Division of Student Life
2013 Student Employment Survey Summary

The Division of Student Life Student Employment Survey was conducted spring, 2013. The survey link was sent to 1856 students and 497responses were received (27% response rate).

Outcome (*=z-test for difference in proportions, significant difference for GROW vs. non-GROW, p<.01) / % agree/strongly agree / Mean
IOWA GROW™
(N=275) / Non-GROW
(N=222) / IOWA GROW™ / Non-GROW
My supervisor helps me make connections between my work and my life as a student. * / 68% / 31% / 3.8 / 2.9
My job has helped prepare me for the world of full-time employment.* / 60% / 41% / 3.7 / 3.2
My job has helped me improve my written communications.* / 32% / 17% / 3.0 / 2.6
I can see connections between my job and major/coursework.* / 51% / 19% / 3.4 / 2.5
My job has helped me learn about career options.* / 45%
/ 21% / 3.3 / 2.7
My job has helped me develop more effective time management skills. * / 83% / 68% / 4.1 / 3.7
My job has helped me improve my oral communication skills.* / 77% / 65% / 4.0 / 3.7
My job has helped me develop conflict resolution skills. * / 77% / 56% / 3.9 / 3.4
My job has helped me use critical thinking skills to form opinions and solve problems. * / 68% / 51% / 3.8 / 3.4
Because of my job, I am able to work effectively with individuals with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and cultures. * / 83% / 70% / 4.1 / 3.8

 IOWA GROW™participation was determined by student responses to the following question:
“How often during the spring semester have you had conversations with your supervisor about connections between your job and your academics?”
Students responding “Never” were coded as “Non-GROW”

Survey Response and IOWA GROW™participation by Department
Department / % of survey respondents / % of respondents who had IOWA GROW™conversations
University Housing and Dining / 58% / 52%
Recreational Services / 22.1% / 63%
Iowa Memorial Union / 14.7% / 49%
Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (includes UI Student Government) / 2.6% / 85%
Student Disability Services / 2.2% / 82%
Student Health Service / Less than 1% / 50%
Themes from open-ended responses – Positive Impact of Employment
Question / Theme / Examples / Percent of Responses*
Please describe one specific way your work as a student employee has positively influenced your experience at the UI.
*responses may include more than one theme; non-responses not included / Forming Relationships /
  • Relationships with supervisors
  • Meeting new people
  • Feeling connected to the UI
/ 49%
Time Management Skills /
  • Managing time
  • Balancing work and academics
/ 15%
Earning Money /
  • Ability to pay for education
  • Ability to participate in campus/community activities
/ 14%
Gaining Work/Career-Related Skills /
  • Specific programs or processes
  • Networking
  • Real-world experience
  • Teaching methods
/ 9.3%
Gaining Self-Knowledge /
  • Learning what I like to do and what I’m good at
  • Gaining confidence
  • Satisfaction with job contribution
/ 4.5%
Learning about Diversity /
  • Connecting across difference
  • Resolving conflict across cultural differences
  • Meeting people one wouldn’t otherwise meet
/ 3.5%
Enhancing Communication Skills /
  • Conflict resolution
  • Customer Service
  • Effective oral and written communication
/ 3.5%
Gaining UI Knowledge /
  • Learning about services and programs
  • Understanding organizational processes
/ 3%

Comparison of Open-Ended Responses, IOWA GROW™vs. non-GROW

Question / Theme / % of responses by IOWA GROW participation
IOWA GROW™participants / Non-GROW participants
Please describe one specific way your work as a student employee has positively influenced your experience at the UI. / Gaining Work/Career-Related Skills / 84% / 16%
Time Management Skills / 78% / 22%
Forming Relationships / 63% / 37%
Enhancing Communication Skills / 71% / 29%
Learning about Diversity / 64% / 36%
Gaining UI Knowledge / 58% / 42%
Gaining Self-Knowledge / 56% / 44%
Earning Money / 37% / 63%
Themes from open-ended responses – Skills gained from employment
Question / Theme / Examples / Percent of Responses*
Please describe one specific skill you have learned as a student employee that contributes to your success as UI student.
*responses may include more than one theme; non-responses not included / Time Management Skills /
  • Time management
  • Balancing work and academics
  • Prioritization
/ 35%
General Work Habits /
  • Patience
  • Critical Thinking
  • Organization
/ 25%
Communication Skills /
  • Public speaking
  • General oral and written communication
  • Customer Service Skills
/ 21%
Interpersonal Skills /
  • Dealing with difficult people
  • Working with a variety of people
  • Conflict resolution
/ 14%
Specific skills /
  • Computer software
  • Website management
  • Money handling
/ 8%
Problem Solving Skills /
  • Solving novel problems
  • Applying learning to problems
/ 4%
Other /
  • Connecting work and academics
/ 4%
No skills gained / 3%

Comparison of Open-Ended Responses, IOWA GROW™vs. non-GROW

Question / Theme / of responses, the proportion by IOWA GROW™participation
IOWA GROW™participants / Non-GROW participants
Please describe one specific skill you have learned as a student employee that contributes to your success as UI student. / Problem Solving Skills / 71% / 29%
Communication Skills / 67% / 33%
Other / 64% / 36%
General Work Habits / 60% / 40%
Specific skills / 56% / 44%
Time Management Skills / 55% / 45%
Interpersonal Skills / 54% / 46%
No skills gained / 20% / 80%

Conclusions/Recommendations:

  • Number of IOWA GROW™conversations: The primary analysis grouped participants into two categories: students who received IOWA GROW™conversations and those who did not. Additional analysis considered whether students who received 2 or more such conversations answered the questions differently than students receiving only one. This is an important consideration, given supervisor concerns about time. On 4 of 9 items (Learning about career options, written communication, seeing work/academic connections, and conflict resolution), students who received more IOWA GROW™conversations had higher mean ratings than those who received only one conversation (p<.05). On the other 5 items (Time management, oral communication, critical thinking, skills in diversity, and readiness for full time employment), there were no significant differences. Differences between students who had one conversation and those who had none were significant on all nine items.
  • IOWA GROW™participants were significantly more likely to agree/strongly agree that their job was helping them attain the nine outcomes of student employment.
  • IOWA GROW™participants were more likely to report the following gains from student employment:
  • Gaining work/Career related skills
  • Time management skills
  • Forming relationships
  • Enhancing communication skills
  • Non-GROW participants were more likely to report that the major benefit of being a student employee was earning money.
  • IOWA GROW™participants were more likely to report that the skills they learned as a student employee were:
  • Problem solving skills
  • Communication skills
  • General work habits
  • Non-GROW participants were more likely to report that they learned no new skills as a result of being a student employee
  • While the IOWA GROW™program is positively influencing the student employment experience for those that participate, compliance across the Division is area that needs to be improved. This simple intervention clearly helps students make meaning of their work/academic experiences.

Wordle for impact of student employment – Non-IOWA GROW participants

Wordle for impact of student employment – IOWA GROW participants