Sense of Community in a Midwestern Construction Management Program

Abstract

The U.S. construction industry lacks diversity in respect to female and minority populations. This lack of diversity presents a threat and an opportunity for construction firms and the industry as a whole. Undergraduate construction management programs can support the industry by recruiting and retaining a diverse student population. Previous studies indicate that sense of community is positively related to recruiting, student satisfaction, academic achievement, and retention for underrepresented populations in higher education. The researchers compared sense of community to investigate differences between demographic groups. The findings indicate a significant difference in sense of community based on gender and no difference based on race. The study provides insights on the experience of underrepresented populations within construction programs. The findings will assist construction programs as they seek to support underrepresented populations and measure the impact of interventions over time.