This is York University. This is Belonging.
The Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion is committed to:
- Advancing Human Rights
- Championing Equity
- Fostering Diversity
At York University, we proactively cultivate difference through community engagement and consultation, and want to see the York community fulfill a sense of belonging for all.
Why #YUBelong?
As students, staff, faculty, and guests, your desire to belong in the space is an important factor in achieving your goals.
Belonging is not only about fitting in, but celebrating and thriving within all the intersectionalities that make us unique, as individuals, as a community, and as academic institution.
Our job, as members of this community, is to expand the spaces for and understandings of the myriad ways people exist in the world.
A sense of belonging then, means that we can work better together, we can think better together, learning more, contributing more, all while enjoying the experience of interaction.
"Belonging" is not just a nice word. There are real life indicators informing us that we all do better, when we feel like we belong. Studies show that:
- Scholars who feel like they belong publish more papers;
- Communities with a strong sense of belonging show greater resilience to disasters;
- Students who feel like they belong are less likely to drop out;
- People with a strong sense of belonging have better physical and mental health outcomes than those who do not;
- Your sense of belonging can affect how well you sleep;
- Beliefs about belonging affect IQ test scores.
Belonging means different things to different people. For some, it comes from being involved in campus clubs or services, for others, it is connecting with folks from similar backgrounds, or finding the field in which you know you can thrive and grow your best self.
Belonging does not know the borders of race, gender, sexuality, or ability. Belonging can be the tool we all use to stop violence and discrimination before it happens, and upholds human rights, equity, inclusion and diversity.
#YUBelong is about celebrating York University’s diversity and promoting equity and inclusion.
Please use the hashtag #YUBelong to let REI know what belonging means to you!
What does belonging mean to you?
We asked. Students answered.
#YUBelong Video
In December 2019, the Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion (REI) partnered with the Student Community and Leadership Development (SCLD) unit to capture the responses of York University students, about the meaning of “belonging” on campus. Students were asked what belonging means to them and how they can promote a greater sense of belonging at York. Add your voice, by answering the questions and using the hastag #YUBelong, on your social media channels. We want all students to know that YUBelong!
Twitter - The Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion
This is York University. This is Belonging.
