Research about students' sense of belonging during major adverse events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic is limited. Using data from two public universities, we ask: How do students experience belonging in times of adversity? What factors affect their experience? "Feeling Disconnected" emerged as the major theme describing negative changes in belonging. The theme "Seeing Value in the Pandemic" emerged for students reporting positive changes. Several sub-themes illuminated factors that diminished or strengthened students' belonging.