Belonging & Flourishing

Studies have shown that when students flourish, they perform better in school, are more satisfied with their relationships, and have better self-regulation and self-control, among other benefits. There are many aspects of the Sarah Lawrence student experience that allow for and enable flourishing throughout students’ first year at SLC, starting with Belonging and Flourishing sessions during orientation.. During and after orientation, students will be introduced to resources across campus and learn how to navigate the transition to college with a positive mindset, shown to decrease depression and anxiety, improve performance in school and increase rates of engagement. By practicing emotion regulation, healthy conflict, and identity exploration, among other skills, this series provides students with the building blocks to flourish at Sarah Lawrence from their very first day. The First-Year Experience draws from Dr. Seligman’s PERMA theory of wellbeing to address questions of flourishing and belonging. Positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment empower students and facilitate belonging and flourishing. The First-Year Experience employs this framework to foster belonging and flourishing through engagement, mentorship and more.

Beginning with orientation, the FYE team collaborates with student leadership and clubs to encourage new students to get involved, developing a sense of social belonging in which they feel both wanted and valued by the community. Being situated within the Dean of Studies office, with close proximity to the classroom, academic advisors, and academic resources, allows the First-Year Dean to connect with students and intervene early on when academic or other issues arise. Through intentional first year housing, and collaborations across campus, the FYE team hones a sense of campus community belonging in which students’ values and interests are reflected in the physical spaces in which they live and learn.

Our First-Year Experience addresses this belonging triad with the understanding that motivation, socio-emotional, behavioral, and academic functioning all improve when students feel like they belong (Korpershoek et al 2018).T hrough accessible programming and our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), we aim to create an inclusive environment for all students. By fostering this sense of belonging early on, the First-Year Experience aims to improve student engagement, wellbeing, and success.

An overview of our First-Year Experience programming and opportunities, below, highlights our commitment to fostering a sense of belonging on campus. This page offers a window into the resources available to students throughout their first year at Sarah Lawrence.

At Sarah Lawrence College, we create space for students to connect with each other as soon as they join our SLC community. Once students commit to Sarah Lawrence, they have the opportunity to communicate with each other, ask questions, and learn about the campus environment through current students and staff alike. We offer ample opportunities for engagement with the campus community throughout the summer, including our SLC 101 virtual orientation programming and summer send off events for students and families. Gryphon Guides lead orientation programming for First Year Studies course cohorts of first year and new entering students starting in the summer, and provide support throughout their entire first year at SLC. The best way for students to stay updated on these events is through students’ GryphonMail accounts. Committed students are able to sign -up for their GryphonMail accounts beginning in early May. Sign-up instructions are sent to email accounts used while applying through the Common App. 

Belonging is conveyed through the physical layout of campuses, with infrastructure playing a vital role in transmitting educational and social values (Dias, 2022). With all first years living on campus, Sarah Lawrence creates a Living & Learning community, in which living and learning blend seamlessly together. Since Fall 2022, all first years reside on the North Lawn and in Hill House residence halls. This concentration of students living together in the center of campus provides easy access to dining facilities, classrooms, and more, fostering a unique sense of belonging for first year students, in close proximity to each other, faculty, and staff.

The Gryphon Guide Peer Mentor program was developed in Summer 2022. Gryphon Guides cohorts are assigned based on First Year Studies course placements, allowing students in these cohorts to get to know each other before the official start of the semester. Gryphon Guides work with first year students over the summer, lead orientation upon arrival on campus before the Fall semester, and support first year students as academic peer mentors throughout the year, offering one-on-one mentoring, working with faculty and staff to promote resources, and hosting events for the community. Students are invited to join Ask Me Anything sessions hosted by their Gryphon Guide over the summer, through which they can meet other first year students in their cohort. Information about Ask Me Anything sessions is sent through Gryphon Mail (students’ Sarah Lawrence email account), so be sure to check Gryphon mail frequently for timely updates over the summer!

The First Year Experience hosts a variety of programming and traditions throughout the year for first year and new transfer students, focusing on intentional programming with the purpose of engaging with community, connecting students to resources, and providing a sense of belonging and the opportunity to flourish. Beginning with orientation, we work across camous with faculty, staff, and student leaders to host programs dedicated to giving students the tools needed to flourish. Orientation ends with the FYE’s first tradition: the outdoor screening of The Princess Bride, featuring SLC alum Cary Elwes as Wesley. Not only is the Princess Bride showing a rite of passage for entering students that connects them to the larger community, but institutional cultures of success, such as pride in one’s school status and exposure to the success of alumni, connect students with a pride in belonging at their institution  (Dias, 2022). FYE programming continues throughout the semester, including events such as movie screenings, days of service, pop-up events, and collaborations with SLAC, Residential Education, Community Partnerships, Campus Safety, and other offices. Events are advertised via weekly Gryphon Guide emails, on Gryphon Link, and on Instagram.

The FYE Team communicates with students through a variety of platforms, including email,  Instagram, and GryphonLink, in order to spread information and promote communication across campus. Our FYE instagram, @fye_slc, posts updates on events and campus happenings throughout the year. Follow along for weekend Gryphon Guide takeovers and the most up-to-date information on events and resources. Students can stay connected through their SLC email for communication from the FYE team, as well as other departments, faculty, and staff, throughout campus. Through GryphonLink, students are able to join clubs, RSVP to events, and get involved with the campus community. With many opportunities to get involved and stay in touch, the FYE promotes a sense of belonging for all students on campus, where students of all identities and interests are able to find their niche within the SLC community.