A System of Misfits: How COVID-19 Disrupted Undergraduates' Perceived Belonging in the University Bio-Ecological System

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session Four
  In Roundtable Session: New Research on School Climate, Academic Achievement, and Higher Education (Table 6)

Abstract

Undergraduate students face highly competitive environments throughout their studies, which increasingly demand involvement in many additional curricular and extracurricular activities all while maintaining their GPA. To transform what has been characterized as a pressure-cooker for many students, institutions of higher education must recognize the shortcomings and negative consequences of current practices in order to develop and maintain supportive spaces. In this multi-case study, we interviewed four upper-division students at a university in central California to trace their lived experiences as undergraduates during COVID-19 lockdowns. Using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory as a framework for understanding their experiences, this study highlights key areas of higher education in need of transformation to more effectively support the academic achievement and overall well-being of undergraduate students.

Authors

• Devon Michaela Christman, University of California - Santa Barbara
  Presenting Author

• Alexandria Muller, University of California - Santa Barbara
  Non-Presenting Author