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Find Your Community
Centered on dignity and respect, Belonging@UMass affirms the university’s values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging—and seeks to forge a strong and unified sense of community for all students.
As the no. 1 public research university in New England, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is committed to building a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Our student body is made up of more than 32,000 individuals who are supported by thousands of faculty and staff. To 90 percent of UMass students, finding a sense of belonging matters in important ways—it is crucial to their success. We also know that diverse experiences and perspectives are essential strengths of our learning environment and integral to academic excellence.
To uphold our commitment, the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) leads the Belonging@UMass initiative. This holistic, campus-wide effort seeks to honor our differences and cultivate belonging for every individual. Through a series of events, like the 2024 JEDI Conference, students can connect with new friends, engage with a wide variety of campus resources, and learn about UMass Amherst’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all.
Belonging@UMass stands to create a better overall experience for everyone on campus,
Nefertiti Walker, Deputy Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and Equity for the UMass system
Taking Action Toward Measurable Progress
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Belonging@UMass builds on UMass Amherst's long-standing efforts to promote justice, equity, and inclusion. Though the initiative is led by OEI, creating a community of belonging does not belong to one office. It takes participation from the entire campus community to create an environment that embraces and respects unique experiences and perspectives.
Decisions and planning for Belonging@UMass are evolving and are informed by the Campus Climate Survey, conducted by the Office of Academic Planning and Assessment (OAPA) and OEI. In announcing this survey, UMass Amherst acknowledged not only our ongoing commitment to understanding the perceptions of all individuals in our community, but also to taking action and making tangible steps forward.
A Welcoming Environment for All
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According to Nefertiti Walker, deputy vice president for academic and student affairs and equity for the UMass system, Belonging@UMass grew out of a desire to create a strong, unified sense of community while improving the experience of campus groups that feel a lower than average sense of belonging.
"By seeking to boost the experiences of the most marginalized populations, Belonging@UMass stands to create a better overall experience for everyone on campus,” says Walker. “We’re moving towards an ideal state where each person is welcomed and celebrated for their uniqueness and their differences.”