Work

Rethinking Sense of Belonging After the Pandemic: The Perspectives of Senior Housing Directors

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Creating a sense of community and belonging for students is a desired outcome for residence life staff. This qualitative study explored how campus housing directors defined a sense of belonging and how they implemented curriculum, programs, and services to enhance residents’ sense of connection and community. Utilizing semi-structured interviews, we found that, for 10 senior housing directors, belonging was a significant outcome of community building, choice of space design, and housing live-on requirements and that this sense of belonging mattered greatly in creating community and changing staffing patterns. We offer implications for staff attempting to create, establish, and maintain community and students’ sense of belonging.

Source: The Journal of College and University Student Housing

DOI: 10.71348/001c.142691

Authors: Tony Cawthon, Dena Kniess, R. Bradley Johnson

Institutions: Clemson University, Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Language: English

Topic: Higher Education Research Studies

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W4412734091