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    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​PA MASLOW

    ​Safety & Belonging

    Pennsylvania learners need to feel safe on campus – from sexual violence and abuse, hate speech, acts of violence and mass casualty events, and natural disasters. Additionally, learners need to feel a sense of belonging on campus – that they are seen and experience appreciation, validation, acceptance, and fair treatment within an environment (Cobb & Krownapple, 2019).

    Resources

    FREE TO LEARN: Leading Inclusive Learning Environments in Higher Education
    A resource guide from the U.S. Department of Education for fostering safe and inclusive campuses through the Israel-Hamas conflict and beyond.

    It's On Us PA, established in 2016, provides grant funding and supports to postsecondary institutions for updated reporting systems and education programs on campuses throughout the Commonwealth. PDE hosts an annual convening to establish networking opportunities, share best practices, and learn together to ensure students can learn and grow without fear of sexual harassment, violence, or stalking.

    Safety planning for mass shooting events is an unfortunate but necessary part of proactively ensuring personal safety for learners, faculty, and staff on campus. While many campuses may already have plans in place, this video, In the Aftermath, is a good place to learn from others who have experienced these events, and discover what recovery might look like.

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's website features the Campus Resilience Program which highlights a variety of planning resources to address a range of threats or hazards that affect schools and campuses nationwide.

    PDE's Equitable Practices Hub shares information, graphics, and ideas for administrators to consider to ensure inclusion and belonging on campus.

    FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) offers resources and information for higher education administrators regarding free speech on campus.

    Thinking strategically about Safety & Belonging

    • What does true belonging look like for each learner on your campus?
      • Have you contacted former students to inquire about why those who are on the margins of belonging leave your institution?
    • What does belonging mean to students, faculty, and staff at your institution?
    • Are you engaging in educational programming opportunities with guest speakers that have a world perspective on issues like sexual violence or free speech on campus?
    • Assess which areas are emerging opportunities for growth at the institution and make a strategic goal to collaborate with colleagues in this space.