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Student Satisfaction Guaranteed?
Not yet, but ORU is getting closer
By Jennifer Joy Carter, Class of 2005
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The inventory, conducted through the Noel-Levitz college enrollment consultation firm, was administered by ORU's Comprehensive Learning Center during the fall of 2003. Comparing expectations with actual experience, the survey measures the difference between the two in order to determine student satisfaction.
Using 100 categories, 303 students' expectations and satisfaction were measured; the pool was 63 percent female and 37 percent male. Although the survey is not administered every year, its effects have proven beneficial.
"If you have the actual data that will help you make informed decisions, then that is...wise planning," Dr. Easterling said.
This "wise planning" has brought about consistent improvements during Easterling's involvement, specifically, in 2000, 2001, and 2003. Some areas that saw improvements--from the surveyed students' viewpoint--between 2001 and 2003 include: Academic Advising, Campus Life, Instructional Effectiveness, Recruitment and Financial Aid, and Student Centeredness.
The survey not only compares ORU's past to its present, but also shows how ORU stacks up against 133 other four-year private colleges. In many categories, ORU had higher scores than schools such as the University of Tampa (Florida), Vanguard University of Southern California, Westminster College (Missouri), and LeTourneau University (Texas).
According to Don Roberson, director of ORU Student Resources, surveys are distributed randomly through the Academic Peer Advisement program representatives. Those surveyed must include each class (freshman through senior), graduate students, international students, commuters, and residential students.
According to the 2003 survey's Executive Summary, there were three main "areas of least student satisfaction" and three "areas of highest student satisfaction."
The areas receiving the "highest satisfaction" scores from students were as follows: "The campus provides adequate opportunities for involvement in ministry," "The campus contributes to spiritual growth," and "The institution has a good reputation within the community."
The areas receiving the "least satisfaction" scores were as follows: "Students seldom get the 'run-around' when seeking general information on campus," "An adequate selection of food is made available in the cafeteria," and "The student center is a comfortable class="text" place for students to spend leisure time." (Regarding that last item--ORU has drawn up plans for a new Student Center. Construction will begin as soon as sufficient funds have been raised.)
What do these scores mean? And who reviews them so that improvements can be made? According to Easterling, "[ORU] should be pleased with the 'areas of highest satisfaction' scores, and we should continue in them. With the 'least satisfaction' areas we go through recommendations from Student Services and the Institutional Improvement and Student Learning Committee."
Easterling says using inventory responses is important for campus growth and for improving ORU's effectiveness. "If we operate in ignorance using conventional wisdom, we could go far astray."
For more information concerning previous and current statistics, log on to http://ir.oru.edu/ and look at the various assessment reports, including the 2001 SSI, which is at http://ir.oru.edu/doc/SSI2001.pdf.
