2008 and 2009 Graduating Seniior Surveyy Report:
Student Assessm
ment of Th
heir Experriences (A
Academic and
a Non-A
Academic)) at
Nortthern Arizzona Univversity by Campus
C
a Collegge
and
Introducction
For over a decade, a survey of grraduating senniors has beeen conductedd at Northernn Arizona
Universitty (NAU). This
T survey assesses
a
studdent satisfacction and opiinions about their experiience
at the uniiversity, whiile also addrressing speciific questions that are askked by the Arizona
A
Boarrd of
Regents (ABOR)
(
forr the Undergraduate Connsolidated Acccountabilityy Report (UC
CAR) each year.
y
Student satisfaction
s
is
i measured in several arreas: generaal academicss, major depaartment, facuulty,
skills devvelopment, advising,
a
andd experiencees outside thee classroom..
Methodss
For the past
p five yearrs, the Graduuating Senioor Survey waas administerred via a webb survey. Thhe
office of Planning an
nd Institutionnal Researchh distributed the 2008 and 2009 surveeys via an em
mail
invitationn to all studeents who hadd applied forr graduation with the Reggistrar’s Offfice during thhe
respectivve fiscal yearr. For the 20008 survey administratio
a
on, 866 of the 2781 senioors respondeed for
a 31 perccent responsee rate. For the 2009 survvey administtration, 830 of the 2779 seniors
respondeed for a respo
onse rate of 30%. Both survey
s
samples were reppresentative of
o the overalll
populatioon of seniorss (Appendix A).
Summarry of Results
I. Overaall Satisfaction
When askked to rate th
heir overall experience at
a Northern Arizona
A
Uniiversity, a resounding 966
percent of
o the 2008 and
a 2009 resspondents annswered “exccellent” or “vvery good.” When asked if
they wouuld still chose NAU if they could beggin over, 87 percent of 2008
2
responddents and 91
percent of
o the 2009 respondents
r
r
replied
“defi
finitely yes” or “probablyy yes.”
II. Perceent Area Sattisfaction byy College
Over 90 percent
p
of alll respondennts, regardlesss of college, indicated satisfaction with
w the quallity
of instrucction and avaailability of faculty. Sattisfaction waas lowest forr career advising.
Edu
uc
Engin,
Forest.
& NS
Social
&
Behav.
Sci
09
09
09
09
08
009
95%
9
96%
93%
%
94%
94%
94%
944%
90%
95%
9
94%
95%
%
96%
96%
93%
955%
Advising: major
m
field of study
77%
91%
9
92%
88%
%
81%
77%
82%
844%
Advising: future career goals
g
65%
83%
8
87%
84%
%
70%
66%
68%
744%
l
n
Advising: lower-division
50%
77%
8
89%
86%
%
68%
72%
75%
755%
Avail. of reequired major courses
75%
89%
9
98%
96%
%
89%
86%
87%
899%
Avail. of computer labs/w
workstations
80%
91%
9
96%
96%
%
86%
86%
84%
900%
Arts &
Letters
Bus
A
Admin/
Franke
Heealth
&
Hu
uman
09
09
Faculty: quuality of instru
uction
95%
Faculty: avvailability
% respond
ding “satisfied
d”
and “veryy satisfied”
PAIR
Source: 20009 (and prior)
r) Graduating Senior
S
Survey
All
1
III. Mean Satisfaction Ratings by College
Overall, the highest mean satisfaction ratings (8.0 or above) were with the challenge of major
coursework , the overall quality of major, the ability to register for courses in major and career
preparation in major. The mean satisfaction rating for challenge of major coursework was above
8.0 across the colleges.
Arts &
Letters
Bus
Admin/
Franke
Health
&
Human
Educ
Engin,
Forestry
& NS
SBS
09
09
09
09
09
09
08
09
General: challenge of coursework
7.7
7.8
8.2
8.1
9.0
7.8
7.8
7.9
General: variety of courses offered
7.1
7.1
7.6
7.6
7.3
7.5
7.4
7.5
General: ability to register for courses
7.0
6.9
7.1
7.9
7.2
7.5
7.3
7.4
Major: challenge of coursework
8.0
8.2
8.3
8.3
8.4
8.2
8.1
8.3
Major: variety of courses offered
6.8
8.1
7.9
8.1
7.5
7.3
7.4
7.7
Major: ability to register for courses
7.6
8.4
8.9
8.7
8.5
8.4
8.2
8.4
Major: career preparation
7.2
8.2
8.4
8.6
8.0
7.7
7.7
8.0
Major: overall quality
7.7
8.6
8.2
8.7
8.5
8.1
8.1
8.4
Mean satisfaction rating (1=very
dissatisfied to 10=very satisfied)
All
IV. Mean Ratings by Campus
Mean ratings varied by campus. In general, the mean ratings of online students were higher than
the campus wide averages and the mean ratings of Yuma students were lower than the campuswide averages.
Flagstaff
Online
Statewide
Yuma
09
09
09
09
08
09
Campus social life at NAU
7.2
7.7
7.2
6.6
8.8
7.2
Diversity on campus
7.4
7.8
7.4
6.8
7.2
7.4
Town social life
7.6
7.5
7.8
7.6
7.1
6.9
6.1
6.2
7.2
7.1
7.5
7.4
Cultural understanding
6.9
8.5
7.6
7.0
6.9
7.2
Social responsibility
6.9
8.3
7.4
6.7
6.8
7.1
Awareness about environmental sustainability
6.7
7.8
6.1
6.1
6.4
6.6
Quality of relationships with faculty
5.9
6.3
6.1
5.8
5.8
6.0
Quality of relationships with other students
5.7
6.1
6.3
6.0
5.8
5.9
Quality of relationships with administrators
5.0
5.9
5.9
5.2
5.1
5.3
Mean satisfaction rating
(1=very dissatisfied to 10=very satisfied)
Choice of extracurricular activities
All
Mean rating of extent NAU contributed to:
(1=Very little to 10=Very Much)
Mean rating quality of relationships
(1=unhelpful to 7=helpful)
PAIR
Source: 2009 (and prior) Graduating Senior Survey
2
V. Knowledge, Skills, Personal Development by College
Overall, respondents reported the most skill development in thinking critically and analytically
and working effectively with others. The lowest rated area for skill development was
“understanding principles of scientific inquiry.” It is not surprising that the ratings varied by
college given the different skills required by various degrees.
Arts &
Letters
Bus
Admin/
Franke
Health
&
Human
Educ
Engin,
Forestry
& NS
SBS
09
09
09
09
09
09
08
09
Thinking critically and analytically
75%
76%
88%
81%
80%
82%
80%
80%
Working effectively with others
63%
85%
92%
91%
74%
76%
75%
80%
Learning effectively with others
65%
84%
90%
91%
72%
73%
74%
79%
Developing und. for variety of views
65%
76%
84%
81%
58%
81%
74%
76%
Using technology in your discipline
58%
78%
81%
76%
72%
65%
Na
74%
Acting upon ethical principles
55%
75%
79%
71%
58%
78%
66%
71%
Reading critically
68%
65%
76%
69%
62%
75%
67%
69%
Writing clearly and effectively
69%
69%
74%
63%
59%
77%
66%
69%
Analyzing quantitative problems
52%
71%
69%
65%
75%
62%
63%
66%
Speaking clearly and effectively
63%
71%
71%
64%
60%
68%
62%
66%
Und. principles of scientific inquiry
1
All includes NAU-Yuma college
39%
51%
76%
63%
81%
60%
58%
62%
% responding
“very much”/”quite a bit”
PAIR
Source: 2009 (and prior) Graduating Senior Survey
All1
3
2008 and 2009
2
NAU Graduating
G
Seenior Reportt Card
Alll Campuses
2008 Resp
pondents = 866
8
2009 Resp
pondents = 830
8
2008
2009
Q.1. How
w do you ratee your overalll experience at NAU?
Excellent
Good
Excellentt/Good
Poor
Very Poorr
40%
57%
96%
3%
1%
45%
52%
966%
3%
<1%
d you choosee to attend NA
AU?
Q.2. If yoou could start over, would
Definitelyy Yes
Probably Yes
Y
Definitelyy/Probably Yes
Probably No
Definitelyy No
49%
38%
87%
11%
2%
54%
37%
91%
8%
2%
n
Q.3. Avaiilability of accademic adviising when needed.
Always
Almost allways
Always/A
Almost alway
ys
Sometimees
Almost neever
Never
35%
38%
73%
23%
4%
<1%
38%
39%
777%
19%
4%
<1%
Q.4. Geneeral Academ
mics
(Mean rating on scalee of 1-Very Diissatisfied to 10-Very Satis
isfied)
A. Challennge of the acaademic coursework in genneral
B. Varietyy of courses offered
o
outsidde your major
C. Abilityy to register fo
or desired couurses outside your major
7.8
7.4
7.3
7.99
7.55
7.44
Q.5. Quality of faculty
y instruction
n in general
Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Very Satiisfied/Satisfieed
Dissatisfieed
Very Disssatisfied
38%
56%
94%
5%
<1%
38%
56%
94%
5%
<1%
aculty (office hrs, outside class)
Q.6. Avaiilability of fa
Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Very Satiisfied/Satisfieed
Dissatisfieed
Very Disssatisfied
39%
54%
93%
6%
1%
44%
51%
95%
5%
<11%
PAIR
Source: 20009 (and prior)
r) Graduating Senior
S
Survey
4
2008
2009
Q.7. Academic Advising in Major Field of Study
Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Very Satisfied/Satisfied
Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
43%
39%
82%
12%
6%
45%
39%
84%
11%
5%
Q.8. Advising with future career goals
Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Very Satisfied/Satisfied
Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
25%
43%
68%
22%
9%
29%
45%
74%
17%
9%
Q.9. Major Field of Study – General
(Mean rating on scale of 1-Very Dissatisfied to 10-Very Satisfied)
A. Challenge of coursework/requirements
B. Variety of courses offered
C. Ability to register for courses
D. Career preparation
E. Overall quality of major department
8.1
7.4
8.2
7.7
8.1
8.3
7.7
8.4
8.0
8.4
Q.10. Availability of required courses in major
Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Very Satisfied/Satisfied
Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
33%
54%
87%
11%
2%
36%
53%
89%
9%
2%
Q.11. NAU Services/Environment
(Mean rating on scale of 1-Very Dissatisfied to 10-Very Satisfied)
A. Choice of extracurricular activities
B. Town social life
C. Campus social life at NAU
D. Diversity on campus
7.1
7.2
8.8
7.2
7.4
7.5
7.2
7.4
Q.12. Availability of computer labs and workstations:
Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Very Satisfied/Satisfied
Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
34%
50%
84%
13%
4%
39%
50%
90%
8%
2%
Q.13. Quality of Relationships with:
(Mean rating on scale of 1-Unhelpful to 7-Helpful)
A. Other Students
B. Faculty Members
C. Administrative Personnel and Offices
5.8
5.8
5.1
5.9
6.0
5.3
PAIR
Source: 2009 (and prior) Graduating Senior Survey
5
2008
2009
Q.14. Lower-division advising at NAU prior to declaring a major
Yes
Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Very Satisfied/Satisfied
Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
41%
22%
53%
75%
17%
8%
42%
23%
53%
76%
17%
7%
Q.15. Success of integrating technology into learning
Very Successfully
Successfully
Unsuccessfully
Very Unsuccessfully
24%
65%
10%
2%
28%
61%
9%
2%
Q.16. Engagement in internationally focused extracurricular activities
(Mean rating on scale of 1-Not engaged to 10-Very engaged)
4.3
4.6
Q.17. Change your major during your time at NAU?
Yes
One time
Two times
Three times
Four or more times
32%
63%
22%
12%
4%
32%
64%
21%
10%
5%
Q.18. Participate in a research-related/capstone course at NAU?
Yes
No
78%
22%
77%
23%
Q.19. Participate in any research/create projects with a faculty member
Yes
No
38%
62%
37%
63%
Q.20.Discuss coursework or assignments with faculty?
Never
Once a semester or less
A few times each semester
Every few weeks
Once a week
1%
11%
41%
27%
21%
1%
9%
42%
25%
24%
Q.21. # faculty you discussed subjects not related to coursework
None
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six or More
9%
12%
24%
22%
13%
5%
16%
10%
12%
23%
20%
12%
7%
16%
PAIR
Source: 2009 (and prior) Graduating Senior Survey
6
2008
2009
Q.22. Knowledge, Skills, Personal Development
(% responding very much/quite a bit)
A. Writing clearly and effectively
B. Speaking clearly and effectively
C. Thinking critically and analytically
D. Reading critically
E. Analyzing quantitative problems
F. Understanding principles of scientific inquiry
G. Acting upon ethical principles
H. Working effectively with others
I. Learning effectively with others
J. Developing an understanding for a wide variety of views
K. Using technology in your discipline (2009 survey only)
66%
62%
80%
67%
63%
58%
66%
75%
74%
74%
NA
69%
66%
80%
69%
66%
62%
71%
80%
79%
76%
74%
Q.23.Extent NAU contributed to:
(Mean rating on scale of 1-Very little to 10-Very much)
A. Awareness about environmental sustainability
B. Cultural understanding
C. Social responsibility
6.4
6.9
6.8
6.6
7.2
7.1
Q.24.Did you work on-campus or off-campus this year?
On-Campus
Off-Campus
Both
Did not work
21%
49%
16%
14%
17%
50%
17%
16%
Q.25. How many hours did you work per week?
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
More than 30
3%
8%
12%
22%
14%
10%
31%
3%
7%
13%
20%
15%
14%
28%
Q.26. After graduation plans (2009 survey only)
Graduate or professional school, FT
Graduate or professional school, PT
Employment, FT
Employment, PT
Additional undergrad coursework
Military service
Volunteer activity
Starting/raising family
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
20%
7%
61%
4%
2%
1%
3%
2%
PAIR
Source: 2009 (and prior) Graduating Senior Survey
7
Appendix A
The survey sample was similar to the overall population of graduating seniors on most
characteristics examined. Table A shows the characteristics of the survey sample compared to
the overall graduating senior population at NAU.
Table A. Demographic characteristics
of survey respondents compared to all
students that applied for graduation
2008
2009
Survey
Respondents
Grads
Survey
Respondents
Grads
13%
20%
2%
16%
28%
21%
12%
18%
7%
19%
17%
27%
9%
17%
7%
21%
16%
26%
10%
19%
7%
19%
16%
26%
85%
5%
7%
3%
77%
63%
74%
6%
15%
5%
82%
63%
70%
8%
19%
3%
81%
75%
70%
8%
18%
4%
82%
63%
2%
4%
3%
13%
--76%
3%
43%
2%
5%
2%
14%
.3%
74%
3%
54%
2%
4%
2%
12%
-77%
3%
48%
2%
5%
3%
13%
.3%
73%
3%
52%
866
2781
830
2779
College
Arts and Letters
Business Administration
Health and Human Services
Education
Engineering & Natural Sciences
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Campus
Flagstaff
Online
Statewide
Yuma
AZ Resident
Female
Ethnicity*
African American
Native American
Asian American
Hispanic / Latino
International
Caucasian
Unknown
Transfer Student
TOTAL
*Column percentages may not total 100 due to rounding
PAIR
Source: 2009 (and prior) Graduating Senior Survey
8