Rethinking educational space(s): Exploring the impact of co-curricular programming on undergraduate belonging, career exploration, and interprofessional education

This mixed-methods study examined the impact of educational space on undergraduate belonging and learning by analyzing the post-event evaluations of 259 healthcare living-learning program (LLP) students who attended co-curricular programming designed to enhance belonging, career exploration, and interprofessional awareness. Students were broken into two groups based on program location. Post-event evaluations were analyzed using a Mann Whitney U-test and thematic analysis. Themes of career exploration and interprofessional awareness/identity formation emerged in the open-ended responses of both groups. Belonging was enhanced/muted by program location. Seemingly superficial, this variable actually reflects the institution's performance of educational space. The study includes a short discussion regarding the goal of constructing more inclusive educational spaces that support student belonging and success for all students. J Allied Health 2020; 49(3):e119-e122.