Though college students’ sense of belonging has been a frequent subject of research, what it means in terms of a residential community remains unclear, specifically what it means from a student perspective. We sought to fill this gap by providing a clear definition of the sense of belonging in connection to a residential community. We followed an interpretive research paradigm and solicited 2,400 on-campus residents at a 4-year university within the southern United States. We received survey responses from 38% (N = 920) of them, of which 581 respondents supplied a definition. The responses produced three emergent themes: space and place, strengthening connections, and outcomes of belonging. Based on these themes, we posit a student-grounded definition of residential sense of belonging. Additionally, we discuss the importance of including physical space as a component within this definition. Our proposed definition and findings are written with university housing and residence life professionals, campus planners, architects, and student affairs professionals in mind. This definition further details what it means from a student perspective to belong to a residential community, which may inform these professionals on how to best enhance the student experience in college. This study adds to the growing understanding of sense of belonging in higher education.
Beck, A., Nadler, M., & Grabsch, D. K. (2021, October). A content analysis of college student-proposed definitions of sense of belonging to a residential community. Journal of College and University Student Housing. 48(1): 30-45.
Dustin K. Grabsch, Ph.D. 