2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Sense of belonging refers to the perception or feeling that individuals have of being connected, accepted, and valued within a particular group or community. Understanding students' sense of belonging is crucial, as an increased sense of belonging has been linked to various positive academic and psychological outcomes for undergraduate students and is a documented predictor of student success. This is particularly true for women and underrepresented students in engineering and other areas of STEM, who report a lack of sense of belonging in these settings, particularly for racially minoritized students, where Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students are particularly underrepresented.

Research suggests that students' sense of belonging can be positively influenced through academic and psychosocial validation. Key factors that enhance this sense of belonging include developing a growth mindset, fostering a positive classroom climate, appreciating diversity, establishing connections with faculty, and cultivating peer relationships. Student support centers, located within academic colleges or departments, can serve as a hub for these services and help create a sense of belonging through both interpersonal and academic support, which is critical for student retention, especially in STEM fields.

This study examines the role of a College of Engineering student support center, designed to promote the inclusion and success of Native and other minoritized students historically excluded from engineering and computing. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research project aims to investigate how students use (or do not use) the center's resources and perceive their sense of belonging. We are conducting a convergent parallel study where quantitative and qualitative data are independently collected and analyzed before being interpreted together. Data collection and analysis are ongoing, and we present preliminary findings from our initial survey data here.