STUDENT SATISFACTION REPORT (STUDENT OPINION SURVEY) SPRING

Transcription

1 STUDENT SATISFACTION REPORT (STUDENT OPINION SURVEY) SPRING 2008 LANE COLLEGE Prepared by: The Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness October 28, 2008

2 Executive Summary Lane College 2008 Student Opinion Survey In Spring 2008, the College administered the ACT student opinion survey to assess student satisfaction with college services and the environment. The survey will help establish Lane College student satisfaction level benchmarks and data for review and action. Among the major findings are the following: Lane College students are positive about the services and college about the services and college environment. 86% of the students were very satisfied or satisfied with the college in general. In terms of services provided by the college, students expressed highest satisfaction with Career planning services, student health insurance program, college sponsored tutorial services and honors program Students expressed less satisfaction with food services, college sponsored social activities, parking facilities and services and day care services. The national college norms trailed the Lane college in all college services implying Lane students are highly satisfied with the College than their contemporaries nationally. The national college norms showed students were less satisfied nationally in responding to several questions pertaining to academic environment, including variety of courses offered However, Lane college means were higher that the national norms in all the academic items. Student Opinion Survey Spring 08 1

3 Introduction In Spring 2008, Lane College undertook the survey of student satisfaction, focused on a variety of college services, learning environment and other aspects of the college experience. The objectives included: To determine general attitudes toward and levels of satisfaction with Lane college undergraduates educational experiences To provide the institution with data on students satisfaction with their educational experiences To compare and contrast Lane attitudes and satisfaction levels with nationally normed data and To establish benchmarks for Lane college over time. The survey will be repeated in the Spring of The survey employed the student Opinion Survey instrument by American College Testing, Inc. (ACT) which also provided the national normative data for consistency in comparing the results. Survey Design The survey is designed to obtain background and demographic information about students and gather perceptions of Lane College s student services, academic environment, facilities, rules, regulations, admissions and registration procedures, and general impression of their overall experience with the college. The survey was administered to a sample of 200 students. Fall 2007 student enrollment was Thus, 11.3 percent responded to this survey. Results This summary presents the results and when applicable the results are contrasted with national averages as well as the colleges results. Differences between this years and next years results will be compared. Differences between the survey respondents and the national normative group are presented. The student opinion survey uses a five-point Likert scale fro measuring satisfaction. Higher values represent higher levels of satisfaction. The scale used is as follows: 1) very dissatisfied; 2) dissatisfied; 3) neutral; 4) satisfied; 5) very satisfied. Averages for survey items are based on the total number of respondents for that item. In many questions students had the option of selecting not available, have not used or does not apply. ACT furnishes national comparison data based on 20,824 student records obtained from 39 Colleges and administered the four year instrument between July 1, 2003 and June 30, Institutions in Student Opinion Survey Spring 08 2

4 this group include public and private institutions from across 20 states. In this report only national norms were used for comparative purposes (n= 20,824). Overall Impressions of Lane College Students were satisfied overall with Lane College. When asked their level of satisfaction with the college in general, 86 percent responded very satisfied or satisfied. Only 4.5 percent responded dissatisfied and none very dissatisfied. Students were also asked, if they could start college over, would they choose Lane College? 84.4 percent of the students replied definitely yes or probably yes. Student Level of Satisfaction with the College in General Dissatisfied, 4.5% Very dissatisfied, Neutral, 8.3% Very satisfied, 39.5% Satisfied, 46.5% Demographic/Background Data Racial/Ethnic Group: A comparison of the breakdown by race of the survey respondents to the overall Spring 2008 student enrollment at Lane College is fairly consistent with that of the overall population percent re African- American or Black and 1.3 percent other. Age: The age distribution of the survey is very close to that of the enrolled student population. A comparison of the sample and the national norm is presented in the accompanying chart. Most of the Lane college students fall below 23 years with less than 10 percent in the range above 26 years. Student Opinion Survey Spring 08 3

5 Percent Age of Students at Lane College versus Lane College norm or under or over Age Sex: The survey sample and the overall student population are fairly close in terms of sex percent of students reported were male, while females constituted 52.2 percent of enrollment. Financial Aid: 83.6 percent of students reported receiving some form of financial aid. This figure is higher than the national norm of 75.6 percent. Work and Family Lives of Students The student opinion survey provides a unique system with a unique opportunity to discover who students are in terms of family background as well as what students do outside of class. Employment: A significant number of students at Lane college do not work while attending school percent of students reported not working or occasional jobs per week. This percentage is largely different with the national norm. Enrollment Status: Full-time students comprised 100 percent of those surveyed but 94 percent of all the enrolled students. It is likely that the sampling methodology was responsible for the variance. Student Opinion Survey Spring 08 4

6 Percent Employment: Hours worked per week or occasional jobs Lane College norm 1 to to to to 40 Over 40 Hrs per week College Residence: 73.5 percent of students live in a college residence hall, while 24.5 percent live in an off-campus room or apartment. 2.6 percent reported living in their home or in the home of their parents or relatives. These numbers are not very much in line with the national averages if not for only the off-campus students. 1.3% 1.3% College Residence of Students 24.5% 73.5% College residence hall Fraternity or sorority College married student housing Off-campus room/apartment Home of parents/relatives Own home Other Purpose of Entering College: Students attend college for a variety of reasons. However, the goal of attending college for the majority of students (83.3 percent) was to obtain a bachelor s degree. Only 1.3 percent indicated they were attending college to take job related courses and non to transfer to another school. Student Opinion Survey Spring 08 5

7 0.6% 1.9% Purpose of Entering College 3.8% 7.7% 1.3% No definite purpose in mind To take afew job related courses 1.3% To take afew courses for self improvement To take courses necessary for transferring to another college To obtain or maintain a certification To complete a vocational/technical program To obtain an associate degree To obtain a bachelors degree 83.3% To obtain a masters degree To obtain a doctorate or professional degree Parents Educational Background: Students were asked for the highest level of education attained by their mothers and fathers percent of fathers and 32.9 percent of mothers have not pursued any education beyond high school percent of fathers and 50.1 percent of mothers had completed a college degree and/or a graduate/professional degree. Highest Level of Education Attained by Parents Some high school or less 2.1% 7.0% 4.8% 13.4% 2.2% 7.4% 13.7% 13.2% 19.2% 26.5% High school diploma or GED Some college/no degree or certificate Vocational/technical degree or certificate Associate degree 33.6% 27.2% Father 10.3% 5.9%7.4% 12.3% Mother 4.8% 9.6% Bachelors degree Masters degree Doctorate/professional degree Blank Student Opinion Survey Spring 08 6

8 Satisfaction with College Services Students were asked whether or not they had used any of the twenty two college services and programs and if they had what their overall level of satisfaction was with that service/program. Areas of Higher Satisfaction: Several items had an overall average satisfaction score over or near 4.00 indicating a high level of satisfaction overall. Students were particularly satisfied with Career planning services, student health insurance program, college sponsored tutorial services and honors program. Local Satisfaction with college services ranking Avg. % Avg. % Career planning services Student health insurance program College-sponsored tutorial services College orientation program Honors program Financial aid services Student health/wellness services Credit-by-examination program (PEP, CLEP etc) Academic advising services Job placement services Library facilities and services Personal counseling services Residence halls services and programs Cultural programs Computer support and services Student employment services Recreational and intramural programs and services Areas of Lower Satisfaction: The mean score for four of the twenty two college services was below 4.0. Students were less satisfied with food services, college sponsored social activities, parking facilities and services and day care services. Local Satisfaction with college services ranking Avg. % Avg. % Food services College sponsored social activities Parking facilities and services Day care services Student Opinion Survey Spring 08 7

9 Comparisons to Norms: All of the means for surveyed college services were greater than those for college students nationally. Lane college students were considerably more satisfied than their national peers with all the programs. It should be noted, however, that day care services and recreational and intramural program and services ranked lowest in the students importance of college services. Satisfaction with College Environment Students were asked their level of satisfaction with forty two aspects of the college environment. The questions ranged across four areas: academics, admissions/registration, rules/policies and general aspects of the college, and facilities. Academic Environment: Students were most satisfied with class size and testing, grading system, out of class availability of instructors, preparation they receive for future occupation, attitude of faculty towards students and availability of instructors with an average of 4.2 and above. However, all responses were above the national norms for all academic environment items. The lowest ranked was the availability of computers when you need them. Local Satisfaction with college environment factors by ranking Avg. % Avg. % Class size relative to the type of course Testing/grading system Out-of-class availability of your instructors Preparation you are receiving for your future occupation Attitude of the faculty toward students Availability of your advisor Quality of instruction in your major field Course content in your major field Value of the information provided by your advisor Flexibility to design your own program of study Variety of courses offered at this college Availability of computers when you need them Admissions/Registration: Students were most satisfied with general admission procedures and academic calendar of the college. These had an average of 4.2 and above. Again, all responses were above the national norms for all admissions/registration items. The lowest ranked was the billing and fee payment procedures. Student Opinion Survey Spring 08 8

10 Local Satisfaction with college environment factors by ranking Avg. % Avg. % General admission procedures Academic calendar for this college (e.g. semester or quarter) Accuracy of college information you received before enrolling Availability of financial information prior to enrolling General registration procedures Availability of the courses you want at times you can take them Billing and fee payment procedures Rules, Policies and General Enrollment: Students were generally satisfied overall with concern for the individual, college in general, religious activities and programs and racial harmony at the college. Student satisfaction exceeded the national norms in all items in this category. The lowest ranked was the general conditions of buildings and grounds and the campus media. Local Satisfaction with college environment factors by ranking Avg. % Avg. % Concern for you as an individual This college in general Religious activities and programs Racial harmony at this college Personal security/safety at this campus Academic probation and suspension policies Course content in your major field Student government Purposes for which student activity fees are used Opportunities for personal involvement in campus activities Rules governing student conduct at this college Student voice in college policies Attitude of the college nonteaching staff toward students Residence hall rules and regulations Opportunities for student employment General conditions of buildings and grounds Campus media (student newspaper, campus radio etc) Student Opinion Survey Spring 08 9

11 Facilities: Overall, students expressed general satisfaction with all the facilities on the campus. Campus bookstore, study areas, classroom facilities and availability of student housing were all rated higher than the student center, athletic facilities, computer labs and laboratory facilities in that order. However, all ranked higher than the national norm. Local Satisfaction with college environment factors by ranking Avg. % Avg. % Campus bookstore Study areas Classroom facilities Availability of student housing Student union/community center Athletic facilities Computer labs Laboratory facilities Conclusions The results of the Student Opinion Survey demonstrate that Lane College students satisfaction with the college is quite high, actually higher than the national norm. However, students have a low rating in the availability of day care services, computers, the billing and fee payment procedures, campus media and laboratory facilities relative to other services. These results can be used to identify large-scale trends the most valuable use of these data is at institutional level. Campus administrators will be able to identify areas of excellence and areas in need of improvement, and have both national benchmarks and with another survey next year have institutional benchmark against which to measure their progress. Student Opinion Survey Spring 08 10