From Access to Belonging: Building Trauma-Informed Pathways to Student Success

In-Person: The Great Hall, S2-19

• Recognize how trauma and justice involvement can influence student engagement, persistence, and success in higher education.
• Explore trauma-informed strategies that cultivate safety, trust, belonging, and academic success while maintaining high expectations.
• Identify practical opportunities to reduce institutional barriers and strengthen student-centered practices that support student success.

Seminar Description:

Higher education has made meaningful strides in expanding access for justice-impacted students. Yet, access alone does not guarantee belonging, persistence, or student success. If we truly believe education has the power to transform lives, then our responsibility extends beyond opening the door—we must also create learning environments where students feel welcomed, valued, and equipped to thrive.

This interactive panel discussion invites faculty and staff to reframe the conversation. Instead of asking, "How do we serve justice-impacted students?" we will explore a more transformative question:

"How do we create an educational environment where students can succeed?"

Moderated by Professor Malika Rahman, this conversation will bring together a trauma-informed practitioner, a student success coach, and a justice-impacted student to examine how trauma-informed policies, practices, and relationships can strengthen the student experience from enrollment through completion. Drawing from research, professional practice, and lived experience, the panel will offer practical insights into fostering safety, trust, transparency, empowerment, and belonging while maintaining high academic expectations.

Together, we will explore how institutional policies, classroom practices, advising, and student support services can either reinforce barriers or become bridges to student success. Participants will leave with practical strategies they can immediately apply, along with a renewed understanding that student success is not simply about providing access—it is about cultivating a culture of belonging where every student has the opportunity to learn, persist, and thrive.