"The Ones that Care Make all the Difference": Perspectives on Student-Faculty Relationships
Mariana T Guzzardo1, Nidhi Khosla2, Annis Lee Adams3
1Human Development and Women's Studies, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA 94542 USA.
Innovative Higher Education
|October 5, 2020
Summary
Positive student-faculty interactions enhance learning and reduce achievement gaps for diverse students. Faculty practices like creating inclusive spaces and engaging students foster supportive relationships crucial for academic success, particularly during crises.
Area of Science:
- Higher Education Research
- Sociology of Education
- Student Affairs
Background:
- Student-faculty interactions are vital for academic success and retention.
- Underrepresented and underprivileged students often face unique challenges impacting their educational journey.
- Effective faculty engagement can mitigate achievement gaps and support student persistence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore students' perceptions of their interactions with faculty.
- To understand the subjective impact of these interactions on academic and personal life.
- To identify faculty practices that foster student success, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of interviews with 53 diverse university students.
- Semi-structured interviews conducted three to four times over 4-6 months.
- Thematic analysis of data by a multidisciplinary team using online software.
Main Results:
- Four key themes of effective faculty practices emerged: Creating Pedagogical Space, Being Inclusive and Aware, Being Engaged and Engaging Students, and Doing More Than Teaching.
- Students perceived these practices as fostering supportive and responsive student-faculty relationships.
- These relationships were seen to facilitate learning and overall student success.
Conclusions:
- Faculty practices significantly influence the quality of student-faculty relationships.
- Supportive and responsive interactions are crucial for student learning and thriving, especially in challenging circumstances.
- Findings offer models for faculty to cultivate environments that enhance student retention and success.
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