Students who identify as first-generation (first-gen) students recommended their favorite places on Illinois State University’s campus by creating a self-guided audio tour.
Wallet-sized cards containing unique QR codes will allow recipients to access the audio tour with their cell phones.
Dr. Elke Altenburger, an associate professor in the Department of Family Consumer Sciences, and Tamekia Bailey, director for CAST Connections, said their main goals for this project were to highlight the voices of current first-gen students, to provide a different and proactive way to help first-gen students meet other students, and to increase the awareness of potential organic community spaces on campus for first-gen students.
Schroeder Hall, Turner Hall, Milner Library, and the Multicultural Center were highlighted as some of the students’ favorite spots on campus.
Trinity Barnes, a criminal justice sciences major, said she spends an average of one to two hours daily at Schroeder Hall. “I enjoy this space because it makes me feel connected to people with the same major and because it’s easy to communicate with my professors in case (I have) any questions or issues with assignments.”
Kim Ortiz, an interior design major, said the Cast Connections’ student lounge at Turner Hall is her favorite spot on campus: “It is my favorite place because I come here to do my homework and occasionally hang out with friends. I come here at least three times a week and spend at least an hour and a half each time because I find that I am most productive in this environment.”
The insightful project also aims to inspire prospective and incoming CAST first-generation students to feel a sense of familiarity.
“By sharing and promoting the socio-physical environments on ISU’s campus, already perceived as fostering belonging among first-gen students, with new students from similar backgrounds, we hope it helps foster a sense of ease and comfort for these students as they transition into their new home for the next four years,” stated Altenburger and Bailey.
Funded by the CAST Grant for Innovation in Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI), the two collaborators note this project is the beginning of creating a foundation for informed design decisions concerning the physical environment to promote DEBI in CAST and elsewhere on campus. It is also a baseline for future research projects about potential connections between spatial attributes and students’ feelings of belonging and inclusion.
Learn more about CAST Connections.
