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University of Wisconsin-Stout
ACT Student Opinion Survey
June, 2000
Introduction
The ACT Student Opinion Survey was conducted to determine
the level of satisfaction with certain services or programs, as well as, the overall
college environment here at UW-Stout. The ACT Evaluation/Survey Service was chosen so that
results for UW-Stout could be compared to National user samples of four-year,
post-secondary institutions.
Methodology
The ACT Student Opinion Survey was administered in the
classroom by teaching faculty/staff in primarily sophomore and junior level classes (200
to 300 level) during the 1999-00 spring semester. A total of 19 sophomore and junior level
classes were randomly selected to be included in the process with 495 (based on class
enrollment) total surveys distributed. There were 356 surveys returned that were submitted
for scanning and report processing performed by The ACT Evaluation/Survey Service.
The Student Opinion Survey is divided up into five
sections, 1) Background Information, 2) College Services, 3) College Environment, 4)
Additional questions and 5) Comments and Suggestions. This report will focus on sections
1, 2 and 3. No additional questions were added to the original survey.
The survey results were compared to a national user sample
of four-year, post-secondary institutions. The "national sample" used is based
on 100,814 college student records from 184 post-secondary institutions that administered
the ACT Student Opinion Survey between January 1, 1996 and September 30, 1998.
Satisfaction Scale (5-point) is as follows: 5=very
satisfied, 4=satisfied, 3=neutral, 2=dissatisfied, 1=very dissatisfied. "Does not
apply" and blank responses were omitted in the computation of all item averages.
General Population Survey Results
College Services
There were 23 college services
listed on the survey. Out of the 23 listed, Stout's satisfaction average exceeded the
sample for public colleges >5,000, all public colleges and the national sample in 11 of
the services. The 11 services are listed in bold in the table below. In five of the
services (Career Planning, Job Placement, Financial Aid, Residence Hall and Food Service),
Stout was significantly higher than the other samples.
In 10 of the 23 services, Stout's satisfaction average was
below all three sample averages. However, Stout is not significantly below in any of the
services listed for all three comparable samples.
Stout's lowest rating came in the area of parking
facilities and services at 2.20 and Stout had two services tied for the highest average
rating at 3.97. Those two services are recreational and intramural programs and services
and library facilities and services.
The average of all services (excluding mass transit
services) for Stout (3.69) was just slightly higher than both the public college samples
(3.67) and the national sample (3.66).
College Services
Satisfaction Averages (Ranked by Satisfaction)
| College Service |
UW-Stout |
Public >5000 Colleges |
Public Colleges |
National Sample |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Recreational &
Intramural Programs and Services |
3.97 |
4.10 |
4.05 |
4.07 |
| Library Facilities
& Services |
3.97 |
3.96 |
3.93 |
3.92 |
| College-Sponsored
Tutorial Services |
3.93 |
3.81 |
3.83 |
3.82 |
| Personal Counseling
Services |
3.92 |
3.74 |
3.79 |
3.80 |
| Career Planning
Services |
3.90 |
3.70 |
3.74 |
3.71 |
| Job Placement
Services |
3.87 |
3.57 |
3.60 |
3.55 |
| Financial Aid
Services |
3.84 |
3.53 |
3.60 |
3.52 |
| Veterans Services |
3.83 |
3.92 |
3.88 |
3.89 |
| College Orientation
Program |
3.80 |
3.75 |
3.74 |
3.76 |
| College-Sponsored
Social Act. |
3.78 |
3.81 |
3.76 |
3.77 |
| Honors Programs |
3.78 |
3.84 |
3.82 |
3.85 |
| Student Health
Service |
3.77 |
3.72 |
3.74 |
3.70 |
| Student Employment
Services |
3.73 |
3.78 |
3.83 |
3.78 |
| Academic Advising
Services |
3.70 |
3.69 |
3.73 |
3.74 |
| Cultural Programs |
3.68 |
3.88 |
3.85 |
3.85 |
| Computer Services |
3.68 |
3.78 |
3.78 |
3.74 |
| Residence Hall
Services and Programs |
3.67 |
3.45 |
3.45 |
3.45 |
| Food Services |
3.56 |
3.26 |
3.16 |
3.18 |
| Credit-By-Examination |
3.54 |
3.86 |
3.84 |
3.83 |
| Day Care Services |
3.50 |
3.90 |
3.86 |
3.83 |
| Student Health
Insurance Program |
3.46 |
3.28 |
3.34 |
3.35 |
| College Mass Transit
Services |
2.50 |
3.68 |
3.65 |
3.65 |
| Parking Facilities and
Services |
2.20 |
2.31 |
2.51 |
2.43 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Average (excluding mass
transit services) |
3.69 |
3.67 |
3.67 |
3.66 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Listed in the table below is the percent who have
used each college service. The services are listed from the most used service to the least
used service at Stout. In five of the services, Stout’s usage among those surveyed is
significantly higher than the other samples. They are:
- Recreational & Intramural Programs & Services
- Student Health Services
- Student Employment Services
- Residence Hall Services & Programs
- Food Services
Other than in College Mass Transit Services and those
listed above, percentage of use was fairly consistent with the other samples.
College Services
Percent Who Have Used the Service
College Services
Percent Who Have Used the Service
| College
Service |
UW-Stout |
Public
>5000 Colleges |
Public Colleges |
National Sample |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Library Facilities
& Services |
89.0% |
87.0% |
86.4% |
85.8% |
| Parking Facilities and
Services |
82.3% |
79.8% |
79.2% |
74.6% |
| Food Services |
81.7% |
64.5% |
62.7% |
65.3% |
| Computer Services |
78.7% |
74.2% |
73.0% |
72.4% |
| Academic Advising
Services |
65.2% |
72.1% |
71.5% |
72.8% |
| Residence Hall Services
and Programs |
62.1% |
34.5% |
35.0% |
40.5% |
| College Orientation
Program |
61.2% |
55.6% |
53.4% |
57.3% |
| Financial Aid Services |
58.1% |
54.6% |
57.0% |
62.8% |
| Student Health Service |
52.2% |
41.6% |
40.8% |
39.7% |
| Recreational &
Intramural Programs and Services |
50.3% |
37.6% |
36.5% |
36.3% |
| College-Sponsored
Social Act. |
47.5% |
36.5% |
38.9% |
45.4% |
| Student Employment
Services |
35.4% |
19.2% |
20.2% |
25.6% |
| Career Planning
Services |
22.2% |
21.4% |
20.6% |
22.8% |
| Cultural Programs |
19.7% |
19.0% |
19.4% |
21.0% |
| Personal Counseling
Services |
17.7% |
15.4% |
14.9% |
16.0% |
| College-Sponsored
Tutorial Services |
15.7% |
21.4% |
21.1% |
21.9% |
| Job Placement Services |
13.5% |
14.9% |
14.1% |
13.8% |
| Student Health
Insurance Program |
7.6% |
10.7% |
10.1% |
12.4% |
| Honors Programs |
5.6% |
9.2% |
9.2% |
10.4% |
| Veterans Services |
4.5% |
4.3% |
4.8% |
3.9% |
| Credit-By-Examination |
4.2% |
9.1% |
8.8% |
8.9% |
| Day Care Services |
3.7% |
2.2% |
2.4% |
2.1% |
| College Mass Transit
Services |
2.0% |
28.2% |
19.0% |
13.9% |
College Environment
There were 42 items listed on the survey that
addressed college environment. In just over half or 22 of the items listed, Stout met or
exceeded both the public college samples and the national sample (see items in bold in
table below). In 12 of the 22 items, Stout is significantly higher than all the samples.
Those items are identified on the table with asterisks after the environment item listed.
Three areas where Stout needs improvement or ranks
significantly below the other samples is 1) value of the information provided by your
advisor, 2) general registration procedures, and 3) availability of the courses you want
at times you can take them. A couple areas in academics where Stout faired below the other
samples were out-of-class availability of your instructor and availability of your
advisor.
Overall, Stout's satisfaction average for all environment
items listed on the survey was 3.64. This was just slightly higher than the national
sample at 3.62 but exceeded the public college sample by .06 and the > 5,000 public
college sample by .08.
College Environment
Satisfaction Averages
| College
Environment |
UW-Stout |
Public
>5000 Colleges |
Public Colleges |
National Sample |
| |
|
|
|
|
Academic |
|
|
|
|
| Testing/Grading System |
3.80 |
3.76 |
3.79 |
3.83 |
| Course Content in your
Major Field |
3.91 |
3.87 |
3.88 |
3.92 |
| Instruction in your
Major Field |
3.90 |
3.89 |
3.90 |
3.95 |
| Out-of-Class
Availability of your Instructor |
3.76 |
3.81 |
3.85 |
3.95 |
| Attitude of the Faculty
Toward Students |
3.97 |
3.86 |
3.90 |
4.03 |
| Variety of Courses
Offered by this College |
3.76 |
3.70 |
3.60 |
3.60 |
| Class Size Relative to
the Type of Course |
4.11 |
3.95 |
4.03 |
4.17 |
| Flexibility to Design
your Program of Study |
3.60 |
3.54 |
3.56 |
3.62 |
| Availability of your
Advisor |
3.67 |
3.67 |
3.72 |
3.84 |
| Value of the
Information Provided by your Advisor |
3.53 |
3.64 |
3.67 |
3.77 |
| Preparation you are
Receiving for your Future Occupation |
3.67 |
3.63 |
3.66 |
3.75 |
Admissions |
|
|
|
|
| General Admissions
Procedures |
3.70 |
3.62 |
3.65 |
3.73 |
| Availability of
Financial Aid Information Prior to Enrolling |
3.63 |
3.37 |
3.42 |
3.55 |
| Accuracy of College
Information you Received Before Enrolling |
3.71 |
3.63 |
3.65 |
3.72 |
| College
Catalog/Admissions Publications |
3.75 |
3.83 |
3.83 |
3.87 |
Rules &
Regulations |
|
|
|
|
| Student Voice In
College Policies |
3.21 |
3.12 |
3.15 |
3.18 |
| Rules Governing Student
Conduct At this College |
3.45 |
3.48 |
3.49 |
3.45 |
| Residence Hall Rules
and Regulations* |
3.42 |
3.21 |
3.20 |
3.17 |
| Academic Probation
and Suspension Policies |
3.48 |
3.44 |
3.45 |
3.43 |
| Purposes for which
Student Activity Fees are used* |
3.14 |
2.95 |
2.97 |
3.05 |
| Personal
Security/Safety at this Campus |
3.77 |
3.61 |
3.66 |
3.68 |
Facilities |
|
|
|
|
| Classroom
Facilities* |
3.83 |
3.65 |
3.70 |
3.75 |
| Laboratory
Facilities* |
3.80 |
3.57 |
3.59 |
3.59 |
| Athletic Facilities |
3.60 |
3.74 |
3.65 |
3.53 |
| Study Areas |
3.72 |
3.68 |
3.69 |
3.69 |
| Student Union* |
3.80 |
3.57 |
3.56 |
3.47 |
| Campus Bookstore* |
3.88 |
3.60 |
3.55 |
3.53 |
| Availability of
Student Housing* |
3.63 |
3.41 |
3.41 |
3.42 |
| General Condition of
Buildings and Grounds* |
3.88 |
3.64 |
3.68 |
3.70 |
Registration |
|
|
|
|
| General Registration
Procedures |
3.26 |
3.48 |
3.51 |
3.58 |
| Availability of the
Courses you want at times you can take them |
2.65 |
2.93 |
2.97 |
3.13 |
| Academic Calendar
for this College* |
3.86 |
3.72 |
3.73 |
3.78 |
| Billing and Fee
Payment Proc.* |
3.68 |
3.53 |
3.55 |
3.52 |
General |
|
|
|
|
| Concern for you as
an Individual |
3.54 |
3.25 |
3.35 |
3.54 |
| Attitude of College
Nonteaching staff towards students |
3.68 |
3.41 |
3.49 |
3.61 |
| Racial Harmony at this
College |
3.60 |
3.50 |
3.59 |
3.66 |
| Opportunities for
Student Employment* |
3.55 |
3.36 |
3.37 |
3.45 |
| Opportunities for
Personal Involvement in Campus Activities |
3.76 |
3.62 |
3.63 |
3.70 |
| Student Government |
3.41 |
3.27 |
3.31 |
3.37 |
| Religious Activities
and Programs |
3.46 |
3.44 |
3.43 |
3.52 |
| Campus Media |
3.49 |
3.55 |
3.50 |
3.48 |
| This College in
General* |
4.03 |
3.89 |
3.88 |
3.92 |
| Average |
3.64 |
3.56 |
3.58 |
3.62 |
Sub-Group Survey Results
The survey was intended mainly for
sophomore and junior level students. Approximately 66% of the respondents were sophomore
and juniors, with 15% freshman and 16% seniors. Females represented just over 55% of those
surveyed with 45% being male. 94% of the students were white and nearly all the students were
full-time (98%), with about half living in the residence halls and the other living
off-campus.
Satisfaction averages were relatively close for all
selected sub-groups. Juniors typically responded with higher satisfaction averages than
sophomores for most survey items and females usually responded higher than males.
International students who represented less than 2% of the total survey population, tended
to be the group least satisfied at Stout. Below is four selected sub-groups and their
satisfaction averages for the 23 college services.
College Services
Selected Sub-Groups
| College
Service |
International |
Minorities |
Male |
Female |
| Recreational &
Intramural Programs and Services |
3.00 |
3.67 |
3.79 |
4.14 |
| Library Facilities
& Services |
3.67 |
3.60 |
3.98 |
3.96 |
| College-Sponsored
Tutorial Services |
3.00 |
3.40 |
3.76 |
4.07 |
| Personal Counseling
Services |
3.00 |
3.44 |
3.73 |
4.05 |
| Career Planning
Services |
3.00 |
3.14 |
3.76 |
4.03 |
| Job Placement Services |
3.00 |
2.83 |
3.78 |
3.96 |
| Financial Aid Services |
3.00 |
3.69 |
3.69 |
3.95 |
| Veterans Services |
3.00 |
3.20 |
3.71 |
4.00 |
| College Orientation
Program |
3.00 |
3.08 |
3.66 |
3.88 |
| College-Sponsored
Social Act. |
3.50 |
3.38 |
3.68 |
3.85 |
| Honors Programs |
3.00 |
3.40 |
4.00 |
3.43 |
| Student Health Service |
3.50 |
3.30 |
3.65 |
3.83 |
| Student Employment
Services |
3.00 |
3.56 |
3.48 |
3.93 |
| Academic Advising
Services |
3.00 |
3.50 |
3.70 |
3.69 |
| Cultural Programs |
3.67 |
3.17 |
3.50 |
3.84 |
| Computer Services |
3.50 |
3.57 |
3.71 |
3.67 |
| Residence Hall Services
and Programs |
3.50 |
3.09 |
3.51 |
3.81 |
| Food Services |
3.50 |
3.08 |
3.35 |
3.75 |
| Credit-By-Examination |
3.00 |
3.33 |
3.22 |
4.25 |
| Day Care Services |
3.00 |
2.50 |
3.00 |
3.80 |
| Student Health
Insurance Program |
4.00 |
3.00 |
3.73 |
3.09 |
| College Mass Transit
Services |
3.00 |
2.80 |
2.20 |
4.00 |
| Parking Facilities and
Services |
2.00 |
1.80 |
2.27 |
2.15 |
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| Average of all Services |
3.17 |
3.20 |
3.52 |
3.79 |
Note: Minorities in this sample represent only 6% of the
total population sample. In comparative public colleges, minorities typically represent
about 30% of the population.
Satisfaction with UW-Stout in General
In general, the population sample
is satisfied with UW-Stout. The average of 4.03 is the second highest average score listed
for College Environment. In the table below is 15 sub–groups and their average
satisfaction with UW-Stout in general. Satisfaction is high amongst all groups with
females rating Stout at 4.10. It also appears satisfaction with Stout in general is
slightly higher at the Senior level (4.07) than at the Freshman level (3.98).
Satisfaction with UW-Stout in General
| Sub-Group |
Satisfaction Average |
| Freshman |
3.98 |
| Sophomores |
4.03 |
| Juniors |
4.03 |
| Seniors |
4.07 |
| Full-time Student |
4.03 |
| Part-time Student |
4.00 |
| Males |
3.95 |
| Females |
4.10 |
| In State Student |
4.07 |
| Out-of-State Student |
3.95 |
| International Student |
3.67 |
| Students that Live in
the Residence Halls |
3.98 |
| Students that Live
Off-Campus |
4.04 |
| Students Receiving
Financial Aid |
4.05 |
| Students Not on
Financial Aid |
4.01 |
Summary
Overall, students at UW-Stout seem satisfied with most
college services and with the environment here at Stout. The survey not only highlighted
many areas where Stout is excelling but also a few areas where Stout could improve.
When comparing Stout to national samples and more
specifically to public colleges of this size, the satisfaction level of Stout’s
students is at or slightly higher than those samples. Even when breaking the students down
into selected sub-groups, satisfaction among the groups is similar, with no extremes in
either direction.
The high satisfaction response to the survey question on
how students are satisfied with Stout in general indicates that Stout is successful in
meeting the needs of its students. Comparing Stout to other institutions, Stout on average
is doing a better job.
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