Students' Experienced Harm at Higher Education Institutions: A Qualitative Study

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Students' Experienced Harm at Higher Education Institutions: A Qualitative Study
Language: English
Authors: Amanda Isabel Osuna (ORCID 0000-0002-4753-0143), Kathleen Darcy, Sarah Prior, Travis Olson, Joseph A. Hamm
Source: Innovative Higher Education. 2025 50(3):789-814.
Availability: 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/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 26
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Student Experience, College Students, Well Being, Trust (Psychology), Risk, Universities, College Environment
DOI: 10.1007/s10755-024-09756-y
ISSN: 0742-5627
1573-1758
Abstract: 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.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1475110
Database: ERIC
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Abstract: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.
ISSN:0742-5627
1573-1758
DOI:10.1007/s10755-024-09756-y