The Impact of Campus Environments on Sense of Belonging for First-Generation College Students

First-generation students (FGS) face significant disparities in persistence and degree completion (Ishitani, 2016). One factor that increases the likelihood that students will persist to graduation is finding a sense of belonging in college (Gopalan & Brady, 2020). Unfortunately, evidence indicates that FGS face added barriers to finding a sense of belonging (Terenzini et al., 1996). More systematic empirical inquiries that shed light on the factors that influence sense of belonging among FGS are warranted. We responded to this call by addressing the following question: How do perceptions of campus environments shape sense of belonging among FGS in college?

Explore