Perceived Institutional Commitment to Diversity and Sense of Belonging Among Students From Different Racial Groups

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: Factors Shaping Sense of Belonging in College

Abstract

Sense of belonging has been linked to many important academic and psychosocial outcomes for college students. Yet students of color often have a lower sense of belonging compared to White peers at historically white institutions. While some aspects of campus diversity climate have been linked to belonging, we know little about the role of students’ perceptions of their institution’s commitment to diversity. Results of this mixed methods study demonstrate that students’ perceptions of institutional commitment to diversity are associated with their sense of belonging. However, the results also suggest other climate factors, including experiencing discrimination, are important in understanding how perceptions of institutional practices impact sense of belonging for different racial/ethnic groups.

Authors

• Kimalee Cottrell Dickerson, University of Virginia

• Joanna Williams, Rutgers University