Student Perceptions of Institutional Care: Making Sense of Hardship Funding as a Retention Tool

Abstract

This article focuses on how a financial support initiative improved student persistence at an urban commuter institution. Existing research acknowledges that financial concerns of university students may keep them from feeling connected to their institution thereby increasing the likelihood of stopping out. There is less study of how recipients of just-in-timefinancial support make sense of the award—and how those perceptions may help institutions better understand recipients’ sense of belonging. Through an exploratory qualitative research study, we contribute to the retention literature broadly and specifically to the idea of student perceptions of institutional care. We also present guiding principles for creating a successful hardship initiative that supports students financially and emotionally at their most critical time.