Connection to the Academic Community

This study examines the degree to which doctoral learners at a distance education university feel connected to other learners, faculty, their school, and the university. Using a pictorial measure of 2 circles with various degrees of overlap, the participants in this study (N = 395) saw themselves as more connected to people than to institutions. Most learners were at least minimally connected to other learners (68%) and to faculty (64%). More than 40% of the learners felt no connection to their school or university. Suggestions for fostering connectedness are included.