Undergraduates' Perceived Cohesion With Their University During Pandemic Instruction

• In Event: Exploring Campus Culture and Climate

Abstract

This study examines university students’ Sense of Belonging and Satisfaction with their university during the pandemic using the Adapted Perceived Cohesion scale. Data collected from students attending a large midwestern university were used for confirmatory factor analysis and linear regression (n = 1,613). Results confirm the scale is consistent with the original instrument, and Satisfaction can be used to predict 65% of Sense of Belonging. On average, students reported low cohesion (M = 6.7, SD = 1.9), with students reporting a lower Satisfaction (M = 3.3, SD = 1.0) than Sense of Belonging (M = 3.4, SD = 0.8). Students who started their degree before the pandemic reported a lower Perceived Cohesion than students who started before the pandemic.

Authors

• Adrian Nat Gentry, Purdue University

• Kerrie A. Douglas, Purdue University

• Julie P. Martin, University of Georgia