University officials are interested in retaining and successfully graduating current students and recruiting future international graduate students. Accommodating the transition of international graduate students into their new communities and promoting their well-being requires an understanding of their needs. A rich research base has shown outdoor orientation programs to be of value for domestic undergraduate students. However, little is known about the successful use of outdoor orientation programs to foster a sense of belonging among international graduate students. No previous study has explored the outdoor recreation participation of international graduate students, the impact of their participation on their Sense of belonging, or their interests in an outdoor orientation program. The purposes of this study were to develop a measure to test international graduate students' Sense of belonging and investigate their interest in an outdoor orientation program.A mixed-methods research design (quantitative survey and qualitative focus group) was employed to understand the perspectives of international graduate students enrolled at Michigan State University (MSU). All (n=1819) international graduate students enrolled as full-time students were recruited to participate in the online survey. A total of 319 students responded to the survey, yielding a 17.54% response rate. Survey respondents were invited to participate in a focus group. Of those 319 respondents, 22 participated in one of six focus groups.Phase one explored international graduate students' Sense of belonging in their department and the MSU campus community, based upon McMillian and Chavis' (1986) Sense of Community Theory. Exploratory factor analysis identified three factors in the new Sense of Belonging measure: university connection, department acceptance, and department connection. Females had significantly higher scores in department acceptance. There were significant differences between cultural groups in university connection and SCI subscales of shared emotional connection and influence and difference in departmental acceptance between females and other genders. Participants showed more interest in outdoor activities such as picnicking, barbequing, enjoying the river scenery, and taking walks. Students who took part in specific MSU activities, such as registered MSU student organizations, had significantly higher scores in all three Sense of Belonging factors than students who did not do those activities.Phase two examined students' transitional experiences into studying at an MSU, what outdoor activities were of interest to international graduate students, and their recommendations on designing an outdoor orientation program. Results showed that some participants struggled to adjust to lifestyles and cultures while balancing their academics and personal life events. Focus group participants were interested in social events throughout the calendar year. Additionally, they indicated an interest in non-traditional outdoor orientation program activities such as hosting campus tours, picnics, game nights, and coffee-hour gatherings. Recommendations are provided for outdoor orientation programming to reduce the challenges faced by international graduate students and build students' relations.
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