Belonging isn't static throughout an experience - it needs to be sustained.
The maintenance phase is the ongoing stretch of a course, after the beginning has passed but before the end. It’s where routines form, habits solidify, and learning deepens. This is not a passive period, but a powerful window for reinforcing a sense of belonging through daily interactions, instructor presence, and learner participation in community norms.
In the research, designers noted that belonging is dynamic. The intentionality of the design from the preparation phase has now been nurtured and reaffirmed by faculty through commitments to language, connection, and routines. Some responsibilities for maintaining belonging are also taken up by students, who now play a role in co-sustaining belonging through their contributions to the community by adhering to the norms and rituals they ideally helped determine.
Use these templates or tools to support your practice:
Mid-Course Survey Inspiration Check In Email Template