HSE-1 Sense of Belonging among college students
Abstract
This study reviews students’ sense of belonging at a small Christian Liberal Arts University. Along with a student’s sense of belonging at their school, the study aims to see the correlation of a student’s overall sense of belonging and how the students feel the university prioritizes their values and feelings. From prospectives of psychological impacts, Community, and Diversity, findings are consistent in that an overall student belongingness comes from social and emotional involvement in the university. Belonging within a university also correlates with better mental health and academic performance. Our study is based on a small Christian Liberal Arts University in South Carolina., with voluntary respondents answering a 21-question survey. The overall purpose of the survey is to find out about the background of a student and their overall involvement and sense of belonging at the school. These questions involve gender, extracurricular involvement, and opinions of the schools designated values. A ten-questions sense of belonging survey developed for Imperial College London was used to assess the participants’ sense of belonging. This research was conducted in conjunction with the Student Involvement. The researchers intend to use this information to provide recommendations to the university about students’ sense of belonging. This is intended to assist with understanding how students are becoming acclimatized to the campus. As students develop a sense of belonging, there is a high likelihood that they will continue to attend the university and therefore increase retention rate.
Keywords
Sense of Belonging, Christian Universities
HSE-1 Sense of Belonging among college students
University Readiness Center Greatroom
This study reviews students’ sense of belonging at a small Christian Liberal Arts University. Along with a student’s sense of belonging at their school, the study aims to see the correlation of a student’s overall sense of belonging and how the students feel the university prioritizes their values and feelings. From prospectives of psychological impacts, Community, and Diversity, findings are consistent in that an overall student belongingness comes from social and emotional involvement in the university. Belonging within a university also correlates with better mental health and academic performance. Our study is based on a small Christian Liberal Arts University in South Carolina., with voluntary respondents answering a 21-question survey. The overall purpose of the survey is to find out about the background of a student and their overall involvement and sense of belonging at the school. These questions involve gender, extracurricular involvement, and opinions of the schools designated values. A ten-questions sense of belonging survey developed for Imperial College London was used to assess the participants’ sense of belonging. This research was conducted in conjunction with the Student Involvement. The researchers intend to use this information to provide recommendations to the university about students’ sense of belonging. This is intended to assist with understanding how students are becoming acclimatized to the campus. As students develop a sense of belonging, there is a high likelihood that they will continue to attend the university and therefore increase retention rate.