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Inclusion & Belonging

Students standing in a group
Photo credit: Mary Desmond for Virginia Tech Student Affairs

When people of different backgrounds interact, they expand their appreciation, understanding, and respect for others. Engagement brings people together in ways that illustrate how all people matter.

At Virginia Tech, we believe that the collaboration of cultures, ideas, and different perspectives is a university asset that brings forth greater creativity, innovation, and learning. Student Affairs supports access and success for all Virginia Tech students by engaging them in programs, conversations, and experiences that develop cultural competency, foster inclusion, build bridges of understanding, and teach effective advocacy. We help students become courageous leaders who serve as change agents and make the world more humane and just.

Inclusion & Belonging was established in 2021 as an initiative of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Led by Chief Inclusion & Belonging Officer Anthony Scott, its goals are to help students and the Virginia Tech community strengthen listening skills, increase empathy, facilitate healthy relationships, and foster a sense of belonging for all students.

Inclusion & Belonging programs allow students to develop meaningful relationships, build competencies and skills, recognize and value the diversity that is present within the Hokie Nation, and learn to live the Principles of Community. We make the Virginia Tech journey one that prepares students for academic achievement, personal growth, and lifelong fulfillment.

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    Foundations

    Conversations focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging framed through a college student's lens - A Virginia Tech Podcast. Foundations aims to address these issues through discussions on self-awareness, cultural knowledge, openness, perspective-taking, communication, and collaboration.

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    Perspectives for Residential Well-being

    Make real connections where you live and explore differences with a sense of unity. Through micro-lessons and small-group discussions, Perspectives will help you: explore how our fast thinking isn’t always our best thinking, uncover the roots of our ideological differences, cultivate intellectual humility, welcome diverse perspectives, appreciate other worldviews, manage emotions in difficult conversations, master difficult conversations.