Sense of Belonging and Culturally Sustaining Mentorship: Lessons From a Cultural Center's Frosh Transition Program

• In Event: The Role of Sense of Belonging and Mattering in College

Abstract

While there exists anecdotal evidence for the benefits of cultural centers and their programming, empirical studies remain limited. Using a qualitative research design, this study draws on participant observations, journal reflections, and survey data in order to investigate a mentorship program for freshmen at an elite university in the U.S. We found that students who participated in the program developed a greater sense of belonging and cultural match between their home culture and their new university culture than students who did not participate in the program. Implications for this study fill a gap in existing literature on the benefits of culture centers. Additionally, this study offers a working definition of what we have termed, culturally sustaining mentorship (CSM).

Authors

• Courtney Peña, Stanford University

• Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign