Kojo Quartey: Belonging: What is it?
I had come in just before 8 a.m. one morning and was rushing to an 8 a.m. meeting in another building on campus where I had to do a presentation. Just as I was about to walk into the hallway, a gentleman walks in the door and asks me if I know where a particular training session is being held. I asked him the nature of the training session, he told me, then added that it was at Washtenaw Community College. To which I responded, this is Monroe County Community College, not Washtenaw. Unflustered, he said, “Yes, it’s here at Washtenaw Community College, this is the right place.” Setting everything else aside, I asked him to come with me so we could get him to the right place on campus at Monroe County Community College (MCCC). I walked him to security and we were provided with the venue of his training, which was indeed at Monroe County Community College. I was walking him over to the right room when another employee interceded and assisted in taking him to his appointed destination. He was a few minutes late and so was I, but I am sure that he felt that sense of belonging even though he was not at Washtenaw Community College.
Regardless of where people go, whether it is to another country, state, city or community, they want to feel that sense of belonging. This individual was not a student, he was a guest, and I wanted him to feel that he belonged. He had no idea who I was, and, while I did get his name, I did not know him at all. He was a visitor, here for a reason, and I wanted him to feel that he belonged. Everybody wants to feel that sense of comfort and belonging everywhere they go. I have no classic definition for belonging, except, it is that feeling of comfort and acceptance anywhere one goes.
MCCC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Plan states, that we will “Create a culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to assure that everyone (students, employees, visitors) who comes on campus feels a sense of belonging.”
Research shows that the No. 1 reason why students stay at any educational institution is because someone there knows them and cares about them – that is the No. 1 retention tool. Retaining students means that they are more likely to stay and complete – the definition of student success. The MCCC Diversity and Inclusion Plan is called, simply Belonging. I named it that even before I ever heard of the concept of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB), which is what the DEI movement has now become. Embracing the concept of Belonging essentially means that we value and respect all people, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, political affiliation or any other status.
As a leader, I try my very best to live and model that value and respect through action, as evidenced that morning. As I go about campus, I never pass anyone without saying hello or at least nodding. The concept of belonging, acceptance and tolerance are not about a movement, they are about common human decency. Such an attitude will ensure that we retain our students and employees. For some, this may be an individual paradigm shift, for others, it is normal and just the right thing to do. The better we treat people, the more likely they are to reciprocate and cause the entire organization to thrive. Below is an excerpt from an email I sent out to our campus earlier this semester. “Our campus needs to be welcoming. As a new semester begins, please evidence that sense of belonging by smiling, speaking to, and asking how you can help as you interact with students and guests on campus…. There is no reason why anyone who walks onto this campus should feel a sense of discomfort; if they do, then we are not living our mission and vision. To ensure that all, regardless of gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation, or any other form of diversity, feel welcomed and included, we also have been very intentional over the last few years in providing gender-neutral/unisex restrooms, and private meditation rooms all over campus….”
There is no perfect place, but proliferating that sense of belonging makes all places much better for all.
Kojo Quartey, Ph.D., is the president of Monroe County Community College and an economist. He can be reached at kquartey@monroeccc.edu.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Kojo Quartey: Belonging: What is it?
