Impact of Racism and Discrimination on Bipoc Students Sense of Belonging at a White Majority Institution
SSWR 2025 ePoster Presentations V
Friday, January 17, 2025: 2:00 PM-3:30 PM
Grand Ballroom C, Level 2 (Sheraton Grand Seattle)
Background and Purpose
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students attending white majority institutions
(WMIs) are more likely to experience the campus climate more negatively than their
white peers (Adams & Mcrayer, 2020; Ancis et al., 2000; Museus et al., 2017). The
campus racial climate is affected by experiences of racism, discrimination, and perceptions
about the university’s desire to support diversity. While transitioning to university
life is stressful for any student, BIPOC students can also experience race-related
stress that can impact their sense of belonging and make this transition even more
difficult to navigate. While a great deal of research has examined the experiences
of BIPOC students at WMIs, not as much is known about their first-year experiences
and this transition process. This study explores the question of “What are the experiences
of racism, discrimination, and a sense of belonging that a first-year student of color
experiences in a WMI.”
Method
The participants in this sample included 32 students attending a private, religiously
affiliated WMI in the Western United States. The mean age was 20.75 years old. 53%
(n=17) of the sample was female. 41% identified as Hispanic/Latino, 22% as Native
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 16% as Black/African American, 12% as Native American,
and 9% as Asian/Asian-American. 41% of students were in their first year. All other
students were asked to respond based on their experiences during their first year
at university. Four semi-structured group interviews, lasting one hour each, were
held to better understand the experiences, challenges, and opportunities of BIPOC
students attending a WMI during their first year. In order to allow students the freedom
to express their thoughts and experiences, moderators asked open-ended questions.
Two of the focus groups included first-year students, while the other two included
upperclassmen.
Results
Data analysis identified two main themes BIPOC students experienced during their first
year at a WMI: (1) discrimination and racism and (2) a sense of belonging. Regarding
theme 1, students shared experiences of being stereotyped, treated unfairly, and seen
as less than, and the impact of these experiences on their self-confidence, social
engagement, and persistence. In regard to theme 2, students shared experiences of
being one of very few BIPOC students in class or social gatherings, of being accused
of only being accepted because of their race/ethnicity, and the impact these kinds
of experiences have on their sense of place, feelings of exclusion, and social identity.
Conclusions and Implication
For BIPOC students attending WMIs, experiencing racism and discrimination significantly
impacts student confidence, feelings of self-worth, feelings of safety on campus,
and persistence attitudes. Additionally, being part of a racial minority and feeling
judged or excluded significantly affects a student’s sense of belonging and of being
part of a community. Altogether, these experiences are highly important for universities
to understand and to consider institutional changes, programming and collaboration
that can be implemented to address and mitigate the effects of these kinds of experiences.
CSW Research News
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