Perspectives on Building Rapport in Higher Education: A Qualitative Inquiry

This phenomenological study explored the perspectives of three university professors’ perceptions about what elements contribute to rapport between themselves and their graduate students. Specifically, the researcher attempted to explore and describe paramount principles and foundations that influenced the rapport building process through the perspectives of professors of graduate students at a regional research university in the southeastern United States. This inquiry found that all three professors agreed that meeting and maintaining their personal and basic psychological needs of achievement/power, respect/belongingness, fun, and freedom, helped them be more willing to support and help their graduate students. If the professors’ psychological needs were met before entering the classroom, they found themselves to be much more genuine, authentic, happy, and more open and receptive to the diversity of student personalities and needs. Second, the theme of using fun and humor was one of two distinct and dominant elements that all three used and believed to be important for engaging their students in the learning process.

Jerry Worley is an assistant professor of education at theUniversity of Wisconsin Eau Claire.