The Impact of Sense of Belonging on Attrition for Underrepresented Minority Doctoral Students in a Midwest Predominantly White Institution

• In Event: 29.042 - Sense of Belonging in College

Abstract

The attrition of doctoral students in U.S. higher education is understudied, particularly for underrepresented minority students. This study examines the sense of belonging experiences of underrepresented minority doctoral students at a predominantly white institution to identify factors that could lead students to withdraw from their doctoral studies. The study used a mixed method approach to understand the experiences of sense of belonging via a survey and semi-structure interviews. A factor analysis of the quantitative data suggests that advising relationships have the most statistical significance for participants’ sense of belonging. Findings from the qualitative data suggest that experiences of “outsiderness” and not belonging are frequent among minority doctoral students.

Author

• Alex Hermida, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities