Spartanburg Community College

Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Survey

Spring 2009

Spartanburg Community College’s (SCC’s) mission is to provide “affordable access to high-quality technical, transfer and lifelong professional and personal development programs in a teaching and learning environment that prepares students for success”. One way that SCC measures the College’s success in attaining its mission is to ask students if they are satisfied with experiences here at the college.

SCC administered the Noel-Levitz Satisfaction –Priorities Survey in the spring of 2006 and again in spring 2009. During the 2009 administration, approximately 1200 surveys were distributed to classes selected to be proportionally representative of the College’s academic divisions (Arts & Science, Business, Health Sciences, Industrial/Engineering, and Transitional Studies) as well as day and evening classes. A total of 672 students (56%) completed the survey.

Student Demographic Information as Reported by Survey Participants

Gender

 

 

Class Load

 

 Female

58.3%

 

Full-time

78.2%

Male

41.7%

 

Part-time

21.8%

Age

 

 

GPA

 

18 and under

8.28%

 

No-credits earned

8.2%

19 to 24

57.9%

 

1.99 or below

2.5%

25 to 34

17.9%

 

2.0 – 2.49

14.0%

35 to 44

9.82%

 

2.5 – 2.99

22.1%

45 and over

6.0%

 

3.0 – 3.49

28.1%

Ethnicity/Race

 

 

3.5 or above

25.1%

African-American

19.9%

 

Educational Goal

 

American Indian or Alaskan Native

0.9%

 

Associate degree

54.8%

Asian or Pacific Islander

4.5%

 

Transfer to another institution

26.16%

Caucasian/White

64.4%

 

Certification

10.37%

Hispanic

2.6%

 

Other

7.0%

Other race

2.9%

 

Employment

 

Prefer not to respond

4.6%

 

Full-time off campus

26.8%

Enrollment Status

 

 

Part-time off campus

41.0%

Day

87.7%

 

Full-time on campus

3.1%

Evening

12.0%

 

Part-time on campus

2.3%

 

 

 

Not employed

26.7%


 

Scales Listed in Descending Order of Importance to SCC Students

(With Items That Make Up the Scale listed below)

1.          Instructional Effectiveness

 

18.        The quality of instruction I receive in most of my classes is excellent.

69.        There is a good variety of courses provided on this campus.

58.        Nearly all of the faculty are knowledgeable in their fields.

70.        I am able to experience intellectual growth here.

66.        Programs requirements are clear and reasonable.

29.        Faculty are fair and unbiased in their treatment of individual students.

61.        Faculty are usually available after class and during office hours.

65.        Students are notified early in the term if they are doing poorly in a class.

46.        Faculty provide timely feedback about student progress in a course.

23.        Faculty are understanding of students’ unique life circumstances.

37.        Faculty take into consideration student differences as they teach a course.

54.        Faculty are interested in my academic problems.

64.        Nearly all classes deal with practical experiences and applications.

2.           Faculty care about me as an individual.

2.          Registration Effectiveness

 

8.           Classes are scheduled at times that are convenient for me.

15.        I am able to register for classes I need with few conflicts.

35.        Policies and procedures regarding registration and course selection are clear and well-publicized.

5.           The personnel involved in registration are helpful.

43.        Class change (drop/add) policies are reasonable.

51.        There are convenient ways of paying my school bill.

56.        The business office is open during hours which are convenient for most students.

 62.        Bookstore staff are helpful.

60.        Billing policies are reasonable.

3.          Academic Services

34.        Computer labs are adequate and accessible.

14.        Library resources and services are adequate.

50.        Tutoring services are readily available.

42.        The equipment in the lab facilities is kept up to date.

26.        Library staff are helpful and approachable.

21.        There are a sufficient number of study areas on campus.

55.        Academic support services adequately meet the needs of students.

4.          Academic Advising/Counseling

 

32.        My academic advisor is knowledgeable about my program requirements.

52.        This school does whatever it can to help me reach my educational goals.

6.           My academic advisor is approachable.

25.        My academic advisor is concerned about my success as an individual.

40.        My academic advisor is knowledgeable about the transfer requirements of other schools.

48.        Counseling staff care about students as individuals.

12.        My academic advisor helps me set goals to work toward.

5.          Admissions and Financial Aid

7.           Adequate financial aid is available for most students.

20.        Financial aid counselors are helpful.

41.        Admissions staff are knowledgeable.

13.        Financial aid awards are announced to students in time to be helpful in college planning.

49.        Admissions counselors respond to prospective students’ unique needs and requests.

33.        Admissions counselors accurately portray the campus in their recruiting practices.

6.          Concern for the Individual

 

29.        Faculty are fair and unbiased in their treatment of individual students.

 

25.        My academic advisor is concerned about my success as an individual.

 

16.        The college shows concern for students as individuals.

 

48.        Counseling staff care about students as individuals.

 

2.           Faculty care about me as an individual.

7.          Safety and Security

31.        The campus is safe and secure for all students.

24.        Parking lots are well-lighted and secure.

39.        The amount of student parking space on campus is adequate.

11.        Security staff respond quickly in emergencies.

4.           Security staff are helpful.

8.          Service Excellence

5.           The personnel involved in registration are helpful.

26.        Library staff are helpful and approachable.

27.        The campus staff are caring and helpful.

62.        Bookstore staff are helpful.

57.        Administrators are approachable to students.

63.        I seldom get the “run-around” when seeking information on this campus.

22.        People on this campus respect and are supportive of each other.

67.        Channels for expressing student complaints are readily available.

44.        I generally know what’s happening on campus.

9.          Campus Climate

31.        The campus is safe and secure for all students.

52.        This school does whatever it can to help me reach my educational goals.

36.        Students are made to feel welcome on this campus.

28.        It is an enjoyable experience to be a student on this campus.

16.        The college shows concern for students as individuals.

27.        The campus staff are caring and helpful.

45.        This institution has a good reputation within the community.

57.        Administrators are approachable to students.

63.        I seldom get the “run-around” when seeking information on this campus.

22.        People on this campus respect and are supportive of each other.

2.           Faculty care about me as an individual.

67.        Channels for expressing student complaints are readily available.

59.        New student orientation services help students adjust to college.

44.        I generally know what’s happening on campus.

1.           Most students feel a sense of belonging here.

10.       Student Centeredness

36.        Students are made to feel welcome on this campus.

28.        It is an enjoyable experience to be a student on this campus.

16.        The college shows concern for students as individuals.

27.        The campus staff are caring and helpful.

57.        Administrators are approachable to students.

1.           Most students feel a sense of belonging here.

11.       Campus Support Services

47.        There are adequate services to help me decide upon a career.

30.        The career services office provides students with the help they need to get a job.

59.        New student orientation services help students adjust to college.

38.        The student center is a comfortable place for students to spend their leisure time.

19.        This campus provides effective support services for displaced homemakers.

17.        Personnel in the Veterans’ Services program are helpful.

10.        Child care facilities are available on campus.

12.       Responsiveness to Diverse Populations

81.        Institution’s commitment to part-time students?

82.        Institution’s commitment to evening students?

83.        Institution’s commitment to older, returning learners?

84.        Institution’s commitment to under-represented populations?

85.        Institution’s commitment to commuters?

86.        Institution’s commitment to students with disabilities?

 

 


 

Institutional Summary Items

 

So far, how has your college experience met your expectations?          

2009 SCC Average = 4.86*                  2009 Nat’l Average = 4.76                  2006 SCC Average = 4.63**

*significantly (.05level) higher than national average

** 2009 average significantly (.01 level) higher than 2006 average

             

             

Rate your overall satisfaction with your experience here thus far.

 

2009 SCC Average = 5.47                     2009 Nat’l Average = 5.44                   2006 SCC Average = 5.26**

 

**2009 average significantly (.01 level) higher than 2006 average

 

 

All in all, if you had to do it over, would you enroll here again?

 

2009 SCC Average = 5.60                     2009 Nat’l Average = 5.68                   2006 SCC Average = 5.33**

 

**2009 average significantly (.01 level) higher than 2006 average

 


 

Strategic Planning Overview

Strengths

 

              8.           Classes are scheduled at times that are convenient for me.*

15.        I am able to register for classes I need with few conflicts.

              69.        There is a good variety of courses provided on this campus.

              31.        The campus is safe and secure for all students.

              58.        Nearly all of the faculty are knowledgeable in their fields.

              70.        I am able to experience intellectual growth here.

              34.        Computer labs are adequate and accessible.

              66.        Program requirements are clear and reasonable.

              14.        Library resources and services are adequate.

              35.        Policies and procedures regarding registration and course selection are clear and well-publicized.

              61.        Faculty are usually available after class and during office hours.

              36.        Students are made to feel welcome on this campus.

              68.        On the whole, the campus is well-maintained.

              50.        Tutoring services are readily available.

              43.        Class change (drop/add) policies are reasonable.

              26.        Library staff are helpful and approachable.

Challenges

 

              8.           Classes are scheduled at times that are convenient for me.*

              7.           Adequate financial aid is available for most students.

              29.        Faculty are fair and unbiased in their treatment of individual students.

              52.        This school does whatever it can to help me reach my educational goals.

              65.        Students are notified early in the term if they are doing poorly in a class.

              24.        Parking lots are well-lighted and secure.

              20.        Financial aid counselors are helpful.

              23.        Faculty are understanding of students’ unique life circumstances.

              39.        The amount of student parking space on campus is adequate.

              13.        Financial aid awards are announced to students in time to be helpful in college planning.

              25.        My academic advisor is concerned about my success as an individual.

              16.        The college shows concern for students as individuals.

              37.        Faculty take into consideration student differences as they teach a course.

 

*            “Classes are scheduled at times that are convenient for me” appears as both the number one strength as well as the number one challenge. This occurred because the item has very high importance and relatively high satisfaction, yet there is a fairly large performance gap. Noel-Levitz recommends that we stay focused on this item as a challenge since students care so much about it and feel that there is still room for improvement.

 

Strategic Planning Overview

Benchmarks

 

Higher Satisfaction vs. National Group Means

              15.        I am able to register for classes I need with fewer conflicts.

              31.        The campus is safe and secure for all students.

              34.        Computer labs are adequate and accessible.

              14.        Library resources and services are adequate.

              35.        Policies and procedures regarding registration and course selection are clear and well-publicized.        

              61.        Faculty are usually available after class and during office hours.

              24.        Parking lots are well-lighted and secure.

              46.        Faculty provide timely feedback about student progress in a course.

              50.        Tutoring services are readily available.

              43.        Class change (drop/add) policies are reasonable.

              13.        Financial aid awards are announced to students in time to be helpful in college planning.

              26.        Library staff are helpful and approachable.

 

Lower Satisfaction vs. National Group Means

              39.        The amount of student parking space on campus is adequate.

 

Higher Importance vs. National Group Means

              50.        Tutoring services are readily available.

              26.        Library staff are helpful and approachable.


 

Strategic Planning Overview

Trends

Higher Satisfaction vs. Spring 2006

              15.        I am able to register for classes I need with few conflicts.

              18.        The quality of instruction I receive in most of my classes is excellent.

              69.        There is a good variety of courses provided on this campus.

              31.        The campus is safe and secure for all students.

              58.        Nearly all of the faculty are knowledgeable in their fields.

              70.        I am able to experience intellectual growth here.

              34.        Computer labs are adequate and accessible.

              66.        Program requirements are clear and reasonable.

              29.        Faculty are fair and unbiased in their treatment of individual students.

              14.        Library resources and services are adequate.

35.        Policies and procedures regarding registration and course selection are clear and well-publicized.

52.        This school does whatever it can to help me reach my educational goals.

61.        Faculty are usually available after class and during office hours.

65.        Students are notified early in the term if they are doing poorly in a class.

36.        Students are made to feel welcome on this campus.

68.        On the whole, the campus is well-maintained.

24.        Parking lots are well-lighted and secure.

46.        Faculty provide timely feedback about student progress in a course.

5.           The personnel involved in registration are helpful.

50.        Tutoring services are readily available.

23.        Faculty are understanding of students’ unique life circumstances.

              43.        Class change (drop/add) policies are reasonable.

              41.        Admissions staff are knowledgeable.

              42.        The equipment in the lab facilities is kept up to date.

              39.        The amount of student parking space on campus is adequate.

              26.        Library staff are helpful and approachable.

              51.        There are convenient ways of paying my school bill.

              28.        It is an enjoyable experience to be a student on this campus.

Strategic Planning Overview

Trends

Higher Importance vs. Spring 2006

              24.        Parking lots are well-lighted and secure.

              50.        Tutoring services are readily available.

              43.        Class change (drop/add) policies are reasonable.

              26.        Library staff are helpful and approachable.