Loyola University Maryland strives to uphold a community in which members feel safe, comfortable, and included with the launch of The Belonging Campaign.

Many students argue that they have felt a sense of security in the Loyola community from the very beginning.

“I always felt like I belonged. Messina group helped with that I think because even though I didn’t know anyone or have friends yet, I was still a part of a group,” says Jaimie Smith, a Political Science major and member of the Class of 2020.

Messina, a first-year program at Loyola, is put in place to help incoming freshman adjust to the college atmosphere and carve their path for the upcoming years.

Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same as Smith. During the 2018-2019 academic year, the university conducted a survey to evaluate the overall campus climate.

In fact, as a result of the survey, Loyola found that many students indicated that they considered leaving Loyola due to a lack of a sense of belonging.

Danielle Patti is a senior at Loyola and has been a member of the Evergreen Orientation Leader staff for 3 years, working closely with first year students.

“Often, I will get a couple of first-years who come to me expressing that they don’t quite feel like they belong here. I actually had a first-year leave once after the first week,” says Patti.

At Loyola, upholding a strong sense of community is one of the values that make up the university’s foundation and one of the reasons many students to choose to attend in the first place.

"When my older brother went here, he always talked about how being at Loyola felt like being with family. I knew then that's where I wanted to be," says senior Anna O'Kane.

To help understand the meaning of community, campaign leaders recognize 7 key terms: accountability, belonging, diversity, equity, inclusion, integration, and privilege.

Some of the benefits of feeling a sense of belonging include increased psychological well-being, more meaningful relationships, better physical health, maximized academic success, and boosted student retention.

The overall role of The Belonging Campaign is to show, not just tell, all members of the Loyola community are valued.

The Belonging Campaign puts emphasis on each individual's role on creating a sense of belonging for themselves and others around them.

For more information about The Belonging Campaign and how you can get involved, visit Loyola University’s webpage here.