💬A Conversation About Belonging
When I sat down with Haley Mangette, Assistant Director of Student Engagement, one theme stood out: students can’t fully engage or belong until their basic needs are met.
Haley works in the Office of Student Involvement (OSI), and while many people associate that office with game nights or campus festivals, she sees those programs as part of something deeper.
“Students can’t fully engage or reach their potential,” Haley told me, “until their basic needs and sense of safety are met.”
That philosophy shapes what her team does.
🎒Supporting Students’ Basic Needs
Haley helps coordinate the college’s Basic Needs Program, which removes barriers that make it hard for students to focus on learning and connection.
Key initiatives include:
- 🧃 Hungry Hornets Fridge and Meal Swipe Exchange — access to food, no financial-aid check or judgment.
- 🩸 Period-products for all people.
- 🚐 Break transportation support so students can reach airports or train stations.
- 🧥 Winter and general clothing closets in the Intercultural Center.
Haley’s approach centers on trust and dignity: “If a student says they need help, we believe them.”
When a student’s need recurs, Haley uses that moment to connect them to longer-term supports such as SNAP or other assistance programs.
🎭 Why “Just Fun” Events Matter
“Our goal is to make space for students who might not want to party but still want to be social—to give them ways to have fun, connect, and grow.”
Haley also coordinates Wednesday Wellness, Zoo After Dark, and Friday Night Activities—programs that build community and help students step away from stress.
Even the most social events have intentional learning goals:
- 🧩 Escape rooms teach teamwork, frustration tolerance, and communication under pressure.
- 🛒 Grocery Bingo mixes fun with tips on financial wellness.
- 🎑 Cultural events such as Día de los Muertos and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrate diversity and connection.
🌱 The Meaning Behind the Fun
Haley wants faculty and staff to know OSI’s work is more than entertainment—it’s part of a larger effort to support student wellness and belonging.
Examples include:
- 🎬 Rent screening + shadow cast → conversation about HIV awareness and prevention.
- 💡 Health and Wellness Fair → connecting students with on- and off-campus services.
“All of it,” Haley said, “is about helping students practice for real-life challenges—conflict, teamwork, frustration. Those lessons matter.”
🧑🏫 What Faculty and Staff Can Do
Haley had a simple suggestion for colleagues:
“When you meet a student who’s struggling to connect, ask what they’re doing outside of class. Tell them about Wednesday Wellness or Zoo After Dark. Those small invitations can make a big difference.”
Faculty and staff can also:
- Mention OSI programs to students in class or advising (Wellness Wednesdays, Friday Night activities, Zoo After Dark).
- So that students (and you) know what’s happening on campus, highlight the presence/Involve app with students. Anyone can download and sign in to learn what’s happening on campus.
- Normalize asking for help and participating in campus life.
💡 Learn More / Try This
- Visit: studentactivities.kzoo.edu then click “events and programs” for OSI events & student organizations.
- Try this: Share one campus resource related to wellness or belonging in your next class or department meeting.
- Reflect: What would it look like if every corner of campus played a role in helping students feel seen, supported, and connected?