Exploring the Impact of Residential Environments on First-Year White Student Diversity Appreciation

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 74
  In Roundtable Session: How First-Year Students Navigate Their Environments

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore diversity appreciation among White first-year residential students. Data come from a survey administered to all residential undergraduate students at a Southeast public university, and for the study purposes only included White students (N = 1,617). We utilized regression analysis with diversity appreciation as our outcome, which measured an individual’s awareness of other groups, inter-group interaction, and own identity (Inkelas, Szelényi, Soldner, & Brower, 2007). We supplemented quantitative analyses with participants’ responses to open-ended questions to further illuminate results. The regression analysis with all independent variables explained 44% of the variance in diversity appreciation among White undergraduate respondents, and open-ended responses yielded six major themes: difference, culture, students, everyone, noticed, and the election.

Authors

• Jason C. Garvey, University of Vermont

• Elsa V Richter, The University of Vermont

• Samantha Payton

• Rachel Kiemele

• Laura A Sanders, The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa