Book Review: The Impact of a sense of belonging in college: Implications for student persistence, retention and success by Bentrim, E. M., and Henning, G. W.

“[D]eveloping and maintaining a sense of belonging is inherent to the academic and cocurricular success of college and university students” (Bentrim & Henning, 2022, p. 273). Within their edited collection, The Impact of Sense of Belonging in College: Implications for Student Persistence, Retention, and Success, Bentrim and Henning compile theoretical foundations and practical considerations for those hoping to utilize the promising concept of belonging to positively influence student outcomes.
The book seeks to provide a “compendium of research, applications and approaches to sense of belonging” (p. xvii) that were hitherto scattered across disparate strands of the broader student success literature. Furthermore, the book aims to bring consistent definitions and an overarching theoretical approach to this topic that has gained traction in practical work at higher education institutions. Towards this aim, the first few chapters of the book lay out theoretical foundations and definitions, with most chapters thereafter exploring practical applications of work to enhance students’ sense of belonging. In particular, the book recognizes the close connection between belonging and inclusion, with many chapters exploring how belonging is experienced by specific demographic groups of students, mostly those historically underrepresented within higher education. Whilst the book is centered around the U.S. college experience and aimed primarily at guiding practitioners in U.S. universities, belonging and its links to student success are relevant for international higher education audiences.
This review is structured into two subsequent parts: a section to provide a summary of the contents of the book, followed by critical analyses of whether the book met its stated purposes.

Gilani, D. (2024). Book Review: The Impact of a sense of belonging in college: Implications for student persistence, retention and success by Bentrim, E. M., and Henning, G. W. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 0(0). Copyright © 2024 The author(s) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/15210251241268868