Feb 12, 2012 | 04:17
Share:
Dec 03, 2008
Senior Survey: Faculty get high marks from graduating seniors
Judith Smith, dean and vice provost for undergraduate education, has a stack of papers covered in blue-and-gold charts that makes her pretty pleased.
It's the College of Letters and Science’s fourth annual Senior Survey, which asked 4,500 graduating seniors about their experiences at UCLA. Fully 94 percent of them said they were satisfied or even very satisfied with their overall time at UCLA.
Judith Smith, dean and vice provost for undergraduate education.
The survey was offered to all seniors who expected to graduate during any quarter of 2008. More than two-thirds of graduating seniors responded. The lengthy questionnaire, which is kept anonymous, covers students' campus life, their academic experiences and their post-graduation plans, explained Smith. The survey is coordinated by Undergraduate Education, Student Affairs and the UCLA Alumni Association.
Faculty accessibility fared well: 87 percent of responding students were satisfied or very satisfied with the accessibility of faculty in their major, and 91 percent said the same about their minors. Students praised their professors in the survey's comment section, with glowing observations ranging from "Most of the professors are excellent," to "UCLA English rocks!"
"They knew their stuff, and they brought a palpable brilliance to the classroom, but were also more than happy to discuss my little pet theories in their office hours," one student commented.
Likewise, 90 percent of students said they were happy about the intellectual challenges they encountered from the faculty in their major, as did 94 percent regarding their minors. All around, 92 percent were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall academic experience.
"At a research university, there's a stereotype that faculty won't care about education … that you wouldn't expect students to find faculty so accessible. … But clearly students feel that they get a good education," Smith said. "We were really quite pleased."
Minors highly rated
The survey results highlighted one interesting point: Students indicated they were more satisfied with their minors than with their majors in several categories.
When survey questions zeroed in on minors, more seniors rated the curriculum as satisfying,the faculty as accessible andchallenging, and even responded that small and required courses were available more often in their minors than in their majors.
Of course, one student's minor is another student's major, making the results puzzling, Smith said.
"Is there some halo effect around a minor?" Smith mused. "It seems like students either find a minor more satisfying, or maybe students who take a minor are more satisfied in general. The discrepancy has been very consistent over the years. We think it might be because some students take a minor because it's something really dear to their heart."
Smith also noted that many students reported enjoying the General Education requirements: About 85 percent agreed that they were glad they took GE classes, because it let them explore topics outside of their major.
Campus diversity a plus
Diversity received a lot of attention in the survey. Responses indicated that although most Bruins observed that students from similar racial, ethnic or economic backgrounds tended to stick together, seniors also believed that they had meaningful discussions about diverse cultures with classmates who came from different backgrounds.
Of course, one student's minor is another student's major, making the results puzzling, Smith said.
"Is there some halo effect around a minor?" Smith mused. "It seems like students either find a minor more satisfying, or maybe students who take a minor are more satisfied in general. The discrepancy has been very consistent over the years. We think it might be because some students take a minor because it's something really dear to their heart."
Smith also noted that many students reported enjoying the General Education requirements: About 85 percent agreed that they were glad they took GE classes, because it let them explore topics outside of their major.
Campus diversity a plus
Diversity received a lot of attention in the survey. Responses indicated that although most Bruins observed that students from similar racial, ethnic or economic backgrounds tended to stick together, seniors also believed that they had meaningful discussions about diverse cultures with classmates who came from different backgrounds.
Talk about school spirit: 97 percent of seniors said in the 2008 Senior Survey that they are proud to be UCLA graduates.
"Being in an environment that is as diverse as UCLA — racially, economically, socially — is the most meaningful experience I've had," wrote one student in the comment portion of the survey. "I have grown leaps and bounds as a person since coming to UCLA and experiencing the culture it offers."
The survey also covered negative experiences, and Smith acknowledged that there is room for improvement in some areas. Negative comments ranged from thoughts about feeling overwhelmed and friendless on UCLA's big campus, to missing out on student life as a commuter, to a general malaise, with one respondent griping that while a college degree is important, college education is not.
Call for more small seminars
More specific survey responses show that students want more small seminars, Smith said. She especially hopes to increase the number of senior seminars offered.
"Faculty should see from this that students do want more small courses, especially in their major," Smith said. "But ultimately, over the years, we've consistently gotten high rates of satisfaction."
---------------
Read the Senior Survey online.
Call for more small seminars
More specific survey responses show that students want more small seminars, Smith said. She especially hopes to increase the number of senior seminars offered.
"Faculty should see from this that students do want more small courses, especially in their major," Smith said. "But ultimately, over the years, we've consistently gotten high rates of satisfaction."
---------------
Read the Senior Survey online.
