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DO I BELONG HERE? Exploring Immigrant College Student Responses on the SERU Survey Sense of Belonging/Satisfaction Factor

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  • Michael J. Stebleton, Ronald L. Huesman, Jr., Aliya Kuzhabekova

Abstract

The immigrant college student population will likely continue to increase. This exploratory study addresses the questions: To what extent does sense of belonging/satisfaction of recent immigrant college students differ from non-immigrant college students? Do perceived self-ratings of belonging vary by immigrant generations? This research draws on a new extensive data source, the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) survey. Survey data from the 2009 SERU is based on the responses from 55,433 undergraduate students from six-large research institutions from across the United States. Findings suggest that immigrant students’ perception of their sense of belonging and satisfaction is significantly lower than their non-immigrant peers’ perceptions. Immigrant college students -- whether they were a recent immigrant that arrived in the country as a child, or arrived later as a teenager or young adult, or are the children of parents born outside the U.S. ( 2nd generation) -- consistently reported lower levels of belonging/satisfaction as compared to their 3rd or 4th generation (i.e., nonimmigrant) peers. Responses within the immigrant generation groups were similar. The following implications were highlighted: effective practice and application strategies for student affairs practitioners and faculty members who work directly with immigrant college students; policy development suggestions for both academic and student affairs administrators; future research inquiries for scholars who are interested in this fast growing population of college students.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael J. Stebleton, Ronald L. Huesman, Jr., Aliya Kuzhabekova, 2010. "DO I BELONG HERE? Exploring Immigrant College Student Responses on the SERU Survey Sense of Belonging/Satisfaction Factor," University of California at Berkeley, Center for Studies in Higher Education qt6j6621ph, Center for Studies in Higher Education, UC Berkeley.
  • Handle: RePEc:cdl:cshedu:qt6j6621ph
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    1. Kristen A. Renn & Karen D. Arnold, 2003. "Reconceptualizing Research on College Student Peer Culture," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 74(3), pages 261-291, May.
    2. Douglass, John Aubrey & Heinke Roebken & Thomson, Gregg, 2007. "The Immigrant University: Assessing the Dynamics of Race, Major and Socioeconomic Characteristics at the University of California," University of California at Berkeley, Center for Studies in Higher Education qt4t19q738, Center for Studies in Higher Education, UC Berkeley.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anelli, Massimo & Shih, Kevin Y. & Williams, Kevin, 2017. "Foreign Peer Effects and STEM Major Choice," IZA Discussion Papers 10743, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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