Date Approved
5-17-2022
Graduate Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Education-Higher Education (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
College of Education
First Advisor
Karyn Rabourn
Second Advisor
Jonathan Bartels
Third Advisor
Jennifer Stewart
Academic Year
2021/2022
Abstract
Fat college students are an understudied demographic of students in student affairs research. This qualitative study interviews student affairs professionals about their experiences as fat undergraduate students to help student affairs professionals better understand specific challenges and experiences fat students face concerning finding a sense of belonging at their university and to further expand the literature where fat students' voices are at the center of the research. Five participants shared their experiences with co-curricular and academic engagement on campus. These participants were successful in social incorporation, however unique challenges faced this population of students. Participants expressed finding academic settings uncomfortable and certain aspects of young adulthood inaccessible, such as dating. The lack of awareness of the hurdles fat people have from administration meant little was done to help these participants, resulting in some staying silent about their experiences until post-graduation.
ScholarWorks Citation
Holcomb, Kyle Loyd, "“Where do we fit in?”: Exploring a Sense of Belonging Among Fat College Students" (2022). Masters Theses. 1052.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/theses/1052
