What’s in a Culture? Students’ Perceptions of and Experiences With U.S. Higher Education Institutional Culture
Keywords:
higher education, institutional culture, campus climate, student support, leadership and administrationAbstract
Through interviews with 54 undergraduates across 11 U.S. higher education institutions, this study examines how students perceive (1) their institutions’ cultures; (2) their institutions’ adherence to their avowed cultures; and (3) the cultures’ influences on several aspects of students’ experiences. Four cultures emerged across institutional types: social justice; supportive; openness; and do-it-all. Despite shared perceptions of institutional cultures, students’ perceptions of their HEIs’ adherence to these cultures differed, with students of color less likely than White students to perceive adherence. Nevertheless, most students said that their institutions’ cultures positively impacted their experiences.
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