A Tale of Two Campuses: A Study of Sense of Belonging at a Multi-campus University Open Access

Abstract

Developing a sense of belonging to an academic institution is especially challenging for college freshman and transfer students as they adjust to a new educational environment. It can also be challenging for students who change campuses within the same university as they attempt develop and sustain a strong sense of belonging to their university. This paper explores how campus climate affect sense of belonging for students enrolled at a multi-campus university. Overall, findings suggest that integration into the social domain of the campus leads a strong sense of belonging to that campus. The findings also suggest that participation in extracurricular activities, relationships with students and faculty members, and racial congruence with the campus community affect a student’s integration into campus’s social domain. 

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………...1 

LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………….………..……….2 

METHODS…………………………………………………………………………..…………..8 

Campus Exit Surveys………………………………………………..………….9 

In-depth Interview………………………………………………………………10 

RESULTS………………………………………………………………………………………….12 

In-depth Interviews with Campus Administrators……….………12 

Analysis of Exit Survey Data……………………………………………..…15 

Analysis of Student Interviews……………………………………………20 

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION……………………… ..…………………………..29 

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………..33 

APPENDIX A……………………………………………………………………………………35 

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Sociology
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Sociology, General Education, Higher
Keyword	campus climate Multi-campus university sense of belonging higher-education integration
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dr. Irene Browne, Ph.D., Emory University
Committee Members	Dr. Patricia Owen-Smith, Ph.D., Emory University Dr. Karen A. Hegtvedt, Ph.D., Emory University

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