Highlights from the Graduating Senior Survey
December 2005 - August 2006
Seventy-four percent of the graduating undergraduate class of 2005 - 2006 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:
Graduating seniors reported that faculty were good or excellent in setting high expectations for them to learn (90%); respecting the diverse talents and ways of learning of students and their classmates (90%); encouraging students to be actively involved learners (89%); 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 (88%) .
Eighty-eight percent of graduating seniors reported that faculty were good or excellent in encouraging student-faculty interaction, in and out of the classroom; 84% reported receiving frequent and prompt feedback. Overall, graduating seniors rated faculty as good or excellent on all measures (92%).
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Advising:
Eighty percent of graduating seniors reported access to their advisor as good or excellent; seventy-seven percent rated sufficient time with their advisors as good or excellent. Over 75% rated advisor knowledge of campus policies and the accuracy of information about degree requirements and course sequencing to be good or excellent. Approximately 80% reported overall academic advising services as being excellent or good.
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Library:
Over 90% of graduates reported library hours of operation and access to databases and collections as excellent or good. Staff responsiveness was rated good or excellent by approximately 88%. Ninety-four percent of seniors rated overall library services as being good or excellent.
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Technology on Campus:
Eighty-nine percent of graduating seniors reported good or excellent access to up-to-date technology facilities, while ninety-three percent reported good or excellent access to the Internet. Approximately 90% of graduates reported good or excellent hours of operation for computer center, labs, and help desks.
Eighty-five percent of seniors rated access to trained technology staff as good or excellent, and eighty percent rated technology training classes as good or excellent. Overall, technology services were rated good or excellent by 88% of those surveyed.
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Career/Employment Assistance:
Of the graduates that used Career Services, 75% reported that their opportunity for career assistance was good or excellent. Over seventy percent of graduates reported the resources for career options and information available to them on internships, etc. was good or excellent. Seventy-seven 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 percent reported employment search assistance overall as good or excellent, while seventy-seven percent considered career-related services to be 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, the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, recognizing and acting on ethical principles, and personal growth.
Over 80% reported that Western contributed very much or somewhat to the ability to apply scientific methods of inquiry, developing computer skills, and appreciating racial and gender equity.
Approximately three-quarters of seniors felt that Western contributed very much or somewhat to their ability to use mathematical skills.
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Student Services/Opportunities/Offices:
| Percentages Reporting Good/Excellent |
|
|
| |
Process |
Staff |
| 1. Registration |
81 |
83 |
| 2. Financial aid application/award |
79 |
84 |
| 3. Financial aid disbursement |
81 |
82 |
| 3. Campus food |
51 |
68 |
| 4. Campus health |
77 |
81 |
| 5. Campus counseling (not career) services |
75 |
81 |
| 6. Business services/cashier/student accounts |
78 |
82 |
| 7. Campus residence life programs for students living in university-owned housing |
73 |
79 |
| 8. Opportunities to participate in campus recreational and other extra-curricular or co-curricular activities |
75 |
|
| 9. Opportunities to participate in community service projects |
81 |
|
| 10. Opportunities to develop leadership skills |
78 |
|
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Plans Following Graduation:
Twenty-eight percent of graduates reported that at graduation they were still seeking a job (2004 graduates reported 23%), while 29% reported that they had accepted a job (2004 graduates reported 27%). Four percent indicated they would continue in their current job. Sixteen percent reported continuing their education in graduate school either full-time or part-time.
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Overall Evaluation:
Eighty percent of graduating seniors characterized the intellectual atmosphere on campus as strong or very strong. Ninety-one percent reported that the overall quality of instruction in their major was excellent or good, while 83% percent reported that the overall quality of instruction was good or excellent. Ninety percent reported that the overall education they received at Western was excellent or good.
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