Journal Article

Finding My Way: Perceptions of Institutional Support and Belonging in Low-Income, First-Generation, First-Year College Students

Pyne, Kimberly B, Means, Darris R

2017

Overview

For this qualitative case study we explored students' perceptions of institutional support and sense of belonging within the college environment. Following 10 low-income, first-generation college students out of a college access program and through their first year of college, we examined institutional support structures that have been reported to increase students' sense of academic and social belonging, including comprehensive scholarship programs, social identity-based centers and student organizations, residence hall communities, faculty relationships, academic support services, and high-impact educational experiences. In spite of the positive and stabilizing potential of these support structures, several of them simultaneously undermined students' sense of belonging.

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Subject: Academic Persistence / Academic Support Services / Belonging / Case Studies / Classism / College campuses / College faculty / College Students / Dormitories / Educational Quality / Empowerment / First Generation College Students / First year / Higher education / Institutional aspects / Learning / Literature Reviews / Low Income Groups / Minority Group Students / Multiculturalism & pluralism / Oppression / Peers / Perceptions / Qualitative Research / Racism / Scholarships / Semi Structured Interviews / Sense of Belonging / Social identity / Social Influences / Social programs / Student Attitudes / Student Needs / Student Organizations / Student participation / Student Personnel Services / Student retention / Student School Relationship / Student teacher relationship / Success / Support services / Teacher Student Relationship / Working class