Belonging in the 21st Century [Scholar’s Program]: Exploration of Sense of Belonging Among Black 21st Century Scholars at Indiana University Bloomington

Abstract

When students have a strong sense of belonging to their university or institution, they may experience gains in outcomes such as higher achievement and retention levels, but predominantly white institutions (PWIs) have traditionally had hostile environments for underrepresented student populations such as low-income students and students of color. We used an interview-based method to examine the sense of belonging amongst 21st Century Scholars students at Indiana University in Bloomington (IUB). The interview questions were constructed using four indicators within Museus’ CECE Model, and responses were analyzed using these same indicators to create a picture of the students' experiences at IUB and within the 21st Century Scholars Program. The results of the interview analysis formulated findings for future research and implications for the 21st Century Scholars program itself.