Achieving Student Learning Outcomes
November 2012
What do graduating seniors say about skills, abilities, and learning experiences?
In November, 80 undergraduate students (who will graduate in December) responded to the School-wide
senior survey, resulting in a 47% response rate. This newsletter includes a brief summary and detailed
tables of students’ responses.
Summary

The majority of respondents (74%) would attend Mines if they could make their college choice over
again.

Respondents highly rated the usefulness of the courses in their majors and field camp.

Respondents gave relatively low ratings to their advisement experiences.

Respondents gave high ratings to their abilities to retrieve and interpret technical information, think
critically, and find new information.

Respondents gave low ratings to their abilities to work in diverse and international environments.
Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
Resources and facilities (research
laboratories, teaching labs, libraries,
etc.) supported student learning
Faculty provided opportunities to
discuss coursework outside of class
My education prepared me to work/live
in a society that is experiencing rapid
technological change
My education prepared me to work/live
in a global society
My education prepared me to work/live
in a diverse society
Faculty provided the support I needed
to succeed academically
My academic advisor assisted me with
planning my academic program
My academic advisor assisted me with
exploring career/graduate school
options
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
Not
Applicable
33%
45%
16%
3%
3%
1%
31%
48%
18%
4%
0%
0%
24%
50%
20%
4%
3%
0%
21%
44%
24%
9%
3%
0%
20%
45%
19%
14%
3%
0%
19%
55%
18%
6%
3%
0%
19%
20%
28%
15%
18%
1%
13%
11%
27%
23%
18%
9%
How useful were the following experiences?
Courses in your major field of study
Field session/field camp
Internship
Interactions with faculty outside of class (excluding
research)
Courses in the core curriculum
Capstone experience/project (including senior design)
Opportunities to apply classroom learning to "real life"
issues
Laboratory experiences as a part of a course
Very
Useful
75%
55%
44%
Somewhat
Useful
25%
41%
21%
Not
Useful
0%
4%
0%
Not
Applicable
0%
0%
35%
38%
38%
36%
40%
55%
43%
9%
8%
16%
14%
0%
5%
35%
34%
56%
47%
6%
16%
3%
3%
To what extent did your education at Mines contribute to your development of the following
skills/abilities?
Retrieve and interpret technical information
Think critically about a wide range of cross-disciplinary issues
Find new information and use it effectively
Convey technical/scientific information, in writing, to a variety of
audiences
Communicate information graphically
Orally communicate technical/scientific information to a variety of
audiences
Appreciate diverse approaches to understanding society’s problems
Adjust to an ever-changing professional environment
Appreciate diverse approaches to solving society’s problems
Develop a commitment to enhance the profession through
leadership and service
Be dedicated to stewardship of the environment
Work effectively in a diverse work environment
Work effectively in an international environment
Very
Much
84%
75%
71%
Somewhat
16%
24%
28%
Not at
All
0%
1%
1%
66%
60%
29%
36%
5%
4%
55%
44%
41%
40%
39%
46%
50%
51%
6%
10%
9%
9%
39%
36%
35%
25%
46%
40%
48%
31%
14%
24%
18%
44%
If you could make your college choice over, would you still choose to enroll at Mines?
Yes (and I would complete the major that I am currently completing)
Yes (but I would pursue a different major)
Unsure
No
64%
10%
16%
10%
This newsletter is published by the assessment office:
Kay Schneider, Director
http://inside.mines.edu/assessment