College Students' Sense of Belonging

This important book by one of the world's leading experts on the subject, Professor Terrell Strayhorn, speaks to that predicament and the lived experiences of college students from a multitude of different backgrounds who share the common challenge of finding ways to `fit in,' to matter, and to belong. -from the Foreword by Walter R. Allen, Distinguished Professor of Education, Sociology and African American Studies, University of California-Los Angeles Praise from the 1st Edition Everyone agrees that feeling affirmed is important to success in college and now, finally, we have a systematic, data-informed, and instructive explanation as to why. Faculty, staff, and others who work with students from different backgrounds have much to learn from this thoughtful analysis. - George D. Kuh, Founding Director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment and Chancellor's Professor Emeritus of Higher Education, Indiana University, Bloomington Strayhorn paints a rich picture of how various groups of students develop a sense of belonging. By creating a greater understanding of this phenomenon, this book provides insight into the institutional practices that will improve college students' experiences and outcomes. - Laura W. Perna, James S. Riepe Professor and Executive Director of the Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy, University of Pennsylvania