Cultivating a Sense of Belonging: Black Students at a Predominantly White Institution.

BLACK students; SOCIAL belonging; UNIVERSITY & college employees; SOCIALIZATION; SERVICES for college students; SAFE spaces in education

A phenomenological qualitative research methodology was used to explore how institutional agents including faculty, staff, and administrators established a sense of belonging for Black students enrolled at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI). Findings revealed that safe spaces were not specifically physical environments but were instead the people and the groups of people who made up those spaces. Also, these safe spaces engaged and drew Black students because they provided five forms of care: acceptance, understanding, social, academic, and financial resources. Finally, results showed that Black students did a lot of the work to find these spaces. Four students purposely joined clubs and attended events intending to meet people, locate academic and financial resources, and maintain previously established relationships. All five participants discussed finding friends in Summer Bridge, the Multicultural Center, and clubs that catered to their interests or identities. Support to students included checking in, listening, using affirming language, offering resources, having frequent contact, and being aware of common reference points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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