Dissertation Proposal Announcement Ed.D. Program: Nikita Pandit “Exploring The Relationship between Student Engagement and Sense of Belonging of South Asian American College Students: A Qualitative Study”

South Asian Americans (SAA), one of the fastest-growing subgroups of the Asian American population (Ruzicka, 2011), have seen significant growth in the United States and in higher education enrollment (Budiman & Ruiz, 2022). Despite their increasing presence, SAA students remain underrepresented in higher education research (Ruzicka, 2011), often overshadowed by aggregated data that portrays Asian Americans as a monolithic group (Rahma & Paik, 2017). This aggregation obscures the unique needs, challenges, and contributions of SAA students (Budiman & Ruiz, 2022; Le, 2013; Leonard, 1997), as well as the systemic barriers they face, including stereotypes such as the Model Minority Myth (Khandelwal, 2020) and the perpetual foreigner label (Young et al., 2022). Consequently, student affairs practitioners often lack a comprehensive understanding of the unique issues confronting SAA college students (Samuels, 2019).

This qualitative phenomenological study seeks to address this gap by exploring the relationship between student engagement and sense of belonging among SAA undergraduate students at a diverse university. Grounded in Desi Critical Race Theory (DesiCrit), the research examines whether and how co-curricular activities, particularly participation in student organizations, influence SAA students’ experiences on campus. The study also investigates the barriers to engagement and the factors shaping their involvement choices, aiming to illuminate the unique challenges faced by this underrepresented group.

Using semi-structured interviews and focus groups, this research seeks to capture the lived experiences of SAA students to better understand how institutional practices and cultural contexts intersect to impact their academic and social integration. By focusing on this rapidly growing yet underexplored demographic, the study addresses a critical gap in higher education literature, providing a nuanced perspective on the needs of SAA students. The findings aim to offer actionable insights for student affairs professionals and educators, guiding the development of culturally responsive programs and policies that enhance SAA students’ engagement and sense of belonging.