2:30 - 2:55 PM Opening Comments by the ASMCUE Planning Committee and ASM Staff 3:00 - 3:30 PM Plenary talk by Dr. Erica McGreevy, Normalizing Struggle to Foster Belonging and Inclusive Classroom Norms: A Psychosocial Intervention Approach
Abstract: Overcoming adversity is an integral part of the college journey. Struggling is essential for learning, and persevering through scientific challenges is a hallmark of a successful scientist. However, some students may misinterpret struggles in their science courses as a sign that they do not belong or are incapable of succeeding in science. This perception is especially common among students who enter college experiencing belonging uncertainty—those from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, women, and first-generation students—who face societal stereotypes questioning their place and potential in science. For these students, encountering adversity can further exacerbate their belonging uncertainty, resulting in disengagement from their discipline and poor academic outcomes. This dynamic perpetuates academic performance gaps between different demographic groups, reinforcing inequalities in science. In this presentation, I will discuss an empirically validated ecological belonging intervention that normalizes overcoming adversity in college, encourages help-seeking behaviors, and reassures students that they belong despite setbacks. Implementing this short classroom activity early in the term establishes classroom norms that foster productive struggle, resulting in increased student engagement, improved learning outcomes, and a more equitable learning environment.
