Student persistence and retention in community colleges concern scholars, policymakers, and academics in higher education at large. Previous literature suggests that a strong sense of belonging in higher education and at the institution the student is attending may be one significant factor that impacts persistence and retention. However,…

Background: The demand for engineers in the workforce continues to rise, which requires increased retention and degree completion at the undergraduate level. Engineering educators need to better understand opportunities to retain students in engineering majors. A strong sense of belonging in engineering represents one important contributor to…

Complexities in African international students' adaptation and experiences impact their success in their new social and academic environment as these complexities go beyond the diversity of socio-cultural background to the collective classification of identification, resulting in less provision of assistance by institutional structures of support.…

This quantitative study measured 188 college-aged students' perceptions of Culturally Relevant Teaching Practices (CRTPs) in six undergraduate business courses. In measuring the key themes of Diversity Teaching Practices, Cultural Engagement, and Relationship Building we discovered that among all students reported, regardless of their racial…

Undergraduate research is a high-impact learning experience, but undergraduate students interested in research often face high barriers to entry, such as limited guidance, confusing application processes, and feelings of not belonging. These barriers are especially prohibitive to first-year students, first-generation students, and members of…

At the transition to higher education, students from diverse backgrounds develop peer networks that support learning in higher education. However, few studies have investigated how students' background characteristics play a role in social selection mechanisms such as friendship and help-seeking and what drives the formation of diverse peer…

Persistence across undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs is exceptionally low. Recent studies have shown that social support and sense of belonging are particularly important for students who are historically underrepresented in STEM, yet few interventions have directly targeted or investigated these…

Caring Campus-Faculty is a program that supports faculty as they develop and implement "behavioral commitments" designed to help students feel a sense of belonging and to support them in their educational journey. Developed by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change, Caring Campus was evaluated by the Community College Research Center…

Undergraduate students within science majors in the United States have more barriers than their peers, leading to lower rates of first-year retention and academic performance. To eradicate these barriers, research has sought to understand what factors influence retention and performance of science majors. Upon investigation, it was determined that…

More college students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines are enrolling in introductory statistics courses. In these courses, active learning, collaborative projects, and relatable content can help to support student learning, belonging, and engagement. In this study, we examined the effect of student-perceived peer, faculty, and classroom…

The purpose of this study was to explore how peer support schemes can be used to facilitate meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging for underrepresented students. Using three case studies, the study explored and compared peer support leaders' narratives about their experiences at three universities: one in the United Kingdom (UK), one in…

This study evaluates the measurement invariance of the Resident Assistants (RAs) Belongingness Scale (RARABS-10) using Rasch-based Differential Item Functioning (DIF) Analysis. Examining 201 RAs at a southern U.S. university, we found the scale generally reliable but potentially too easy for many RAs. One item showed significant differences…

This study examines how relational aspects of the internship experience, namely students' perceptions of a supervisor's care and trust and students' sense of belonging, factor into students' satisfaction with their internship experience. We found that relational aspects impacted internship satisfaction. Although students' perceptions of a…

For traditionally underrepresented students, engaging in research experiences often means entering traditionally exclusive places with few role models that reflect their social identities. By looking at a small, public, minority-serving institution where students conduct summer research at other, less diverse institutions, this study explored the…

Foundational to this evaluation study, the participating institution aspired to improve its retention rate. Students' perceived sense of belonging has been identified as an important variable related to student retention and persistence (Bean & Eaton, 2000; Strayhorn 2012; Strayhorn 2019; Tinto, 2017). For students to succeed beyond their…