Decades of research demonstrate that the quality of student-faculty and student-student interactions are foundational to engaging, inclusive, and purposeful learning. Educational relationships profoundly influence motivation, learning, belonging, and achievement for all students, and particularly for new majority students.

Drawing on more than 400 interviews with students, faculty, and staff across U.S. higher education, this interactive session will explore relationships as a flexible, scalable, equitable, and humane approach to ensuring that all students experience welcome and care, become inspired to learn, and explore the big questions that matter for their lives and our communities. You will leave with practical ideas for research-informed ways that you can cultivate educationally powerful interactions in your teaching - without devoting all of your time and energy to your students.