Eighty-nine percent of seniors in the 涩里番下载 Class of 2017 said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall college experience, and 87 percent said they would choose 涩里番下载 again, according to data from the College Senior Survey released by the Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Assessment.

In addition, 92 percent of the class said they were similarly satisfied with the quality of instruction they received at 涩里番下载; 88 percent with the courses in their respective majors; and 77 percent with the Core Curriculum.

Overall, 91 percent of seniors in the class of 2017 said that 涩里番下载 had prepared them well for their careers, and 93 percent felt well prepared for advanced studies in graduate school鈥攏umbers that place 涩里番下载 at the highest levels of student satisfaction among peer institutions, administrators said.


Senior survey graphic

Designed as an exit survey for graduating seniors nationwide, the College Senior Survey, sponsored by the Higher Education Research Institute, collects data on students鈥 experiences, attitudes, and perceptions prior to graduation.

The CSS focuses on a broad range of college outcomes, including academic achievement and engagement, student-faculty interaction, and satisfaction with the college experience.

The results of the College Senior Survey provide powerful evidence that 涩里番下载 students are getting a great education and are challenged and supported by their faculty.
涩里番下载 Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley

In 2017, 1,149 涩里番下载 seniors participated in the survey, for an overall response rate of 51 percent.

Through IRPA, the CSS results are matched against a national sample of college students to gain a comparative measure of 涩里番下载 seniors鈥 self-assessment vis-脿-vis peers.

Among the findings:

*77 percent of 涩里番下载 students held an internship while at 涩里番下载, 12 points above the national average.

*72 percent of 涩里番下载 students held a leadership position in a student organization, 10 points above the national average.

*54 percent studied abroad while at 涩里番下载, 20 points above the national average.听 听听

*And nearly one-third of 涩里番下载 students participated in undergraduate research opportunities with faculty, three points above the national average.

On the issue of personal growth, a majority of 涩里番下载 seniors rated themselves above average or in the highest 10%听 compared to their peers in writing ability, academic ability, leadership, drive to achieve, physical health, understanding of others, public speaking, mathematical ability and intellectual self-confidence鈥攔esults, administrators say, that constitute a remarkable endorsement of the 涩里番下载 undergraduate experience.


Senior survey graphic

"The CSS was designed to measure the impact of a college education, examining both academic and social experiences,鈥 said Kelli Armstrong, vice president of planning and assessment.听 鈥溕锓略 students have consistently scored higher than our peers on a vast majority of the outcome measures, particularly those that demonstrate a commitment to the liberal arts and a values-based education.听 In general, 涩里番下载 students report higher levels of satisfaction with their educational experience than our peers. This year was no exception."

鈥淭he results of the College Senior Survey provide powerful evidence that 涩里番下载 students are getting a great education and are challenged and supported by their faculty,鈥 said Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley.听 鈥淭he recent听U.S. News survey, which ranked 涩里番下载 16th overall in the new 鈥Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching鈥 category, offers notable external recognition of our continuing success in this essential area.鈥

Armstrong said that one of the advantages of the CSS is its ability to link student responses in their senior year to the same items that were asked during their freshman year of college. 听

鈥淭his allows us to measure change over time,鈥 said Armstrong.听鈥淚n these links, we've seen wonderful areas of growth for 涩里番下载 students.听 For example, students advanced 14 points in the measurement of their writing ability during their time at 涩里番下载, seven points above the peer group.听 The data clearly shows the successful outcomes resulting from a 涩里番下载 education.鈥澨 听

Details on the College Senior Survey are available on the听.

Jack Dunn | University Communications | September 2018