Student Perceptions of How a Relationship-Based Housing Model Affected Their Residence Hall Experience and Sense of Belonging at a Four-Year Selective University

Students’ sense of belonging can be significantly improved by college and university efforts to implement programs that enrich their residential experience. This qualitative study focused on student housing and a relationship-based housing model, students’ perceptions of their residential experiences, the relationships they formed, and how these experiences affected their sense of belonging. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews of 15 students from a private university in the Southwest. The results highlight the connection between students’ relationships and their sense of belonging, and future research should explore how this model can be improved and perhaps replicated at other higher education institutions. Implications for practice in the field of student housing include promoting activities that build relationships and encouraging staff to nurture a culture of relationship building.