Highlights from the Graduating Senior Survey
December 2003 - August 2004
Fifty-six percent of the graduating undergraduate class of 2003 - 2004 completed the WCU Graduating Senior Survey during the fall, spring, and summer commencement rehearsals. Find out what our recent graduates say about the following areas by clicking each of the links:
Faculty:
At least 90% of graduating seniors reported that faculty were good or excellent in setting high expectations for them to learn (93%), respecting the diverse talents and ways of learning of students and their classmates (92%), encouraging students to be actively involved learners (91%), encouraging students to devote sufficient time and energy for their coursework (91%), developing opportunities for students to learn cooperatively with fellow students (91%), and caring about students' academic success and welfare (91%) .
Ninety percent of graduating seniors reported that faculty were good or excellent in encouraging student-faculty interaction, in and out of the classroom and 85 percent reported receiving frequent and prompt feedback. Overall, graduating seniors rated faculty as good or excellent on all measures (94%).
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Advising:
Over 75 % of graduating seniors reported advising was good or excellent concerning sufficient time with their advisors, access to their advisor, and advisor knowledge of campus policies. Approximately 77 % reported overall academic advising services as being excellent or good. Seventy-four percent reported that their advisor gave accurate information about degree requirements and course sequencing.
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Library:
Over 90% of graduates reported library hours of operation, staff responsiveness, and access to databases and collections as excellent or good. Seniors rated overall library services (94%) as being good or excellent.
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Technology on Campus:
Ninety percent of graduating seniors reported good or excellent access to up-to-date technology facilities. Over 85% of graduates reported good or excellent hours of operation for computer center, labs, and help desks (88%), and technology services overall (89%). Over 80 percent of graduates reported good or excellent access to the Internet (84%), access to trained staff for help (84%), and technology training classes (82%).
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Career/Employment Assistance:
Of those graduates that used Career Services, 77% reported that their opportunity for career assistance was good or excellent. Almost three quarters of graduates reported the resources for career options and information available to them on internships, etc. was good or excellent. Eighty-two percent reported that information available through computers was good or excellent. Seventy percent of graduates reported access to employment opportunities and resume preparation as good or excellent. Seventy-nine percent reported career-related services overall as good or excellent.
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Western's Contribution to Basic Skill Areas:
At least 90% of graduates reported that Western contributed very much or somewhat to their writing, listening, speaking, comprehension and analytic skills, the ability to function as part of a team, and personal growth.
Over 85% reported that Western contributed very much or somewhat to developing computer skills, the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, recognizing and acting on ethical principles, and appreciating racial and gender equity.
At least 80% reported that Western contributed very much or somewhat to applying scientific methods or inquiry and 73% of graduates reported Western contributed very much or somewhat to using math skills.
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Student Services/Opportunities/Offices:
| Reporting Good/Excellent |
|
|
| |
Process |
Staff |
| 1. Registration |
86% |
84% |
| 2. Financial aid application/award |
83 |
84 |
| 3. Financial aid disbursement |
82 |
82 |
| 3. Campus food |
45 |
64 |
| 4. Campus health |
77 |
81 |
| 5. Campus counseling (not career) services |
81 |
81 |
| 6. Business services/cashier/student accounts |
80 |
85 |
| 7. Campus residence life programs for students living in university-owned housing |
68 |
74 |
| 8. Opportunities to participate in campus recreational and other extra-curricular or co-curricular activities |
82 |
|
| 9. Opportunities to participate in community service projects |
73 |
|
| 10. Opportunities to develop leadership skills |
77 |
|
| 11. University Center services and programs evaluation |
80 |
83 |
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Plans Following Graduation:
Twenty-five percent of graduates reported that at graduation they were still seeking a job (last year graduates reported 23%), while 27% reported that they had accepted a job and 9% reported continuing in their current job. Of those who accepted a job, 74% reported that the job is in their major field of study. Eighteen percent reported continuing their education in graduate school either full-time or part-time.
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Overall Evaluation:
Ninety-six percent of graduates reported that the overall quality of instruction in their major was excellent or good while 87% percent reported that the overall quality of instruction was good or excellent. Ninety-four percent reported that the overall education they received at Western was excellent or good.
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