Faces of the Future Survey
The Faces of the Future Survey instrument was designed by a consortium of community
college leaders in a two-day session sponsored by AACC and ACT on the ACT campus
in Iowa City, IA in 1998. Since that time, the project has been scheduled for the fall of
each year. Hundreds of institutions have participated, using information provided by
their credit and/or non-credit students to make plans to better meet the needs of their
dynamic student bodies.
Arkansas State University at Mountain Home has frequently participated in Faces of the
Future Survey projects. ASUMH's Chancellor, Dr. Ed Coulter, is the current chair of the
AACC Board of Directors. Karen Hopper, Director of Institutional Research, was
pleased to share the following report, which she prepared from the findings of their 2004
administration. This report was made available to their various constituencies: students,
faculty, staff, and members of the community.
Arkansas State University Mountain Home
Faces of the Future Report
Angie Bertel, sophomore, ASUMH
Why are students attending Arkansas State University Mountain Home? The results of
the American Association of Community College’s (AACC) “Faces of the Future” survey
conducted during the Fall 04 semester on the campus of ASUMH not only answer this
question but indicate the college is meeting its mission in providing higher education
opportunities in North Central Arkansas.
Hopper said the survey includes questions on a variety of areas intended to obtain
useful information about credit and noncredit students at two-year colleges. Topic areas
include student background, employment history, educational experiences and history,
and current college experiences. Approximately 400 students completed the survey at
ASUMH this year from a random sampling of classes across the curriculum both during
day and evening credit courses.
Hopper noted the results of the survey help guide ASUMH administration in determining
the college’s progress in fulfilling its mission—Arkansas State University Mountain Home
is a public, open access, two-year campus of Arkansas State University, primarily
serving students in North Central Arkansas. ASUMH provides affordable, lifelong
learning and excellent teaching, enabling students of all ages to explore ethical values,
develop technological and critical thinking skills, and communicate logically and
effectively in order to enhance their quality of life. Furthermore, ASUMH is committed to
creating a progressive community of enlightened and productive global citizens. To help
students achieve educational, personal, and career goals, ASUMH offers certificates,
associate degrees, continuing and workforce education, and adult basic education.
From the 373 students responding to the section of the survey that asks the reason(s)
they are taking classes at this college, 54 percent replied “to take courses related to
future work/job.” The next two highest responses were identical, with 44 percent noting
their goal was to obtain an Associate degree, and 44 were at ASUMH with the plan to
transfer to a four-year college.
In addition, 22 percent of the students responded to this question by indicating they were
enrolled at ASUMH “to take courses of personal enrichment or self-improvement.” Eight
percent-“to take courses related to current work/job,” seven percent- “to maintain a
license or certification,” and three percent- “to complete a vocational/technical program.”
Two percent of the students indicated they were enrolled in courses with no definite
purpose in mind.
Students were asked to rank a provided list of factors that led to their decision to attend
ASUMH. Those factors, in order of most important to not important, were: distance of
the college from my permanent residence, a particular program of study, cost of
attending the college, availability of financial aid or scholarship, academic reputation of
the college, type of community in which the college is located, variety of courses offered,
distance of the college from my place of employment, size of the college, entrance
requirements, and opportunity for part-time work.
Further, students were asked to choose from a list of 15 responses the reason that led
them to enroll in specific course programs. The top four reasons were “to meet
requirements for my chosen occupation,” “to increase my earning power,” “to make a
career change,” and “to develop my mind and intellectual abilities.”
Hopper said, “Tools like the Faces of the Future Survey are most beneficial in guiding
ASUMH because the information comes from the very best source—our students.”