Belonging

At Quinnipiac, we are fiercely committed to building a community where every individual feels a true sense of belonging — a place where you can be your authentic self; your voice is respected, and you have the support needed to truly flourish.

We prioritize active engagement in everything we do, ensuring that every student, faculty member, staff member, and alum is an essential part of our vibrant, collaborative and connected campus. By showing up for one another and valuing our shared experiences, we create a culture where everyone is empowered to contribute and grow together.

Our Commitment to Belonging

Our mission thrives on the indelible power of belonging. We are committed to an educational experience where unique identities are celebrated as our greatest strength, fostering an environment where every member is empowered, respected, and essential to our shared success.

How We Engage Together

Our culture isn't a checklist of programs; it is a living environment nurtured by genuine care for one another’s well-being. At Quinnipiac, engagement means:

  • Bringing Our Whole Selves: We encourage students, faculty and staff to bring both their hearts and minds to campus. When you feel safe being your authentic self, you engage more deeply with your work and your peers.
  • Courageous Connection: We champion the vigorous and civil exchange of ideas. Deep engagement often requires honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversations, and we approach these moments with the strong commitment to support and grow from them.
  • Caring as a Foundation: We act with genuine care for others to ensure our environment remains a safe space for belonging. We listen and dialogue with sensitivity to the lived and present experiences of those around us.
  • Rigorous, Respectful Debate: Intellectual growth requires us to engage with viewpoints different from our own. We commit to authentically exploring ideas with academic rigor while never questioning the fundamental legitimacy or equality of the person holding them.

By fostering this spirit of engagement, we ensure Quinnipiac remains a place where people genuinely invest in one another and the world we share.

Building Belonging through Recognition, Engagement and Celebration

The broad and rich backgrounds, experiences and talents of our Bobcat family are what make Quinnipiac so special.

Recognizing and celebrating the members of our community is more than just something to do; it's our guiding vision. Through engagement via educational activities, lectures and other shared experiences, we support and embrace all students, alumni, faculty and staff, and valued members of our local community representing all ethnicities, religions and individual experiences. Our differences are, in fact, what brings us all together to celebrate our collective spirit.

Forms and Resources

Bias Incident Reporting Form

Gender Equity Training Request Form

Title IX Reporting Form

Title IX Training Materials

Policies and Plans

Bias and Discrimination Policy

Title IX Policy

 

We invite you to join us in learning more and celebrating with us throughout the year.

Critical Conversations Speaker Series

The objective of the Critical Conversation Speaker Series is to foster an intellectually stimulating environment at Quinnipiac, promoting inclusivity of thought, respectful dialogue, empathetic engagement and open-mindedness among students, faculty, staff, and the local community. The events are designed to empower participants to be better prepared to embrace a plurality of perspectives by immersion in and actively engaging with concepts and ideas that may challenge their personal values, without dismissing or silencing differing viewpoints.

All events are free and open to the public. 

Cross-Cultural Education

Cross-Cultural Education occurs through a host of services and programs that promote belonging and engagement at Quinnipiac. As a partner of the Office of International Students and Scholars and the Office of Student Engagement, our goal is to create an environment that reflects, supports and encourages students to celebrate their own as well as others' cultural heritage.

Program Offerings

  • Community Connections Series
    • The Community Connection program brings individuals to campus for storytelling events that share inspirational journeys, expert insights, and personal narratives to strengthen community bonds and give the campus community perspectives from lived experiences. 
  • Leadership Retreats
    • Our retreats are designed to provide an opportunity for students to develop essential skills for belonging through interpersonal discussion, leadership development and community engagement. The retreat helps connect students to campus resources and networks that support academic and personal success.
  • Training and Education
    • We develop, execute and benchmark university-wide training that’s delivered online and in person. These workshops and trainings are meant to foster cross-cultural awareness and the active practice of belonging among faculty, staff and students. The sessions are focused on leadership, social identity development, cultural competence, intersectionality, allyship and related topics for the university community.

ROAR: Resources for Opportunity, Achievement, and Readiness

ROAR provides students with the resources, opportunities, and support they need to achieve their goals and build readiness for every stage of their college journey. Through identity‑centered programming, community connection, and intentional skill‑building, we empower students to navigate transitions with confidence and thrive academically, personally, and socially.

Programs

  • Collegiate Transition
    • Bobcat Academy
      • Bobcat Academy focuses on three key transition areas: succeeding in academics, adjusting to life away from home and building a trustworthy social network of friends, classmates and faculty advisers. 
    • First-Year Immersion
      • Research suggests that summer immersion programs help to facilitate a successful student transition to university life, improve academic performance, increase retention rates and lead to on-time graduation. Quinnipiac University has established a First-Year Immersion (QU FYI) summer program for admitted students for students who might struggle with the transition to college. During this program, students participate in social, cultural and academic initiatives, and fully immerse themselves into the Bobcat community while laying a solid foundation for future success.
    • QUEST
      • The Quinnipiac University Enriching Student Transitions (QUEST) program creates opportunities for first-year underrepresented students (students of color, international students and first-generation college students) to connect directly with peer and professional mentors and the campus and local area through personal, academic, social and cultural experiences that aid in their success and adjustment to the college environment.
    • Transfer Connection
      • Beyond the initial orientation that transfer students receive, our transfer connection programs are designed to help transfer students navigate the realities of learning a new institution, meeting new people, and connecting with opportunities that support success.
  • Opportunities and Community Development
    • Commuter Connections
      • Throughout the semester, our community space and active programming help to foster community engagement, provide a morning pick-me-up, and offer a welcoming space for connection among students commuting as part of their campus experience.
    • First Generation
      • Quinnipiac is a network member of FirstGen Forward, a national consortium of colleges and universities committed to advancing first-generation student success. At Quinnipiac, we support our first-generation students through programs and opportunities designed to address knowledge gaps that can pose barriers to belonging and success.
    • Pell Student Support
      • We provide our students with academic and extracurricular advising, connections to resources, educational programs, and strategic thinking around opportunities that maximize your collegiate experience. 
    • Sawhney Leadership Program
      • The Sawhney Leadership Program aims to prepare primarily first-generation and students from similarly situated backgrounds for future careers through leadership development workshops, alumni engagement, faculty/staff connections, corporate immersion, and a community of supportive, goal-oriented peers.