Classes provide opportunities for students to feel connected and engaged with instructors and classmates, but also excluded and disengaged. Students experience a greater sense of hope and resilience to persist in their studies when they feel connected and engaged. Further, adopting inclusive teaching practices increases student motivation and success. While research often tests the efficacy of teaching practices, learning more about how students experience these teaching practices can lead to additional insights. Therefore, this presentation will report qualitative findings from interviews with diverse undergraduate students about their experiences of inclusive classroom practices. Then we will share practical data-driven recommendations for educators of inclusive practices that can help students feel more connected and thrive.