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ORCID

0000-0002-1893-2151

Keywords

Asian international students; Sense of belonging; Campus climate

Special Issue

Examining Race, Racism, and Racialization in the Internationalization of Higher Education from Global Perspectives

Abstract

International students’ belonging in U.S. higher education is shaped by institutional climates that are both racialized and internationalized, yet few quantitative studies model these dimensions simultaneously. Using data from the Assessment of Collegiate Residential Environments and Outcomes, we examine how campus nationality and racial climates relate to Asian international students’ sense of belonging, and whether these relationships vary by intersecting identities. We examine how campus nationality and racial climates relate to Asian international students’ sense of belonging (n = 763). Measurement model comparisons empirically supported a two-factor solution separating nationality and racial climates once reverse-worded items were removed for improved fit. Structural models showed both climates had independent, positive associations with belonging, explaining about 25% of variance. In contrast, gender, first-generation status, and their interaction were not significant once climates were included. Small identity differences appeared mainly through perceptions of climate. Findings indicate belonging is driven more by institutional inclusion across national and racial lines than by background identities, underscoring the need to align internationalization and equity and inclusion initiatives to address intertwined forms of xenophobia and racism.

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