Expectations and Satisfaction
What does your institution do to assure that student expectations are being met and that they are satisfied?
Our advisors do the same. Managing expectations of what to expect as a result of the education received lends itself to a good academic experience.
@LorenKroh :We are currently using an outside resource program called Starfish. This is a program that helps staff better communicate with students and students with staff. The platflorms used allow us to also use a tracking system that makes it possible for us to take a more holistic apporach to student success rather than concentrating solely on students with classic at-risk characteristics.
Our institution conducts end of term student surveys for each course. We also conduct two surveys per year to assess the student's satisfaction with other aspects of the university besides the specific course they have just completed. The institution takes great efforts to make sure that we get the highest response rates from the student body. Responses are read at the administrative level and information is shared (albeit not always in great detail or timely) with the faculty involved.
Towards the end of each course, the student is asked to complete an evaluation of the course and the instructor. These have proven extremely helpful to us all.
We use a satisfaction survey. Every student that leaves a comment is contacted and thanked for taking the time to respond to the survey and ask if they would like to discuss any issues.
Based on the feedback I may change my method of teaching to try address the issues. I will not be able to address all the issues. For example I could only make an effort to request the change from upper management. Like the textbook being used. Which I have done numerous time. Also the equipment being out of date. There is one thing that a small amount of students complain about which is starting the class in time that I can address. I have been starting my classes about 15 mins late. It is not because I am late to class, I am always there about 25 mins early. It is that I get too many students coming in late. So, I avoid the disruption of the lecture and when it is a lab it helps keeping the class in synch. I feel that if I start on time their would be a good number of students that will get frustrated because they are trying to play catch up and in some case ask other students for help to catch them up and slow down those students.
Good outline for a well run operation, Chris. How is your institution doing in meeting these standards?
Congratulations, Mark. It would appear that you have made a significant and positive contribution to your students and colleagues.
Tne way to assure student expectations are being met is to... properly inform them about costs,
help them understand the skills required to succeed in your course or classroom, hopefully students have basic skills and understand the time commitment, and finally assist your students in having a realistic understanding of skills they will have when they graduate and the type of job they can expect.
I use the classroom simulations at least a couple of times per term when the chapters discussed permits me to. This technique has been received very well by my colleagues so much so that during one of our faculty-in service seminars one of the simulations I use in my classroom was used amongst my constituents who all stated that they were impressed how the target of the discussion was indelibly impressed into their minds of comprehension and application. They all commented on how they too were going to employ these simulations in their classrooms to motivate their students in digesting the subject matter in a substantial, productive, and useable way.
How often do you do the classroom simulations, Mark? How is this technique received by your colleagues? I would think this could be a very useful training tool.
Framing the question is the first step finding an answer, Jan. What's the next step?
Karitsa, what is the support service that allows students to better communicate with faculty and staff?
How does this course evaluation help you do your job better, Carlos?
When you say "they" give out surveys and get feedback, it suggests that you're not involved, Ashley. What's your role in the process? What do "they" tell you that would help you do your job better?
The college I work at they give out surveys when graduating. Also end of 10 week sessions they get feed back from students on how they feel they are getting there education and how the instructors are doing with teaching styles.
There is course evaluation that the students can fill out near the end of each term for each course taken. I believe there is a separate one for the overall of the school.
Every term we have an Instructor In-Service to discuss how each administrator, instructor, existing students etc. play a major role in accepting new students and assuring they will fully participate upon graduation. Each instructor is asked to make personal calls to those students are who are absent as this shows the school cares when we do not see their important faces during class time. We hold simulations that places the staff in situations they may face to overcome any challenges or obstacles of students who may drop prematurely. And we also use attendance points as part of the overall grade and we track attendance electronically to make sure our numbers are accurate for reporting purposes and for areas of improvement regarding retention.
We query potential students during their initial contact with our Admissions Department to better understand what they expect from their experience with us. After enrollment, to ensure that their expectations are met during their tenure we encourage open communication between students and representatives of Admissions, Student Services, Instructors, Program Directors, Academic Dean, Financial Aid, or other department heads as may be required. All students are surveyed at the conclusion of each mod and their responses are reviewed and action taken where warranted.
