Understanding University Belongingness: Domestic and International Student Perspectives

• In Event: 72.023 - Intercultural Sensitivity and International Students' Adjustment and Belonging

Abstract

Despite the recent trend in the higher education literature to examine the implications of belongingness on attrition and student wellness (Hoffman et. al., 2003; Pittman & Richmond, 2008), the construct of university belongingness is still unclear. This roundtable discussion will help clarify this dynamic construct by reviewing the results of two qualitative studies from two different cultural perspectives. Results highlight the importance of social connection, personal relationships, and university environment experience. The discussion will highlight the qualitative differences between domestic students and international students’ understanding of university belonging and describe how the results from these studies helped operationalize the construct for the creation of an accurate scale.

Authors

• Christopher D. Slaten, University of Missouri - Columbia

• Zachary Elison, Purdue University

• Mike Yough, Oklahoma State University