2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Exploring the Role of Peer and Faculty Interactions in Shaping the Sense of Belonging among International Graduate Engineering Students (IGES) at an HBCU

Research has demonstrated that a sense of belonging is crucial for promoting academic
success, emotional well-being, and social integration. This is more pronounced among
diverse international graduate engineering students who often face challenges such as cultural
differences, language barriers, and unfamiliar academic environments. However, limited
attention has been given to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in
understanding how interpersonal interactions influence this sense of belonging of the IGES.
The theoretical framework of this study is based on Sense of Social Fit (SSF), Belongingness
Theory, and Cultural Capital, exploring how peer and faculty interactions influence the sense
of belonging of the IGES at an HBCU in the United States. Using the Sense of Social Fit
(SSF) scale, a 17-item survey on a 7-point Likert-type scale, this study assessed social and
academic fit, supplemented with additional questions exploring interactions with lecturers
and faculty. The SSF captures dimensions such as social match, social acceptance, and
identification with the university, while added items evaluate the quality of relationships with
faculty members using three (3) open-ended items. This will contribute to the knowledge on
how peer and faculty interactions contribute to student's overall sense of belonging.
The findings aim to uncover HBCUs' unique role in fostering inclusive academic and social
environments, especially for IGES. This research offers insights for improving international
student engagement, integration, and faculty support. In addition, the findings will contribute
to broader discussions on diversity, inclusion, and intercultural relations in higher education.

Authors

Mr. Pelumi Olaitan Abiodun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4969-9591 Morgan State University [biography]

Pelumi Abiodun is a current doctoral student and research assistant at the department of Civil Engineering, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland. Pelumi got his BSc and MSc degree in Physics from Obafemi Awolowo University, where he also served as a research assistant at the Environmental Pollution Research unit, in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. As part of his contribution to science and engineering, Pelumi has taught as a teaching assistant both at Morgan State University and Obafemi Awolowo University. With passion to communicate research findings and gleaned from experts in the field as he advances his career, Olaitan has attended several in-persons and virtual conferences and workshop, and at some of them, made presentation on findings on air pollution, waste water reuse, and heavy metal contamination.
Dr. Oludare Adegbola Owolabi P.E. Morgan State University [biography]

Dr. Oludare Owolabi, a professional engineer in Maryland, joined the Morgan State University faculty in 2010. He is the assistant director of the Center for Advanced Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering Research (CATIER) at Morgan State Universit
Tolulope Abiri Morgan State University
Samuel Sola Akosile Morgan State University [biography]

Samuel Akosile is a Ph.D. student in Sustainable Infrastructure and Resilience Engineering at Morgan State University, within the Department of Civil Engineering. He currently works as a Research Assistant, contributing to innovative studies in the field of civil infrastructure. His primary research area focuses on sustainable design for pavement systems, aiming to develop environmentally responsible, durable, and cost-effective solutions for modern transportation networks. Samuel’s work explores the integration of green materials, lifecycle assessment, and resilient engineering practices in pavement design. Through his research, he seeks to address key challenges in infrastructure sustainability while promoting long-term resilience in the face of climate change and increasing urban demands
Michael Oluwafemi Ige Morgan State University [biography]

Michael Ige is a Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Morgan State University, Maryland, where he is pursuing his M.Sc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a concentration in Construction Management and Transportation Engineering. He earned his B.Tech. in Building Structure from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Michael has extensive professional experience managing large-scale heavy construction and façade projects, including high-rise and industrial developments across West Africa, having held key roles in the field. His research interests include the integration of digital tools in construction education, resilient building design, and asset management in civil infrastructure. He is passionate about bridging academic knowledge with real-world application and is committed to developing innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable construction solutions.
Ayobami Christianah Dunmoye Morgan and Claypool Publishers
Mr. Adeolu Victor Banjo Morgan State University [biography]

Banjo Adeolu Victor is a doctoral student and research assistant in the Department of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland. With Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Architecture and years of professional practice in the architecture and construction industry, he combines academic teaching experience with industry expertise. His research explores the integration of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to advance sustainable infrastructure engineering. Passionate about innovation and education, he has participated in several conferences and workshops, contributing to immersive learning, sustainable construction, and infrastructure resilience initiatives.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025