2010 Graduating Student Survey
Assessment Day Presentation
Office of Assessment
Fitchburg State College
History and methodology
• Continuously administered since Fall 2008
• Banner workflow generates email warning of
survey, link to SelectSurvey™ site sent in
follow-up email.
• Responses are voluntary.
Sample and return rate
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695 usable responses (518 UG, 177 GR)
Graduates (January and May): 727 UG, 531 GR
Return rates: 71% UG, 33% GR
Degree programs represented:
– Bio, Business, Comm. Media, Computer Science,
CJ, Econ., Education, English, EXSS, Geo/Physical
Sciences, History, Human Services, ITEC, IDIS,
Math, Nursing, Political Science, Psychology,
Sociology
Topical sections
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Classwork in major(s)
Non-major classwork
Library/media center
Perceptions of learning
Experiences with co-curriculum and student
services
• Future plans
Results – Major studies
• Baseline: Overall satisfaction with FSC (5-point scale) .
– 3.86 UG (SD 1.17), 4.10 GR (SD 0.77).
• Eleven items, overall mean 3.56 (SD 0.93)
– Availability of classes, frequency of course offerings, class
size, quality of instruction, quality of texts, faculty
availability, timeliness of coursework, learning facilities,
major-related extra-curricular activities, relevance to
career goals, level of challenge.
• UG items of interest: class size (3.87), availability of
faculty (3.80), level of challenge (3.76), quality of
instruction (3.76); availability (3.30) and frequency
(3.05) of course offerings.
Results – Gen Ed
• Same item set as major coursework.
• Scores generally about 0.30 lower than
corresponding items for the major. Overall
mean: 3.31 (SD 0.82)
• UG items of interest: class size (3.55), faculty
availability (3.45), overall quality of instruction
(3.42); quality of texts/instructional materials
(3.16); match to career goals (3.01).
Results - Library
• Five items: resources, accessibility, staff
quality, staff as teachers, library facilities.
• Align with domains of the LibQual survey.
• Overall mean: 3.95 (SD 0.86)
• Response means: 3.71 – 4.10.
• Items of interest: Library was comfortable and
a good place to study (4.10); Learned research
strategies/sources from staff (3.71).
Results – Learning Perceptions (I)
• Ten items: written communication, oral
communication, quantitative skills, dealing
with diversity, conducting research, accessing
information, using computer technology,
critical reasoning, leadership, teamwork.
• Five-point scale, “very weak” to “very strong.”
Results – Learning Perceptions (II)
• Perception end state typically about 4.15
• Perception of change typically about 0.70.
• Items of interest:
– “Comfort with diversity” end state 4.39
– Highest “gains” in accessing information (1.02),
using computers (0.96), teamwork (0.96)
– Lowest gains (0.44) in conducting research and
oral communication.
Results – Student Affairs
• 30 student services and offices, summary
question on extra-curricular campus life .
• Five point scale, mean 3.66.
• Highly variable response numbers.
• Items of interest: Rec center (4.08); computer
labs (3.99); FSC website (3.95); Admissions
(3.86); Student Activities (3.84);help desk
(3.93); dining (3.18); parking (2.96)
Typical Academic Affairs Questions
• How many graduates go on to careers in their
fields of study?
• How long does it take graduates to get their
careers launched?
• How do graduates assess their earning power
and how successful are they in their chosen
fields?
• How many graduates go on for more formal
education?
Results – Future Plans
• Most (UG, 70%, GR 91%) look forward to full-time
employment.
• Only 13% (UG, down from 34% last year) have
full-time jobs or job offers, 12% (up from 9% last
year) have part-time jobs or job offers.
• Mean reported UG starting salary in field of
study: $33,776. Mean reported GR starting salary
in field of study: $43,648. (Both up, GR > UG).
• 39.5% (up from 17%) of UG grads anticipate
graduate school in the next 12 months.
Overall
• Size of survey size limits inputs.
• Small Ns so far for most programs, though
data from several years could be combined.
• Some useful info for academic departments
and College offices.
Questions