Student Surveys Planning Group (SSPG):Friday, March 6, 2009 – Meeting Notes

Attending: Bill Banis, Ron Braeutigam, Evelyn Caliendo, Steve Carr, Debbie Crimmins, Mary Desler, Lonnie Dunlop, Sally Ewing Mary Finn,Linda Garton, Tim Gordon, Bill Hayward, Jake Julia, Marilyn McCoy, Lisa Metzger-Mugg, Michael Mills, Paul Schatz, and Cathy Stembridge

Guests: Leslie Donovan, Jennifer Fry, Alexis Sarkisian, Sarah Smith

SSPG Communications to the Community on Coordination of Student Surveys

Email was sent to deans and directors notifying them of university survey policies and clarifying the role the SSPG in coordinating surveys. The email also sought to increase the awareness and purpose of the IRB in surveys. Plans are to send a similar communication annually, and it would be better to send it earlier in the year (Fall quarter instead of Winter).

Report from Senior Exit Surveys Working Group (Lonnie Dunlap)

The work group seeks to increase standardization of all senior exit surveys across the university. There are difficulties due to the varied nature of the different surveys, with some being used primarily for assessment purposes and others simply for data collection purposes. Student Affairs is using Student Voice software for their first destination survey. Questions about certificate programs and academic minors are being added to the survey and it will branch to different questions for undergraduates and graduate students. There was some discussion of graduate students, which has not been the focus of the work group, but they are included in the first destinations survey. Lonnie and Lisa (TGS) will coordinate on any changes that will affect graduate students, and they will meet to discuss content overlap between their respective surveys (see mention of TGS survey below).

Coordination of Student Surveys Scheduled for March through June

NUIT is launching their annual Educause survey of undergraduates in March. Otherwise, there are only a few surveys with small samples in March. The Institutional Research Office and Student Affairs will coordinate on their surveys that are scheduled in April, including two undergraduate housing surveys, a survey of greek members, and the annual COFHE survey of graduating seniors. In May and June there are a number of graduating senior surveys (see notes from senior exit surveys working group above). TGS will be conducting an exit survey of all masters and PhD recipients. The survey will include a set of questions designed by AAUDE to be used by AAU universities. The AAUDE questions will only be asked of PhD recipients. TGS is also planning a survey of students who leave NU without graduating that will be conducted over the summer or next fall. The SCS is conducting a survey of their graduate students.

CIRP Entering Freshmen Survey – Data and Analyses Update (Paul Schatz)

Fall 2008 data is available on the SSPG website as well as from past years and a forty year trend file are also available. An analysis of this year’s results shows the demographics of respondents fairly accurately reflect the demographic make-up of the incoming freshmen class. A quick look at what reasons were very important in influencing students to come to NU reveals that academic reputation, graduate school admissions, and job opportunities were most cited by students. In addition, minorities were more likely to cite issues related to cost, financial aid, and national rankings. (see web-site for slides) There was a discussion on yields for minority students.

SSPG Website Updates (Paul Schatz)

There are lots of current and archived data and reports posted on the website. The site remains a work in progress and all suggestions are welcome.

Assessment Update (Jake Julia)

Inventory of all assessment activity in the schools is underway. Because McCormick is so advanced, they are being used as a model for student learning assessment at NU.

Joint IR and OARD Alumni Survey of All Northwestern Undergraduate Alumni

Leslie Donovan, Cathy Stembridge, Debbie Crimmins and Bill Hayward

See web-site for PowerPoint.