Eat, Sleep, Breathe, Study: Understanding What It Means to Belong at a University From the Student Perspective

The present study utilized consensual qualitative research (Hill 2012) to investigate undergraduate students’ sense of belongingness to their university. The analysis revealed four broad domains: (1) valued group involvement, (2) meaningful personal relationships, (3) environmental factors, and (4) intrapersonal factors. Within these domains, six general categories and eight typical categories emerged. The results highlight the importance for students to have opportunities to meaningfully connect with other peers/faculty, the availability of a myriad of campus organizations and groups, and universities to foster an environment of diversity. Implications for higher education personnel as well as directions for future research are discussed.