How Student Experience and Belonging Interventions Can Support Strong Postsecondary Outcomes

Student experience and belonging is a primary driver of postsecondary learning, persistence, and completion. Student experience encompasses day-to-day realities in the postsecondary setting, including interactions and communications with instructors, administrators, staff, and fellow students. Sense of belonging refers to students’ connectedness to the college community, both academically and socially. Policies and practices shape these aspects of students’ higher education journeys, which means that policymakers and leaders at all levels can help cultivate positive student experiences and foster students’ sense of belonging.