Sense of community in collegiate student groups

This study examined sense of community and how it is experienced on campus relative to participation in different types of student groups. A qualitative methodology utilizing the Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique was employed to examine to what extent students participating in student fan groups experience sense of community differently than participants in other kinds of student groups. Thirteen students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign were interviewed to explore how their participation in student groups impacts their sense of community on campus. Findings indicated that student fan groups may be particularly suited to enhance sense of community on campus due to their capacity to foster building blocks of sense of community including family connection, insider access, representation of the university, and interaction with staff of the university. The results showed that student fan groups can be more impactful than other kinds of student groups in creating sense of community. Student fan groups are also more impactful in fostering the brand community in that they strengthen the connection between the student and the university brand. This study advances theory on sense of community by shedding light on these building blocks, contributes to scholarship on student retention in higher education, and provides sport managers and student affairs practitioners with new information to nurture sense of community on campus.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Musser, Allison J

Contributors dc:contributor

• Welty Peachey, Jon
• Green, B. Christine
• Sydnor, Synthia
• McDermott, Monica

• Sense of Community
• Collegiate Student Groups

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Allison Musser

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108104

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F108104