Presentation to the University Senate
By the Office of Planning & Institutional Research
March 16, 2012
Concern ourselves with developing and
nurturing the whole person, allowing
students, faculty and staff to
grow intellectually, emotionally, spiritually,
culturally, socially and physically
in an environment that supports individual
differences and insists that mutual love and
respect should animate every aspect of
university life.
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Since 1994 the Senior Survey has been a major source to capture
students’ assessments of skill and knowledge enhancement skills as a
result of their Villanova experiences. The survey also captures student
involvement in academics and campus life; students’ satisfaction with
the Villanova experience and future employment and educational plans.
Multiple versions of the Senior Survey are used to enable participation in
national surveys for comparison data as well as our own version for
special informational needs.
Two versions of the Senior Survey were used for this analysis:
Survey Version
The Senior Survey (VU Version)
Class of 2011
Class of 2007
Class of 2000
HERI College Senior Survey
Class of 2010
Class of 2008
Class of 2005
# Respondents
Response Rate
1,464
1,551
1,473
93%
94%
93%
1,225
1,163
1,584
75%
74%
86%
% Greatly or Moderately
88%
82%
83%
Write Effectively
Acquire New Skills & Knowledge
95%
94%
90%
Think Analytically & Logically
95%
93%
89%
Formulate Creative Ideas & Solutions
91%
86%
79%
Plan & Execute Complex Projects
91%
85%
82%
Use Quantitative Tools
62%
71%
Engage in Pursuit of Knowledge & Truth
Communicate Well Orally
2011
81%
78%
73%
Use Technology
Understand Scientific Process
79%
49%
45%
2007
2000
63%
75%
67%
84%
92%
87%
85%
Source: VU Senior Survey
% Greatly or Moderately
41%
Read or speak a foreign language
2011
35%
2007
29%
2000
57%
Appreciate art, literature, music, drama
47%
45%
Place current problems in
historical/cultural/philosophical
perspective
79%
68%
55%
84%
Develop awareness of social problems
76%
64%
Source: VU Senior Survey
% Greatly or Moderately
Relate well to people of different
races/nations/religions
Function effectively as a member of a
team
Lead & supervise tasks & groups of
people
2011
2007
2000
77%
61%
53%
91%
87%
84%
90%
84%
77%
93%
Understand others
94%
Understand self
91%
88%
89%
Understand moral & ethical issues
82%
73%
Source: VU Senior Survey
Compared to the average person your age, how would you
rate yourself on the following traits?
Private Universities
Villanova University
% Highest 10% or Above Average
Emotional Health
Physical Health
Spiritual Development
Emotional Health
Physical Health
Spiritual Development
64%
65%
2010
2008
64%
2005
64%
62%
62%
44%
39%
58%
58%
57%
55%
41%
Source: HERI College Senior Survey
Compared to the average person your age, how would you
rate yourself on the following traits?
Private Universities
Villanova University
% Highest 10% or Above Average
Emotional Health
Physical Health
Spiritual Development
Emotional Health
Physical Health
Spiritual Development
64%
65%
2010
2008
64%
2005
64%
62%
62%
44%
39%
58%
58%
57%
55%
41%
Source: HERI College Senior Survey
Agree Strongly
Agree Somewhat
My spiritual/religious beliefs . . .
are one of the most important factors in
my life.
22%
36%
provide me with strength, support &
guidance.
28%
39%
give meaning/purpose to my life.
25%
41%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Having an interest in spirituality
34% to a great extent
49% to some extent
Source: VU 2011 Senior Survey
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Villanova graduates will have grown
intellectually through rigorous study;
they will have the values, knowledge and
skills they need to achieve a lifetime of
personal and professional successes;
and their intellectual growth will be
grounded in a deep sense of ethics,
morality and concern for the common good.
Substantive Differences between First and Senior Years
Significant at .001 level and effect size .2 or higher
Traits
Highest 10% or Above Average
First Year
Senior Year
Artistic Ability
22.5%
34.2%
Computer Skills
39.6%
56.9%
Creativity
48.7%
62.9%
Leadership Ability
65.2%
76.3%
Public Speaking Ability
42.1%
59.5%
Social Self-confidence
51.6%
61.1%
Self-understanding
57.8%
72.2%
Writing Ability
53.2%
68.5%
Compared with average person your age
Source: HERI 2010 College Senior Survey matched
with HERI 2006 Freshman Survey
No Substantive Differences between First and Senior Years
Traits
Highest 10% or Above Average
First Year
Senior Year
Academic Ability
88.9%
85.9%
Cooperativeness
78.9%
83.0%
Drive to achieve
83.7%
83.2%
Emotional Health
64.7%
64.0%
Mathematical Ability
65.2%
60.1%
Physical Health
68.1%
64.5%
Intellectual Self-confidence
66.9%
74.3%
Spirituality
Understanding of Others
37.4%
44.4%
69.3%
74.7%
Compared with average person your age
Source: HERI 2010 College Senior Survey matched
with HERI 2006 Freshman Survey
Substantive Differences between First and Senior Years
Significant at .001 level and effect size .2 or higher
% Essential or Very Important
Values
First Year
Senior Year
Becoming accomplished in one of the performing arts
9.7%
20.1%
Influencing social values
41.2%
54.2%
Helping others who are in difficulty
68.8%
80.4%
Writing original works (poems, novels, etc.)
12.1%
22.7%
Creating artistic work (painting, sculpture, etc.)
9.8%
19.7%
Becoming involved in programs to clean up the environment
19.5%
37.4%
Developing a meaningful philosophy of life
48.1%
62.5%
Participating in a community action program
30.8%
44.3%
Helping to promote racial understanding
27.9%
41.5%
Keeping up to date with political affairs
40.0%
54.3%
Becoming a community leader
40.7%
49.9%
Improving my understanding of other countries & cultures
50.5%
68.1%
Indicate the importance to you personally of each of the following.
Source: HERI 2010 College Senior Survey matched
with HERI 2006 Freshman Survey
No Substantive Differences between First and Senior Years
% Essential or Very Important
Values
Indicate the importance to you personally of each of the following.
First Year
Senior Year
Becoming an authority in my field
58.3%
69.0%
Obtaining recognition from my colleagues for contributions
to my special field
55.0%
63.7%
Influencing the political structure
21.0%
30.0%
Raising a family
83.0%
86.4%
Being very well off financially
75.7%
70.7%
Making a theoretical contribution to science
20.9%
24.9%
Becoming successful in a business of my own
39.3%
46.7%
Source: HERI 2010 College Senior Survey matched
with HERI 2006 Freshman Survey
% Essential or Very Important
Integrating spirituality into my life
Seeking out opportunities to help me
grow spiritually
46%
43%
Helping others who are in difficulty
77%
Reducing pain and suffering in the world
68%
Helping to promote racial understanding
Becoming involved in programs to clean
up the environment
Improving the human condition
Improving my understanding of other
countries and cultures
62%
55%
71%
74%
Source: VU 2011 Senior Survey
Primary Activity in Fall 2011
Employment, Full-time
Employment, Part-time
Graduate or professional school,
full-time
Graduate or professional school,
part-time
Military service
Volunteer activity
57%
5%
19%
In addition respondents plan to
engage in the following:
2%
2%
 9% Graduate or professional
education on full-time or part-time
basis
5%
Starting or raising a family
1%
13% Traveling
Traveling
2%
 4% Volunteer activity
Completely Undecided
Other activity
10%
2%
Source: VU 2011 Senior Survey
Other
Doctoral,
1%
Divinity, 1%
85%
plan to
pursue graduate
or professional
degrees at some
time in the future.
PhD, 10%
Medical
Degree, 5%
Master's,
34%
Law
Degree,
13%
Other Prof
Master's,
9%
MBA,
32%
Source: VU 2011 Senior Survey
Satisfaction with development
of son's/daughter's . . .
5 Very Satisfied
Intellectual development
4
3 Neutral
2
1 Very Dissatisfied
61%
Communication skills (written,
verbal)
31%
58%
Sense of academic inquiry
31%
53%
Understanding of global issues
42%
65%
Sense of personal responsibility
63%
Ability to relate to persons of
diverse backgrounds and cultures
33%
38%
0%
20%
10%
15%
25%
26%
56%
Spirituality
8%
38%
Personal, ethical and social values
6%
7%
30%
33%
7%
11%
23%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Source: VU 2008 Parent Satisfaction Survey