Date of Award
5-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Leadership
Committee Chair
Dr. Casey Maugh Funderburk
Committee Chair School
Leadership
Committee Member 2
Dr. Amin Alizadeh
Committee Member 2 School
Leadership
Committee Member 3
Dr. Jonathan Beedle
Committee Member 3 School
Leadership
Committee Member 4
Dr. Shuyan Wang
Committee Member 4 School
Leadership
Abstract
The onboarding process is a vital phase of employee development, especially in community colleges, where effectively welcoming new staff significantly influences organizational commitment, a sense of belonging, and employee retention (Fries-Britt et al., 2011). Despite its importance, many community colleges do not have comprehensive onboarding programs, often leaving employees feeling isolated and disconnected. Without structured onboarding experience, institutions frequently experience higher turnover rates, diminished job satisfaction, and a weakened ability to fulfill their educational mission (Ramlall, 2004). Understanding how onboarding policies can help institutions achieve their strategic goals for faculty and staff retention is increasingly crucial for colleges striving to keep employees (Fried, 2023). Effective onboarding strategies boost organizational commitment by fostering a sense of belongingness among new employees (Al-Suraihi et al., 2021).
Through a qualitative questionnaire, this study gathered responses from participants, and a focus group of community college administrators served to triangulate the responses from the coded questionnaire data, providing a comprehensive understanding of onboarding as related to commitment, retention, and belonging. The study found that the absence of a formal, structured onboarding program at the community college led to inconsistent and often inadequate new hire experiences, with most participants describing their onboarding as minimal, informal, or limited to basic human resources paperwork. Despite these limitations, many employees still demonstrated strong organizational commitment, which was largely attributed to supportive peer relationships, alignment with the college’s mission, and active engagement in campus activities. However, the lack of structured onboarding contributed to initial feelings of isolation, confusion, and increased turnover intentions for some staff. The research identified that positive onboarding experiences, such as mentorship, helpful colleagues, and a welcoming environment, enhanced satisfaction, belonging, and retention. Key enablers of organizational commitment included comprehensive training, clear communication, access to resources, and professional development opportunities, while barriers like insufficient training, unclear expectations, and communication challenges hindered successful integration. Overall, the findings highlighted the critical role of intentional onboarding in fostering commitment, belonging, and retention within higher education institutions.
Keywords: onboarding, orientation, employee retention, higher education
Copyright
Ariel Triggs, 2026
Recommended Citation
Triggs, Ariel Renell Ferchaud, "Exploring Onboarding Strategies And Their Impact On Organizational Commitment, Belongingness, and Employee Retention Within A Community College" (2026). Dissertations. 2477.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2477
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