The Role of a High-Impact Practice in Students' First-Year Experience: Engagement in a Living-Learning Community

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 71
  In Roundtable Session: Learning and Development in Community

Abstract

While student engagement in high-impact practices is typically captured through quantitative statistics, this study uses a qualitative approach to develop insight into the lived experiences of students in a Living-Learning Community, INSPIRE LLC. Utilizing a discursive psychology lens, the nature of student engagement is examined through discourse analysis of students’ self-positioning, positioning of others, and crisis points during semi-structured focus groups and interviews. Findings suggest INSPIRE was beneficial in supporting students’ transition by providing them with a “homebase” and support system for becoming successful college students both academically and socially. This study provides a foundational understanding of student experience in a LLC that can inform evidence-based decisions and offers insight into the utility of qualitative methods for understanding engagement.

Author

• Andi M. Rehak, Indiana University