Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2014

Thesis Director

Mona Y. Davenport

Abstract

Campus involvement has been proven to improve the persistence of students through college. This qualitative study was designed to learn if there are certain areas of involvement that are more influential to creating a perceived sense of belonging for students and in turn influencing their persistence. Using a qualitative approach the researcher gathered narratives from four undergraduate students who were involved in varying out-of-class activities and analyzed the resulting data for important themes. Three major themes emerged which were importance of involvement, connectedness to the university, and employment. The results indicated that being involved in extracurricular activities is influential in students' college experiences. Participants confirmed that their personal experiences were enhanced by the opportunities they had taken advantage of and the activities in which they had participated.

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