On-Campus Leisure Experiences and Student Sense of Connectedness

Models of retention emphasize the importance of students developing a sense of connectedness to their university. We tested relations between students’ anticipated effects of on-campus leisure experiences on connectedness and experience type (performance, spectator/story, or sensory focus), provider service performance, prevalence of deep experience during participation, and experience value-after-use (value of time spent, proclivity to recommend, meaningfulness, and memorability). We collected on-campus leisure activity experience measures ( N = 5,931) from 886 students. After participating in each experience, students reported the impact they anticipated that experience would have on their connectedness to the university. Students also reported the experience type, prevalence of deep subjective experience during participation, service performance by staff, and experience value-after-use. Results supported all hypotheses. Students who participated were more likely to return the following academic year than the general student body.