ERIC Number: EJ1475110
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-5627
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1758
Available Date: 2024-12-06
Students' Experienced Harm at Higher Education Institutions: A Qualitative Study
Amanda Isabel Osuna1; Kathleen Darcy2; Sarah Prior3; Travis Olson4; Joseph A. Hamm5
Innovative Higher Education, v50 n3 p789-814 2025
Student wellbeing is a critical concern within higher education, as universities bear the responsibility of safeguarding students from potential harm arising from institutional decisions and the conduct of students and staff (Smith and Freyd, "Journal of Traumatic Stress" 26:119-124, 2013; Koskina ("Studies in Higher Education," 38, 1020-1036, 2013)). This harm can manifest in different ways, from physical dangers to intangible harm that affect students' identities. The concept of trust plays a significant role in this context, where students must acknowledge that universities might cause harm through their choices. Understanding the interplay between trust and harm is crucial: It is essential to recognize the types of harm universities can control and those that students perceive as relevant when conceptualizing trust in higher education. To address trust and harm, this study builds upon findings from climate surveys conducted at various institutions and investigates the specific harms students have experienced at their universities. The research question guiding this study is: What are the experienced harms of students at higher education institutions (HEIs)? By qualitatively analyzing the experiences of thirty-nine students from a large Midwestern university, this research provides valuable insight into the nature of harm that students encounter in academic environments.
Descriptors: Student Experience, College Students, Well Being, Trust (Psychology), Risk, Universities, College Environment
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1University of Tampa, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, College of Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Education, Tampa, USA; 2University of Michigan-Dearborn, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice – Dearborn, Dearborn,, USA; 3Michigan State University, Sociology Department – East Lansing, East Lansing, USA; 4Michigan State University, Department of Educational Administration – East Lansing, East Lansing, USA; 5Michigan State University, School of Criminal Justice – East Lansing, East Lansing, USA