Investigating the Importance of Student Organizations to Student Perceptions of Success and Belonging

Abstract

Student organizations are a valuable resource for university students, providing a way to get involved within their field of study and connect with their peers. Student organizations can also provide a sense of belonging and community to students within their university. The College of Natural Resources (CNR) at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (UWSP) houses a variety of student organizations with a focus on natural resources. These organizations range from casual recreational clubs to student chapters of national societies focused on professional development. The goal of this study is to identify how students perceive that student organizations contribute to their growth and success within the CNR. We will also evaluate faculty perceptions of student organizations as they relate to importance to student success. We are currently using the platform Qualtrics to survey undergraduate students and faculty in the CNR. This survey is being advertised to students in their CNR classes, student organizations, and by flyers posted around the Trainer Natural Resources building (TNR). Faculty received a link to the faculty survey via email. The results of this survey will be paired with results from a focus group to better understand the impacts of student organizations on student perceptions of success and belonging within their field of study. We anticipate that students who are members of student organizations will rank their sense of belonging within their field of study high. We also expect to see positive perceptions of student organizations in terms of importance to student success from faculty.