Institutional Agents and Cultural and Institutional Fit Among STEM International Graduate Students in the United States

• In Event: The Role of Institutional Agents and Courses in Student Experiences

Abstract

This quantitative study aimed to understand the association between different types of support from institutional agents and students’ sense of belonging culturally and structurally. We used primary survey data that included nearly 1,000 international graduate students in STEM fields across 12 research institutions in the U.S. Drawing from theories of cultural synergy and reciprocal adaptation, we proposed that support from three institutional agents of peers, faculty, and mentors would be important for perceptions of fit with mentor cultural support as most important. We found all three agents played a positive and statistical role in perceptions of cultural and structural fit, but peer support played the largest role in promoting better perceptions of a sense of belonging culturally and institutionally.

Authors

• Scott M Myers, Montana State University
  Presenting Author

• Carrie B. Myers, Montana State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Catherine Mary Johnson, Reach Inc.
  Non-Presenting Author

• Shihua Chen Brazill, Montana State University
  Non-Presenting Author