Most colleges score low on helping students of all faiths – or none – develop a sense of belonging. Faculty can help change that

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Matthew J. Mayhew , The Ohio State University

(THE CONVERSATION) What helps students from all walks of life have a good college experience?

Beyond all the concrete things schools can offer – academics, research opportunities, sports, dining halls – is something both basic and hard to define: a sense of belonging.

Factors such as race and gender can influence how at home a student feels on campus, contributing to their overall well-being. But my research highlights the role of religion and spirituality , too: how support for students’ worldviews – whether they’re deeply religious, atheist or somewhere in between – shapes their campus experience.

My recent sch