ABSTRACT
The Gemstone honors program is an example of an emergent pedagogical style adopted by honors programs, as noted by Scott and Frana in their predictive analysis of what honors education might look like by 2025. Pedagogy that builds community reframes learning as a process, not solely an outcome, a notion that deeply aligns with the mission of the Gemstone honors program and is embedded throughout the course of the 4-year curriculum. Living–learning programs are a unique community of practice, and the Gemstone honors program reinforces the conditions of mattering to enhance belonging by exploring intentional ways in which Gemstone enacts this approach and ultimately cultivates what Schlossberg discussed as belonging within and among our living–learning community (LLC): teamwork, mentorship, and leadership. Universities, particularly large institutions, are often loosely coupled systems embodied by bureaucracy and decentralization. A significant implication is that LLCs can serve as a hub for students, which ultimately cultivates belonging and a sense of connectedness.
