[ back to SLDP index ]

BUILDING COMMUNITY


What is Building Community?

Community  is that somewhat elusive term that is important yet difficult to achieve for a variety of reasons. Community means different things  to different people. So instead of defining the term,  it is more beneficial to be aware of some of the outcomes of building  community. 

-  Outcomes of building community:
  • Sense of belonging
  • Comfort
  • Familiarity
  • Empowerment
  • Support
Thus,  building community is the process of developing an organizational  culture and programming that can produce any of the above outcomes.

Why  is Building Community Important?
Building  community is important because it simply leads to the positive outcomes  listed above. Feeling a sense of community within the greater university  is often difficult to derive. However, building community in smaller segments of the greater university community, such as student groups, residence halls, and Greek houses, may help students feel a sense  of community in  at least these smaller communities, if not the larger campus community.


topics in BUILDING COMMUNITY >
recruitment || retention || networking


Copyright | Sitemap | Duke.edu | Student Affairs | Campus Life