RESEARCH NOTE | How College Unions Foster a Sense of Belonging among Students

[andrewlundner]

How College Unions Foster a Sense of Belonging among Students

College unions and student centers play a vital role on campus as a central hub for programs, services, and student life in general. College unions aim to not only provide critical services but also to supplement the classroom experience by allowing students to grow and learn as part of their broader college experience. A major component of these efforts is to help students achieve a sense of belonging in both the student union and at the institution more broadly.

This research note explores the concept of sense of belonging in relation to the college union. The findings are drawn from a national dataset constructed from the responses of over 14,000 college students to the ACUI/Benchworks College Union/Student Center Assessment during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Key Questions:

1. To what degree did college unions contribute to student sense of belonging?
2. How did the degree to which college unions contribute to sense of belonging differ across populations?
3. How did the degree to which college unions contribute to sense of belonging differ based on union engagement?
4. How did the degree to which college unions contribute to sense of belonging relate to the overall college union experience?

Access Research Note