without an assigned work computer.

Feedback: Campus Climate Survey responses indicated that some community members were unsure how their voices influenced campus decisions.
Action: The We Belong Initiative was created to provide regular opportunities to collect feedback, share survey results including how the information is used to guide campus decisions.

Feedback: Students requested more representation and visibility of diverse identities and experiences across campus.
Action: Through collaborative programming we are increased inclusive messaging, programming, and recognition of cultural and heritage celebrations throughout the year.

For additional examples of how feedback from the College community has been used, visit the Feedback to Decision listing. (Star ID Required)

Our Commitment to Continuous Improvement

We are committed to listening, learning, and taking action. As we gather feedback through surveys, conversations, and other engagement opportunities, we will continue to share what we hear and the steps we are taking to strengthen belonging at Saint Paul College.

Stay Connected to We Belong

We Belong is an ongoing commitment—reflected through campus messages, programs, events, and shared conversations.

Look for:

Community building events‑building events
Opportunities for learning and dialogue
Visual reminders of our shared values
Invitations to reflect and engage

Together, we create the campus we all want to be part of.

Blue Saint Paul College "We Belong" graphic with the message: "Belonging grows when we learn together. We all make mistakes." Supporting text reads: "Growth happens when we hold ourselves and each other accountable and we stay engaged."

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