College Student Perceptions of Belonging: The Road to Belonging-Based Pedagogies and Recommendations

• In Event: College Success and Student Belonging

Abstract

This study investigated students’ sense of belonging and belonging uncertainty within a college of education. Undergraduate, graduate, and recent alumni (N=166) took a belonging survey to examine variables that support and undermine students’ sense of belonging within the college. A sub-sample (N=22) were afforded the opportunity to participate in 12 different focus groups to deepen our understanding of how the college could support student belonging. Results indicated that while most students felt connected to supportive faculty and staff, over half of them did not feel a deep sense of belonging within the college. This research suggests that not only do students’ social identities play a significant role in what they perceive as threats to their belonging but also that students’ sense of belonging is constantly in flux. Implications suggest that faculty and staff play a critical role in regulating students’ sense of belonging through relationships, classroom pedagogies, and curricular inclusivity.

Authors

• Eric R. Junco, Northern Illinois University

• David A. Walker, Northern Illinois University