5 Components of Student Belonging

Students’ sense of belonging on campus is one of the top factors in their retention and persistence. But belonging is hard to define and even harder to measure. Through a review of academic literature and conversations with university leaders, EAB has broken down student belonging into five specific, defined components—each with specific best practices that leaders can put in place. Students who have all five components are much more likely to feel they belong and to stay engaged with the university even after they graduate.