Research & Resources
Research consistently highlights the positive impact of university activity programs on students' overall academic and personal development.
These programs, encompassing a diverse range of extracurricular activities, clubs, and events, have been found to enhance students' sense of belonging, foster social connections, and contribute to a more vibrant campus community.
Engaged students tend to demonstrate higher levels of motivation, improved academic performance, and a greater likelihood of persisting through their college years.
Moreover, participation in activity programs has been linked to the development of valuable skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication, preparing students for success beyond the academic realm.
As universities strive to create holistic learning environments, the promotion of student engagement through well-designed activity programs emerges as a key strategy for cultivating well-rounded, motivated individuals poised for success in both academic and post-graduate pursuits.
Student Engagement Literature Review
Trowler, V. (2010). Student engagement literature review. The higher education academy, 11(1), 1-15.
Academic Articles
Chambers T, Chiang C-H. Understanding undergraduate students’ experience: a content analysis using NSSE open-ended comments as an example. Qual Quant. 2011;46(4):1113–23. doi:10.1007/s11135-011-9549-3.
Christenson SL, Reschly AL, Wylie C. Handbook of research on student engagement. New York: Springer Science + Business Media; 2012.
Maroco, J., Maroco, A.L., Campos, J.A.D.B. et al. University student’s engagement: development of the University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI). Psicol. Refl. Crít. 29, 21 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41155-016-0042-8
Salmela-Aro K, Tolvanen A, Nurmi J-E. Achievement strategies during university studies predict early career burnout and engagement. J Voc Behav. 2009;75(2):162–72. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2009.03.009.
Salanova M, Schaufeli WB, Martinez I, Breso E. How obstacles and facilitators predict academic performance: the mediating role of study burnout and engagement. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2010;23(1):53–70. doi:10.1080/10615800802609965.
Recommended Books
The Truth About Burnout: How Organizations Cause Personal Stress and What to Do About It
Christina Maslach, Michael P. Leiter
John Wiley & Sons, Jan 21, 2000
Resources and Links
TRU Faculty of Student Development
TRU Support Services for International Students
EAB Infographic on Student belongingness
