Fostering a Sense of Belonging through a Self-Awareness Undergraduate Curricular Intervention

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 1:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Culture and Climate in Higher Education

Abstract

Finding Ourselves in Community (FSC) research makes an important and necessary intervention in undergraduate student learning by developing students’ foundational understanding of how identities are socially constructed, how identities shape perspectives and attitudes, and how these impact relationships with others in their communities. Understanding these concepts builds a stronger sense of belonging within their communities. The centerpiece of this research is the FSC courses in which students can enroll. These courses are offered across the curriculum by trained instructors and incorporate content and learning activities to ensure students achieve the FSC learning outcomes. As of spring 2025, we have trained 73 faculty members to teach FSC courses and offered 128 FSC sections having 2763 unique students taking FSC courses.

Authors

• Nishala Iroshini Silva, Texas Christian University

• David E. Allen, Texas Christian University

• Frank Hernandez, Texas Christian University