Overall, a sense of community is important to college students’ well-being, especially at four-year colleges where many students live on campus. This allows students to meet people they connect with on a deeper level. Although UNCW is not the most diverse institution, it offers many cultural centers and organizations that help you connect with others.
Despite these resources, the question arises as to how minority students’ sense of belonging here compares with other students.
A survey was conducted of approximately 157 students here, and it appears that the sense of belonging and perceived availability of resources is much lower. The answers vary, some people feel like they don’t belong, while others are always satisfied.
It is important to investigate this to determine what factors contribute to students’ sense of belonging on campus. To do this, we interviewed three of her students from different backgrounds and shared details about their experiences, especially with specific resources.
UNCW students spoke out about the availability and accessibility of mental health resources on campus. While acknowledging the existence of numerous support services, this student expressed concerns about the inclusivity and scope of certain facilities, particularly her LGBTQ+ resource center.
This student highlighted the abundance of mental health resources available across campus and expressed positive perceptions of the university’s efforts to support student wellness. However, they noted disparities in the inclusivity of these resources, particularly highlighting that LGBTQ+ resource centers primarily cater to specific demographics.
Despite feeling a sense of belonging across campus, this student expressed concern about the LGBTQ+ Resource Center seeming to focus on certain types of people. Such sentiments raise questions about the effectiveness of such facilities in addressing the diverse needs of the student body.
The student says: “Going back to the asexual thing, to be honest, I feel like I’m left-centered, if that makes sense. A certain type of her LGBTQ+ student I feel like it’s targeting.”
Returning to UNCW’s resources, students feel that UNCW provides sufficient resources for several different groups. However, working on housing and residential life on campus brings her into contact with many people of different races, ethnicities, ideologies, and beliefs. Students feel that promoting cross-cultural exchange is just as important, if not more so. Surround yourself with people like yourself.
she says: This means schools are driving engagement. My job and various clubs helped. I think they have a lot of resources. I think a little more depth would be nice, if that makes sense. ”
Another student praises one of the resources on campus called the Upperman Cultural Center, which is a safe space for Black students on campus to participate. They say they didn’t find their community here at first, but the Upperman Center helped them a lot.
After joining Upperman, they founded an organization known as the Black Student Union, which has hosted a variety of events on campus, including Fried Chicken Wednesdays, pep rallies, and picnics. They emphasize that the organization’s goal is not just to build a safe. It not only helps with space, but also with integration into the campus community.
They say: “Upperman is a welcoming space for people of color and people of non-color. The goal of the Black Student Union is to unite the campus community regardless of race or ethnicity.”
Although UNCW provides resources to various ethnic groups, it also seems important to foster cross-cultural exchange. Even within a particular demographic, different identities and perspectives exist.
A student said: “This may be a bit of a harsh view, but I think we need diversity on college campuses. Part of growing up is learning to work with people who are different from you.”
Finally, college isn’t just for traditional students. Some non-traditional students may have taken years off. Regardless of their background, they are usually older than their peers, so there are more obstacles to their perceived sense of belonging.
One student, a former military veteran, expressed concern about the lack of resources and support groups for older working students with children. They graduated from high school a few years ago and are in their first year. They say they feel isolated from their peers because they have to prioritize family over building relationships with their peers. A solution suggested by students is to create a support group for older students with similar backgrounds.
They say: “My boyfriend’s two main priorities are classes and family. When he found out I was one of the oldest in his class, let alone the only one married with kids, I felt very sad when I found out.”
They went on to say, “I wish there was a group or support system for people who have kids and don’t have a lot of time.”
We can conclude that resources that help college students find their community are critical to their well-being. A person’s sense of belonging is usually determined by how they feel, not how they look.
