The impact of student satisfaction and sense of belongingness on academic success and performance in undergraduate science majors

Authors

  • Taziah Kenney Rowan College at Burlington County
  • Kim C. O'Halloran Rutgers University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/v7gyzx59

Keywords:

Sense of Belongingness, Student Satisfaction, Science Major, Academic Performance

Abstract

Undergraduate students within science majors in the United States have more barriers than their peers, leading to lower rates of first-year retention and academic performance. To eradicate these barriers, research has sought to understand what factors influence retention and performance of science majors. Upon investigation, it was determined that undergraduate science majors’ levels of satisfaction with their institution and sense of belonging can impact their academic success and performance. Although dynamics influencing academic performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors have been widely studied, very little research has sought to determine how a science major’s level of satisfaction with their institution and sense of belonging impact their academic success and performance. To investigate this, archival data including Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI) information from science majors at a metropolitan private university in the Middle-Atlantic region of the United States were analyzed to determine how student satisfaction and sense of belonging impact academic success and performance. 

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Author Biographies

  • Taziah Kenney, Rowan College at Burlington County

    TAZIAH KENNEY, Ed.D. is the Associate Dean of STEM at Rowan College at Burlington County in New Jersey. Dr. Kenney is deeply committed to fostering student success in STEM and the health sciences by eradicating barriers to achievement and creating an inclusive environment where all students feel a strong sense of belonging. Her research interests center on enhancing belongingness, promoting equitable access to academic opportunities, and advancing student success in STEM and health science disciplines through innovative approaches to higher education.

  • Kim C. O'Halloran, Rutgers University

    KIM C. O’HALLORAN, Ph.D serves as Vice President for Academic Planning and Administration for University Academic Affairs at Rutgers University. She has spent more than 30 years working in higher education, including administrative and faculty posts at Cornell University, New York University, Montclair State University, and Widener University. Dr. O’Halloran received a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. in Education Administration, both from Rutgers University – New Brunswick and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from New York University. Her research has focused on higher education organizations, collaboration in higher education, and the factors that impact persistence and success for non-traditional undergraduate and graduate students in higher education. 

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Additional Files

Published

2024-12-30

How to Cite

The impact of student satisfaction and sense of belongingness on academic success and performance in undergraduate science majors. (2024). Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 14(2), 90-114. https://doi.org/10.32674/v7gyzx59