With the new academic year recently underway, and during this period marked by rapid social change, deepening political division, the proliferation of artificial intelligence tools, and growing mental health challenges among college students, the call for thriving communities on our campuses has never been louder—or more urgent. In my earlier blog, I discussed how thriving communities, grounded in the Federal Plan for Equitable Long-Term Recovery and Resilience (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10382910/), can serve as a framework for student success and institutional resilience. Today, I want to take this idea even further: thriving communities across higher education campuses are not just aspirational—they are essential to the successful future of higher education and our nation’s workforce.
A thriving community on a college campus is not just “nice to have.” It is the very culture in which students are inspired to learn, faculty embrace teaching and research, and staff want to support the campus while growing personally and professionally. This ecosystem is the foundation for retention, graduation, innovation, alumni engagement, donor development and a commitment to institutional success. And most importantly, it is the space where every member of the campus—regardless of background, identity, or pathway—feels a deep and authentic sense of belonging.
Why Thriving Communities Matter Now More Than Ever
Across the nation, we are witnessing unprecedented levels of anxiety, isolation, and disengagement among students. According to recent national surveys, nearly half of college students report persistent feelings of loneliness, and many question whether they belong on campus at all. For first-generation, underrepresented, and international students, the barriers to belonging can be even higher.
This is where, I believe, creating a culture of “thriving communities” becomes transformational. When university leaders and Boards of Trustees intentionally create environments that promote mental and physical health, reliable housing, access to food and employment, effective advising, internships, study abroad, and opportunities for meaningful connection—students thrive. When these same conditions exist for faculty and staff—communities flourish.
A Culture That Begins with Leadership
Creating a thriving community is not a task reserved for one office or department. It begins with the Board of Trustees, the president and the senior leadership team setting a clear, consistent, and compassionate vision. But the vision alone is not enough. Leadership must ensure that:
- Every department or division integrates the vital conditions for thriving—academic affairs, student affairs, facilities, business services, and advancement.
- Every member of the campus is empowered to foster connection, care, and a culture of belonging.
- Every decision is filtered through the lens of: “Does this advance our commitment to a thriving community?”
Presidents and institutional leaders must lead with courage, strength, empathy and collaboration, recognizing that creating a thriving culture requires shifting from siloed service delivery to shared, campus-wide responsibility. This is the “secret sauce” to creating a culture of “thriving.”
Making It Real: The Ecosystem in Action
Thriving communities take shape when support is woven seamlessly into the ecosystem of campus life. That means, for example:
- Faculty are trained and supported to recognize signs of student distress and know where to refer students for help.
- Staff—from admissions to custodial—feel ownership of the student experience and are valued as key contributors to student well-being.
- Physical and virtual spaces are intentionally designed to be inclusive, accessible, and inviting.
- Students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, the leadership, and the culture of the institution.
A culture of ‘thriving’ is not idealism—it’s a high-impact, high-return investment that leads to increased enrollment, better retention and graduation rates, more alumni engagement, increased donor contributions and stronger institutional reputation.
Partnerships with Purpose
Creating a culture of “thriving” does not happen in isolation or overnight. It shouldn’t be considered transactional, but relational. It includes establishing partnerships with local, regional, and national organizations that can bring much-needed resources to support mental health, workforce readiness, housing, and food security. These collaborations extend the reach of the institution and reinforce its role as an anchor in its community. As I’ve noted previously, Portland State University’s motto—“Let Knowledge Serve the City”—is not just a slogan; it is a guiding principle for shared success.
The Responsibility We All Share
If we truly believe that higher education changes lives—and I know that we do—then we must also believe in the moral imperative to create the conditions in which students can succeed. Thriving communities are not an add-on. They are the path forward.
Each of us—presidents, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and community members—has a role in this forward movement. I encourage us to move from pockets of excellence to a pervasive culture of belonging. Let’s create ecosystems where students not only stay but soar, staff grow and develop, alumni are excited to return to campus, donors believe that their donations add to the thriving culture, and faculty are inspired to teach and conduct research.
It is time to elevate thriving communities from aspiration to expectation. Our campuses and higher education deserve nothing less.