STEM conference 2019: Undergraduate sense of belonging in a Science department

We know that sense of belonging is important for student retention and success (see for example the work of Vincent Tinto). This study looks at sense of belonging at all levels of the undergraduate degree in a Life Sciences department at a Russell Group university. It uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to identify departmental activities that affect belonging in various demographic groups. We intend to use this evidence to inform curriculum changes with particular emphasis on the induction process. This talk will present data from the first semester of the project and discuss possible areas for future development.