Rethinking Educational Space(s): Exploring the Impact of Co-Curricular Programming on Undergraduate Belonging, Career Exploration, and Interprofessional Education

J Allied Health. 2020 Fall;49(3):e119-e122.

Abstract

This mixed-methods study examined the impact of educational space on undergraduate belonging and learning by analyzing the post-event evaluations of 259 healthcare living-learning program (LLP) students who attended co-curricular programming designed to enhance belonging, career exploration, and interprofessional awareness. Students were broken into two groups based on program location. Post-event evaluations were analyzed using a Mann Whitney U-test and thematic analysis. Themes of career exploration and interprofessional awareness/identity formation emerged in the open-ended responses of both groups. Belonging was enhanced/muted by program location. Seemingly superficial, this variable actually reflects the institution's performance of educational space. The study includes a short discussion regarding the goal of constructing more inclusive educational spaces that support student belonging and success for all students.

MeSH terms

  • Career Choice
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Health Occupations / education*
  • Housing / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Interprofessional Education / organization & administration*
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Learning
  • Motivation
  • Retrospective Moral Judgment
  • Students, Health Occupations / psychology*