Lamar Hylton

In a time when societal tensions and political polarization are climbing, the need for a positive and inclusive campus climate has never been more critical. For Lamar Hylton, Vice Provost for Student Life at Indiana University, Bloomington, the key to creating this positive learning atmosphere lies in affirming students and empowering them to be their authentic selves.

Lamar met with Chris Mansfield, GoodCourse’s Client Services Lead, to talk over some of the most pressing issues facing higher education today, from the challenge of fostering dialogue across difference to the importance of orientation in setting students up for success.

Lamar's Journey

Chris: Welcome back to The Interview. Perhaps we can begin with a brief introduction to yourself and your new institution?

Absolutely! I’m Dr Lamar Hylton and I serve as Vice-Provost for Student Life at Indiana University, Bloomington. Indiana University has nine campuses, and Bloomington is our flagship. I arrived here in September 2023. We’re a large public research university that serves graduate, undergraduate, and professional students across a wide range of academic disciplines. We also have a vibrant campus community outside of the classroom.

Chris: What inspired you to pursue a career in the field of Student Affairs?

I’m the product of some brilliant people who moved me in the direction of Student Affairs, even if they didn’t know that at the time. That includes my mentors, faculty members, and leaders of student organizations I was a part of – they were the driving force behind my personal and academic success, and sparked my interest in working with college students 

I see this work as a calling; I want to help, support, and serve students, especially those who, like me, might be experiencing collegiate life for the first time. Ultimately, we want students to better themselves so they can go out and make positive contributions to the world.

‍Chris: What are the most important things to prioritize when it comes to student safety and fostering a positive campus climate?

There’s never been a greater need to equip students with the skills to build positive engagement with each other and the institution. The climate is quite tense in our community right now, and it’s becoming increasingly polarized. We see that on our campuses; we don’t live in a bubble, and it spills over into our learning environment. As an institution, we need to combat that in ways that can affirm students and empower them to bring their true and authentic selves to our campus. So we need to create the conditions that support that welcoming and inclusive learning experience. Some people might say that could create conflicts with free speech, but I actually think that they are complementary to each other. When we embrace true, constructive civil discourse, we are living the values of inclusivity and being a welcoming place for all. 

When it comes to student safety, our priority is developing relationships with key campus stakeholders, from our counseling teams to our academic colleagues. We want to stress the holistic nature of student safety: it’s not just about physical security, but about emotional and psychological safety, too. Our approach is to align safety and well-being to make sure we are meeting the welfare needs of students. We tell students that we can’t keep them from experiencing all the ills of the world, but we can equip them with the tools they need to deal with them. 

Chris: In an era of deepening political divides, how can we encourage students to build dialogue across differences?

It’s all about the centering of values: as an institution, you need to put your ethos at the core of everything. That needs to be at the heart of every discussion you have, even with people you disagree with. All of us are members of a university community, and we share that common identity. For us, those core values are respect and inclusion. We want to use those to bring people together. Speaking up is important, but we also try to teach our students the power of active listening to foster dialogue and understand the perspectives of others. It might feel like going back to basics, but I’ve found it to be very helpful in bringing students of differing opinions together. It helps the conversation move along while allowing people to hold their own opinions and identities. We’re not asking for agreement on every topic, but we are asking students to value the perspectives that everybody can bring to a conversation.

Chris: Students have many competing demands on their time, and it can be difficult to cut through the noise. How do you ensure you get your message across to all students?

We need to think about expanding how we deliver those messages. So one thing we’re considering is the best way to communicate with students. It’s about bringing the experience to them, rather than crafting an experience and hoping students will come. The pandemic gave us some lessons about how to do this; we were forced into a situation where we needed to think differently about the delivery of programs and services. We’re always trying to find new and innovative ways to get our message across and allow students to connect in ways that make sense for them. The role of peers is critical: it can’t just come from the university, they need to be sharing these messages with each other. Our new strategic plan has Student Success as its first pillar: to achieve that in a holistic way, students need to be contributors as well as recipients.

Chris: Orientation is a critical time in the student experience. How do you make sure students have the strongest start possible? 

I’m currently leading a team through the process of revamping our entire first-year transition experience. Part of that is figuring out what the key messages and goals of that experience need to be. A cornerstone of our IUB 2030 Strategic Plan is focused on the entire first-year student experience. We’re fortunate to have an excellent orientation program already in place, so we’re looking to expand upon that and make sure students have all the tools they need to succeed when they arrive on campus. If you have a great first-year experience, you can then build on it in your second, third, and fourth years. 

Chris: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received in your career?

“Remember that you belong here.” Know that you are right where you need to be at the time you need to be there. Embrace the challenges you face; everyone is a learning opportunity, and they will help you come out the other side stronger.