Structural belonging refers to institutional conditions, policies, practices, and cultural norms that demonstrate that one is accepted, supported, respected, valued by, and important to a community. Fostering structural belonging, thus, requires dismantling and transforming inequitable institutional structures that devalue, dehumanize, disrespect and “other” minoritized students, especially those who are multiply marginalized.

Thus, equity-minded campus leaders should make assertive efforts to center the voices and experiential knowledge of REM students in their assessment and transformation of institutional structures, policies, practices, and processes.