Sense of Belonging (Strayhorn)
Expert NotesStrengths:Captures multidimensional feelings of acceptance, mattering, and connection. Widely used in higher education equity and persistence research. Sensitive to institutional climate and peer/faculty relationships.
Cautions:This is not a standardized instrument with fixed psychometrics; it’s closer to a theory-driven item bank or construct operationalization.
Tags: Belonging, College readinessA family of items grounded in Strayhorn's theoretical model laid out in his 2012 book College Students' Sense of Belonging.Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE)
Expert NotesStrengths:Nationally benchmarked survey widely used across community colleges. Strong psychometric foundation and established administration protocols.
Cautions:Cross-institution comparisons may be affected by sampling differences. Survey fatigue can reduce response rates and data quality. Emphasizes engagement processes over learning outcomes.
Tags: College readinessThe Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) is a national survey designed to measure the quality of undergraduate education in community colleges through the lens of student engagement. Rather than relying on inputs like selectivity or resources, CCSSE defines “quality” in terms of…Shift and Persist
Expert NotesStrengths:Brief items capturing adaptive responses to stress across academic contexts. Predictive validity for resilience-related health and academic outcomes in prior studies
Cautions:Original validation focused more on health than academic populations. May oversimplify complex, context-dependent coping processes.
Tags: College readinessThe Shift-and-Persist instrument was developed by Edith Chen to operationalize adaptive coping strategies among individuals facing adversity. The questionnaire consists of two subscales—shift (cognitive reappraisal and secondary control coping) and persist (purpose in life, optimism, and future…Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE)
Expert NotesStrengths:Updated survey includes basic needs and access to support services.
Cautions:Less applicable for four-year universities or advanced students.
The Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE) is a student survey designed to help community and technical colleges understand students’ experiences during the earliest weeks of college. Developed by the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) at The University of Texas at…Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ)
Expert NotesStrengths:Comprehensive, multidimensional measure of college adjustment; strong track record of use in higher education research; applicable across a range of institutional contexts; useful for both research and applied settings
Cautions:Length may be burdensome in large survey batteries; Factor structure may vary across populations and cultural contexts
Tags: College readinessThe Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) is a self-report instrument designed to assess how well students adjust to college across multiple domains. It captures academic, social, personal-emotional, and institutional attachment aspects of adaptation. The SACQ is widely used in…Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ)
Expert NotesStrengths:Widely used and well-established measure of interpersonal competence; applicable across adolescence through adulthood.
Cautions:Focuses primarily on peer/romantic contexts, less on professional or classroom-specific interactions; often embedded in broader studies on relationships, well-being, or social functioning rather than as a standalone outcome measure
The Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ) is a self-report measure of individuals’ perceived ability to initiate, maintain, and manage interpersonal relationships. Developed by William Buhrmester and colleagues in 1988, it assesses five domains of interpersonal competence: Initiation of…Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC)
Expert NotesStrengths:Strong internal consistency and test–retest reliability; Sensitive to change over time (useful for tracking intervention effects); Applicable across settings (mental health, education, workforce, etc.)
Cautions:Not specific to education or academic contexts (needs interpretation for higher ed use); Scores can be influenced by current mood or temporary stress levels
The Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) is a survey that measures how well a person can cope with stress and recover from difficult situations. It treats resilience as something that can change over time, and that may improve with support or treatment, especially for conditions like anxiety,…College Assets Measurement Profile for Undergraduate Students (CAMPUS)
Expert NotesStrengths:Holistic, strengths-based measure of developmental assets tailored to college students.
Cautions:Limited view on resilience; omits health, genetics, finances, and inclusiveness factors. Weak demographic reporting in validation evidence; unclear generalizability across diverse student populations and institutional contexts.
Tags: College readinessThe College Assets Measurement Profile for Undergraduate Students (CAMPUS) is a self-report survey designed to assess positive development in college students. It draws on a developmental assets framework, focusing on the strengths, supports, and experiences that help students succeed in higher…