Abstract
For rural students, finding one’s voice and identity on a college campus and developing a sense of belonging are important for engagement and degree persistence. Rural affinity groups can create a feeling of comfort or connection that affirms students’ place identity and can lead to a more successful college experience. Additionally, an organized group of students can be a resource for the university to learn more about rural places, cultivate collaborations with rural communities, and develop a positive rural narrative. At California State University, Chico, the North State Student Ambassadors are paid student representatives of their rural communities. They do campus outreach as well as act as college ambassadors in their home communities. Key outcomes so far have been increased pride in the students’ rural identities and a greater visibility on campus for rural issues.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Schulte, A. K.,
&
Schreder, K.
(2024).
Rural Students Find Their Voice on a College Campus.
The Rural Educator, 45(3), 68-73.
https://doi.org/10.55533/2643-9662.1451
