Community Agreements

What It Is

A community agreement is a set of guidelines describing how a learning community functions. These agreements are co-created by instructors and learners to support  an inclusive learning environment. In contrast to  rules and policies, which are mandated and enforced by authority, community agreements are mutually agreed upon and maintained by everyone in the community. In classrooms, they explicitly state how the  group will learn together and address any conflicts that arise.

Why It Matters

Establishing a community agreement provides a framework that emphasizes support, trust, mutual accountability, and openness, so individuals feel safe expressing their ideas and perspectives. Community agreements create a sense of belonging, describe how to handle conflict, and create a culture of shared responsibility. They also act as a tool for instructors to approach difficult conversations when an individual’s behaviors in class fall outside the agreed upon norms.

Apply It

The process of developing community agreements is often more important than the product. 

• Frame the Conversation. Begin the conversation by taking the time to define community agreements, differentiate them from rules, and explain why they matter.

• Engage in the Process.  Consider your classroom context and how you might engage all learners in the process of developing community agreements. There are several strategies to create community agreements:

1. 1. Create your own list of agreements and present them to the class. Ask learners to modify the list,  contributing additional ideas.
   2. Have the class create their own norms and finalize  the list as a group.
   3. Open classroom discussion and have students explain what norms are important to them and to ask clarifying questions. Use the common themes that arise from discussion to draft an agreement during class.
   4. Have students journal about what they need from the group to feel comfortable and supported. Form pairs or trios to share their lists and build consensus, agreeing  on 3-5 top priorities. Each pair or trio then shares their top agreement with the class for discussion. 

Resources

• -Read: Classroom Management
• -Read: Large Class Engagement
• -Watch: Learning to Listen to your Students
• -Engage: Academy – Inclusive Teaching
• -Engage: Developing Community Agreements

References

Fernández, J. S. (2023, June 14). Creating classroom community agreements. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/teaching/2023/06/14/benefits-creating-community-classroom-agreements-opinion

Cornell University Center for Teaching Innovation. (n.d.). Establishing community agreements and classroom norms. https://teaching.cornell.edu/resource/establishing-community-agreements-and-classroom-norms 

National Equity Project. (2025). Developing community agreements. https://www.nationalequityproject.org/tools/developing-community-agreements/

Cite This Resource

Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation. (2025, September). Community agreements [Teaching resource]. https://stli.wm.edu/academicresources/communityagreements

Updated 9/2025