Student Engagement at the
Research University (SERU) at UW:
Student Life
Student Life Assessment Meeting
02 October 2014
Debbie McGhee
SERU Background
• Project began as part of a research grant
University of California Berkeley's Center for
Studies in Higher Education
• Eleven (18%) of 62 AAU institutions
participated in 2014
• UW-Seattle participated for the first time this
year
• The survey population was the entire
undergraduate population
SERU Background
• The SERU questionnaire takes approximately 25 minutes to
complete.
• The main topic areas:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Academic Engagement
Time Allocation
Academic and Personal Development
Institutional Climate for Diversity
Plans and Aspirations
Overall Satisfaction
Evaluation of the Major
Background (demographics)
SERU 2014:
UW Participants
• All degree-seeking, undergraduate students
enrolled at UW-Seattle in Winter 2014 were
invited
• Overall, 26% of students completed the online
questionnaire
• Women were over-represented among
respondents (52% of sample vs. 61% of
respondents)
SERU 2014:
Representativeness
• Men and underclassmen were underrepresented among respondents
80
70
60
50
% of Population
40
% of respondents
30
20
10
0
Women
Men
Fr./So.
Jr./Sr.
SERU 2014:
Representativeness
• Under-represented minority (URM) and International
students were under-represented
50
45
40
35
30
% of Population
25
% of respondents
20
15
10
5
0
URM
Asian American
White American
Other/Unknown
International
SERU 2014:
Areas of Interest
Content areas of interest for today
– Background characteristics (demographics)
– Activities
– Campus climate and diversity
– Global evaluations
SERU 2014:
Background Characteristics
Several items about students’ backgrounds
– Current residence
– “Social class growing up” (SES)
– Spiritual/religious preference
– Physical and learning disabilities
– Sexual orientation
– Political orientation
SERU 2014:
Background characteristics
Where is your current residence?
133, 2%
1504, 21%
Campus residence hall
Campus owned apartment or house
2158, 31%
Sorority or fraternity
336, 5%
600, 9%
Co-op student housing
Off-campus in an apartment
Off-campus in a house
Other, please elaborate
18, 0%
2282, 32%
Categories will be collapsed as: Campus housing, Sorority/Fraternity, and Elsewhere
SERU 2014:
Background characteristics
What was your social class growing up?
45
41.4
40
35
30
Percent
25.6
25
20.6
20
15
10.3
10
5
2.1
0
Low income
Working class
Middle class
Upper-middle class
Wealthy
SERU 2014:
Background characteristics
What is your spiritual/religious preference?
50
43.4
45
41.1
40
35
Percent
30
25
20
15
10.3
10
5.1
5
0
Spiritual but not religious
Not spiritual or religious
Selected religion
No response
Not spiritual or religious includes: Not particularly spiritual, No preference, Agnostic, and Atheist
SERU 2014:
Background characteristics
Do you have a physical or learning disability?
600
8
7.4
5.8
400
481
6
5
383
300
4
3
200
2.1
100
7
Percent
Number selecting Yes
500
2
143
1
0
0
Physical disability
Learning disability
Either physical or learning
45% of those reporting a physical or learning disability indicated they
receive disability accommodations
SERU 2014:
Background characteristics
What is your sexual orientation?
No response
1.8
Other; please elaborate
1.9
Decline to state
4.9
Self-identified Queer
0.9
Questioning
1.4
Heterosexual
82.5
Gay/Lesbian
2.5
Bisexual
4.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
Percent
60
70
80
90
SERU 2014:
Background characteristics
What is your political orientation?
No response
3
Very conservative
1.1
Conservative
6.6
Slightly conservative
9
Moderate or middle of the road
25.5
Slightly liberal
15.6
Liberal
30.5
Very liberal
8.6
0
5
10
15
20
Percent
25
30
35
SERU 2014:
Weekly Activities
• What was the average number of hours per night you
slept on weeknights? [4 or less, 5, 6, …, 9 or more hours]
• How many hours do you spend in a typical 7-day week
in paid employment? [type in numeric value, enter 0 for none]
• How many hours do you spend in a typical 7-day week
… [0=0 hrs, 1=1-5 hrs, 2=6-10 hrs, 7=30+]
–
–
–
–
–
Attending classes/labs
Coursework outside of class
Student clubs or organizations
Leisure (entertainment, time with family, socializing)
Other (community service, exercise, religion, commuting)
SERU 2014:
Weekly Activities
Average weeknight hours of sleep?
9 or more
3%
8 hrs
19%
4 or less
2%
5 hrs
11%
6 hrs
29%
7 hrs
36%
SERU 2014:
Weekly Activities
How do students spend their week?
40
37.7
35
Hours per week
30
25
20
15
14.7
10
14.5
13.2
8.8
5
2.9
0
Classes/labs
Coursework
Student clubs or
organizations
Leisure
Work
Other
* The graph includes only those students who responded to all of the activities items.
SERU 2014:
Weekly Activities
About how many hours do you spend per week
working for pay (on- or off-campus)?
• The overall average was 8.8 hours, but 48% of students
reported 0 hours of work for pay
30
64
28
60
55
52
50
24
41
22
40
30
20
27
18
18.0
20
10
26
17.6
16.9
16
14
13.7
14.2
Fr.
So.
12
0
10
Jr.
Sr.
Total
Averge number of hours worked
(workers only)
Percentage reporting some work hours
70
SERU 2014:
Weekly Activities
About how many hours do you spend per week
participating in student clubs or organizations?
• Overall, 49.6% of students reported 0 hours
• Participation varied with student’s current residence. The
percentages of students reporting at least 1 hour/week
were:
– 59% among those living in campus-owned housing
– 66% among those in sororities/fraternities
– 45% among those living elsewhere
SERU 2014:
Weekly Activities
About how many hours do you spend per week
performing community service or volunteer?
• Overall, 47% of students reported 0 hours
• Participation varied by student sex and current residence.
– 56% of women reported at least 1 hour/week, vs. 47% of men
– Student in sororities/fraternities were the most likely to report
non-zero hours (65%), while students in campus housing were the
least likely (47%).
– About half (53%) of students living elsewhere reported at least 1
hour/week.
SERU 2014:
Weekly Activities
About how many hours do you spend per week
engaging in exercise, sports, or physically active
hobbies?
• Overall, only 15% of students reported 0 hours
• Participation varied by student sex, class, and current
residence.
– 46% of men reported at least 6 hours/week, vs. 30% of women
– Student in sororities/fraternities were the most active: 42%
reported 1-5 hours/week and 36% reported 6-10 hours/week.
– 50% of students living elsewhere reported 1-5 hours/week.
SERU 2014:
Co-curricular Activities
• Overall, 4.7% of students reported
participation in a living-learning program
– Among those currently living in campus housing,
6.6% responded ‘Yes’
– 8.2% of first-year students living in campus
housing responded ‘Yes’
• Approximately 19% of students had
participated in a study abroad program (27%
of seniors)
SERU 2014:
Evaluative Items
Several items and item-sets asked students to
rate their UW experiences at a global level
• Campus climate
• International student experience
• Overall academic satisfaction and overall
social satisfaction
SERU 2014:
Campus Climate
Rate the general climate for students at the UW.
The UW is… “Safe [1] … Dangerous [5]”
5
Mean (3=Neutral)
4
Women
3
2.6
2.3
2.1
2.5
2.2
2.3
Men
2.4
2.2
2
1
Campus housing
Sorority/Fraternity
Elsewhere
Total
SERU 2014:
Campus Climate
The UW is… “Safe [1] … Dangerous [5]” by Sex
and Residence
100
90
80
70
9
18
8
8
28
28
32
34
Five (Dangerous)
50
40
6
25
30
60
Percent
11
44
44
30
33
Four
41
41
40
Two
One (Safe)
20
10
0
16
13
Campus housing Sorority/Fraternity
Women
Three
15
Elsewhere
25
23
Campus housing Sorority/Fraternity
Men
22
Elsewhere
SERU 2014:
Campus Climate
Indicate level of agreement with the following in
terms of yourself.
Students of my race/ethnicity are respected
4.8
Students of my socio-economic status are respected
4.8
5.0
Students of my gender are respected
Students of my religious beliefs are respected
4.7
Students of my political beliefs are respected
4.7
5.2
Students of my sexual orientation are respected
Students of my immigration background are respected
4.7
Students with a physical, psych, or learning disability like mine are respected
4.7
1
2
3
4
Average rating
5
6
1 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 6 = Strongly agree
SERU 2014:
Campus Climate
Students of my race/ethnicity are respected on
this campus.
White Amer.
5.2
Native Amer.
4.7
Hispanic Amer.
4.6
Asian Amer.
4.6
Pacific Islander
4.5
African Amer.
3.9
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 6 = Strongly agree
SERU 2014:
Campus Climate
Students of my socioeconomic background are
respected on this campus.
Upper-middle or professional-middle
5.1
Middle-class
4.8
Wealthy
4.8
Working-class
4.6
Low-income or poor
4.2
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 6 = Strongly agree
SERU 2014:
Campus Climate
Students of my gender are respected on this
campus.
Men
5.1
Women
4.9
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 6 = Strongly agree
SERU 2014:
Campus Climate
Students of my political beliefs are respected on
this campus.
Liberal
5.0
Moderate
4.6
Conservative
4.0
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 6 = Strongly agree
SERU 2014:
Campus Climate
Students of my sexual orientation are respected
on this campus.
Heterosexual
5.3
Questioning
5.0
Decline to state
4.8
Bisexual
4.8
Gay/Lesbian
4.5
Self-identified Queer
4.3
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 6 = Strongly agree
SERU 2014:
Campus Climate
Students with a physical, psychological, or
learning disability like mine are respected….
Physical disability
4.2
Learning disability
4.3
No physical or learning disability
4.8
Either physical or learning disability
4.3
Receive disability accommodations
4.5
No disability accommodations
4.2
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 6 = Strongly agree
SERU 2014:
Campus Climate
Students of my immigration background are
respected on this campus.
U.S. citizen
4.8
Permanent resident
4.5
Visa
4.4
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 6 = Strongly agree
SERU 2014:
International Student Experience
How satisfied are you with each of the
following?
The interest in and attention to international students shown by
professors
3.9
The interest in and attention to international students shown by
American students
3.7
The campus services provided specifically for international students
4.0
The campus services provided for all students
4.1
Quality of info provided about campus rules, regulations,
requirements, resources
4.1
Opportunities to explore American life/culture outside the university
3.9
1
2
3
4
Average satisfaction
5
6
The three items marked with arrows were the strongest correlates of perceived respect
for international students.
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
Four items asked about general satisfaction.
My UW grade point average
3.8
Overall social experience
4.2
Overall academic experience
4.4
Value of your education for the price you are paying
3.9
1
2
3
4
Average Satisfaction
5
6
1 = Very dissatisfied, 3 = Somewhat dissatisfied, 4 = Somewhat satisfied, 6 = Very satisfied
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
• Social and Academic experience ratings were
moderately related (r = .50)
• Satisfaction with UW grade point average was
strongly correlated with actual UW GPA
(r = .61)
• Ratings of Educational Value correlated with
academic satisfaction (r = .61), but less with
social satisfaction (r = .37) and actual UW GPA
(r = .17)
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
Social satisfaction varied by class and residence.
Campus housing
Sorority/Fraternity
Elsewhere
4.9
4.3
6
Social satisfaction
5
4.1
5.0
4
4.2
4.9
3.9
3.7
4.1
4.0
5.1
4.2
4.2
5.0
3
2
1
Fr.
So.
Jr.
Sr.
1 = Very dissatisfied, 3 = Somewhat dissatisfied, 4 = Somewhat satisfied, 6 = Very satisfied
Total
4.0
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
Academic satisfaction* varied by class and
residence.
Campus housing
Sorority/Fraternity
Elsewhere
6
Academic satisfaction
5
4.2
4.1
4
3.6
3.8
3.8
4.1
4.1
4.0
4.2
So.
Jr.
4.3
4.2
4.4
4.1
4.1
4.1
3
2
1
Fr.
Sr.
* Average of “my UW GPA” and “overall academic experience”
1 = Very dissatisfied, 3 = Somewhat dissatisfied, 4 = Somewhat satisfied, 6 = Very satisfied
Total
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
Actual UW GPA supports the observation that living in campus
housing is preferred for first-years and sophomores.
Campus housing
Sorority/Fraternity
Elsewhere
4.0
Cumulative UW GPA
3.5
3.0
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.1
3.2
3.4
3.3
3.3
3.3
So.
Jr.
3.4
3.3
3.4
3.4
3.3
3.3
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
Fr.
Sr.
Total
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
The effect of housing situation on academic satisfaction and UW
GPA is not due to self-selection: Across the range of high
school GPA; those living in campus housing perform better.
Average Cumulative UW GPA
4.0
3.5
3.0
Fr. Campus Housing
2.5
Fr. Sorority/Fraternity
2.0
Fr. Elsewhere
1.5
1.0
< 3.67
3.67-3.82
3.83-3.93
High School GPA
≥ 3.94
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
Academic satisfaction* varied by average hours
of sleep.
6
Academic satisfaction
5
4.1
4.3
4
4.0
3
4.3
4.2
4.5
4.6
4.5
4.5
4.4
4.2
0 hrs paid work
3.6
1+ hrs paid work
2
1
4 or less
5
6
7
Average weeknight hours of sleep
8
9 or more
* Average of “my UW GPA” and “overall academic experience”
1 = Very dissatisfied, 3 = Somewhat dissatisfied, 4 = Somewhat satisfied, 6 = Very satisfied
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
Students use the time that they are not sleeping
to do coursework (in-class + studying).
Total academic hours
40
35
31.7
30
32.3
30.4
31.3
29.3
28.1
26.3
28.2
25
27.4
25.9
24.8
22.1
20
4 or less
5
6
7
Average weeknight hours of sleep
8
9 or more
0 hrs paid work
1+ hrs paid work
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
The extra hours of coursework do not translate
into a better GPA.
Cumulative UW GPA
4
3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.3
3.4
3.3
0 hrs paid work
1+ hrs paid work
2
1
4 or less
5
6
7
Average weeknight hours of sleep
8
9 or more
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
Two items asked about commitment to UW.
I feel that I belong at the UW
4.6
Knowing what I know now, I would still choose to enroll at the UW
4.7
1
2
3
4
Average Agreement
5
6
1 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 6 = Strongly agree
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
• Both social and academic satisfaction ratings
were related to feelings of belongingness
(r = .61 and r = .59)
• Academic experience satisfaction was a
somewhat better predictor than social experience
of re-enrollment (r = .60 vs. r = .49)
• Ratings of educational value correlated
moderately with belongingness (r = .46) and reenrollment (r = .51)
• Working class and middle class students were the
least satisfied with educational value
SERU 2014:
Overall Evaluation
Commitment to UW* varied by
ethnicity/resident status.
White Amer.
4.8
Hispanic Amer.
4.8
Other/Unknown
4.7
African Amer.
4.7
Native Amer.
4.6
Pacific Islander
4.5
Asian Amer.
4.5
International
4.4
1
2
3
4
Committed to UW
* Average of “I belong at the UW” and “I would re-enroll at the UW”
1 = Strongly disagree, 3 = Somewhat disagree, 4 = Somewhat agree, 6 = Strongly agree
5
6
Summary
• Students are candid about themselves and their
UW experience.
• Our students express a strong sense of belonging
and commitment to UW, but also feel free to
point out areas of dissatisfaction.
• Safety issues for women, especially those living in
sororities.
• International students want to interact with the
UW and larger U.S. community, but may have
trouble achieving this.