How to Build Connection and Belonging on Campus
February 17th, 2026 | 12:00 p.m EST - 1:00 p.m. EST
Complimentary
Learn strategies reduce loneliness and increase connectedness on campus.
Why is this important?
Nearly half of college students and 60% of employees feel lonely and disconnected. Utilizing specific strategies can help students, staff and faculty on your campus build or strengthen relationships.
Overview
Most students and employees crave closer relationships, but struggle with HOW to build them. The thing is, connection is not a mysterious process—there are reliable ways to build it. ProjectConnect provides a repeatable model for building real connection quickly, and its founder will share tips and strategies you can immediately implement with students (and staff).
Learn about guided conversation and activities that WORK. No forced mingling, trying to figure out who to talk to or what to say. The Results: Decreased loneliness, new friendships, stronger relationships, increased sense of connectedness and belonging.
Who Should Attend?
This program is ideal for staff, faculty and student leaders charged with or looking to promote belonging and connection on campus. These positions will benefit from the course:
* Orientation supervisors and student orientation leaders
* Academic advisors and peer advisors
* Student success professionals
* Counseling and health promotion professionals and peer educators
* Residential life professionals and RAs
* Peer mentors and student leaders
* Faculty who want to integrate student belonging strategies in and outside of the classroom
* Campus HR professionals
ProjectConnect Facilitator Certification Training
June, 2026 or hosted on your campus-Learn More!
ProjectConnect is an evidence-based small group program that reduces loneliness and helps participants build positive relationships quickly. This training prepares you to facilitate ProjectConnect groups with students, staff and faculty to build stronger belonging and connection on campus. Training takes place June 2, 9, and 16, 2026 from 12:00-2:00 Eastern Time over Zoom or host a training specifically for your campus, scheduled at your convenience.
95% of participants would recommend ProjectConnect strategies to a friend or colleague.
More importantly, participants reduce loneliness, build relationships, and feel more connected to their campus/workplace.
FACILITATOR
Jessica Gifford, LICSW, ProjectConnect Founder, Chief Connection Officer
Jessica is a social worker, turned connection expert and entrepreneur. She helps individuals and organizations build stronger relationships. Her work is based on the premise that developing 5 fulfilling friendships is the antidote to loneliness. However, because there are so many challenges to making friends as an adult, Jessica created the ProjectConnect program to make the process easier and more fun. ProjectConnect provides a step-by-step roadmap for creating connection in small groups.
Jessica has worked with over 100 organizations—from colleges to corporations to community centers—and trained more than 750 ProjectConnect group facilitators. Thousands of participants—from 12 to 92 years old—have gone through ProjectConnect groups, reduced loneliness, and built connection.
SUPPORT
If you have questions or need support registering for this training, please email info@eduology.org.