Emotionally safe students have positive academic and social outcomes. In fact, research shows that students who feel emotionally safe are empowered to be creative and work more effectively in groups.
It is important to note that historically marginalized students report lower feelings of campus belonging and emotional safety. IHEs should take extra steps to ensure that efforts to promote emotional safety resonate with all students on campus.
Low-stress classroom environments can contribute to students’ emotional safety. Creating rituals, bringing levity, and allowing time for students to ask questions are all ways to make classrooms low stress. Professors can also emphasize progress and participation, rather than perfection. Finally, they can use active listening skills and positive reinforcement to show students their perspectives are valued.
IHEs can also ensure that students have access to psychological and emotional services and create “safe spaces” for students. Safe spaces can be low-stress classrooms, where students can take risks and engage in meaningful discussion, as well as groups and clubs on campus that provide emotional safety. These groups can be especially helpful for students from historically marginalized groups.
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Han, S., Liu, D., & Lv, Y. (2022). The influence of psychological safety on students’ creativity in project-based learning: The mediating role of psychological empowerment. Front Psychol. Vol 13. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.865123/full
Harvard Institute for Learning and Teaching. (2022). Why psychological safety matters in class. Harvard Graduate School of Education: Cambridge MA. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/news/22/09/why-psychological-safety-matters-class
National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments. (nd.) Interpreting emotional safety school climate survey data. U.S. Department of Education: Washington, DC. https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/sites/default/files/SCIRP/datainttopicalguideemosafety.pdf
Turner, N. & Farooqi, M. (2017). Campus climate survey paints grim picture of students’ emotional safety, sense of belonging at American University. The Eagle: Washington, DC. https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2017/10/american-university-campus-climate-survey-shows-lack-of-emotional-safety-sense-of-belonging-among-students-of-color
Yee, M. (2019). Why ‘safe spaces’ are important for mental health—especially on college campuses. Healthline: New York, NY. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/safe-spaces-college#1
