Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention

Belonging and Mattering in the First-Year Welcome Experience: A Comparison Study Before and During COVID-19.

Ling Ning

Kimberly Kruchen

University of Colorado Boulder

Crystal Cyr

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jcotr.v28i2.3768

Keywords: Sense of belonging, Mattering, First-Year Welcome Experience, Machine Learning in Student Affairs

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Abstract

Institutions value knowledge about programs and services that are most effective at enhancing the collegiate experience, particularly sense of belonging and mattering for their students. The knowledge has become more pivotal due to the COVID-19 pandemic impact and as a result, the transitioning of most programs and services to a virtual environment. This study employs machine learning methods to analyze Fall Welcome survey data from Fall 2019 and Fall 2020. The purposes are threefold: 1) identify, rank, and contrast the top contributors to sense of belonging and mattering; 2) to understand quantitatively the impact of the pandemic on students’ welcoming experience; 3) to introduce and review an AI leveraged analytical visualization tool for key influencer analysis. Results indicated there has been a sharp decline in students’ connection, belonging, and mattering from fall 2019 to fall 2020 due to the pandemic. The opportunities to build connections, have an overall positive move-in experience and welcome experience are the three most common and significant contributors to students’ high level of belonging and mattering.