Investigating the Effects of Campus Racial Climate, Sense of Belonging, and Resilience on Persistence Intentions

• In Event: 68.033 - Diversity and Campus Climate: Race, Religion, and Civic Engagement

Abstract

The current study explored campus racial climate (CRC), sense of belonging (SOB), and resilience as predictors of students’ persistence intentions to expand theoretical models concerning college students’ retention, particularly underrepresented minorities enrolled in developmental (DE) mathematics. CRC, SOB, and race/ethnicity were found to predict persistence intentions. The direct effect between CRC and persistence intentions was moderated by race/ethnicity, suggesting that the relationship between CRC and persistence intentions was stronger for African Americans compared to Caucasians. Path analysis results indicated that SOB was a significant mediator of the association between CRC and persistence intentions. Findings could help clarify relationships among these variables and help inform intervention development. Results are particularly important for African American students who tend to be at-risk academically.

Authors

• Darolyn A. Flaggs, Texas State University

• Taylor Wayne Acee, Texas State University-San Marcos