Academic and Social Integration

Student integration" \i is an integral aspect of higher education because it can help a student to experience success at various levels, namely, academically, personally, and professionally. Constructs of student integration have been widely researched over the years with an emphasis on academic and social integration. This chapter defines and explains academic and social integration in the context of a higher education setting, while also addressing the overall impact on students who enroll in online programs and/or courses. This chapter presents strategies for students to maximize their academic journey through intentional engagement and interaction at the course, program, college, and university levels. Opportunities exist at colleges and universities to support student integration at an academic level, a personal/social level, and a professional level. However, online students should expect to be proactive in the integration process. Studies show that students who are academically and socially integrated are more likely to persist in an online course or program. Hence, this chapter provides guidance to students on how to locate opportunities for integration at various levels across the college or university. An online student’s academic journey is not limited to integration as a member (i.e., student) of an online course. The potential for an online student to integrate into the wider academic community is strongly encouraged, given the correlation between integration and student success and persistence" \i. Thus, this chapter provides strategies for students on how to effectively integrate into the social and academic spheres of higher education as an online student.