NASPA Assessment and Knowledge Consortium results can be used for strategic planning, program improvement, and documenting outcomes. Four reports on each assessment study area are administered annually. View example pages of the Senior Student Affairs Officer 2009 Executive Report.
Campus Climate and Diversity
- 60% of students agreed that they had become more open-minded about diversity-related issues since starting college and more than 88% of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed that being able to interact with individuals of diverse backgrounds would help them after college.
- In the previous year, most students had not experienced any form of harassment or discrimination. However, 15% of students indicated that they had been the target of offensive humor and 8% of students indicated that they had feared for their personal safety.
- International students were significantly more likely to indicate they had witnessed or experienced harassment or discrimination, as were students who indicated a gender identity other than male or female.
- While 70% of students report learning about diversity in the classroom, some 10% of students indicated that they had been singled out in class because of their identity.
Campus Activities and Involvement
- Traditional means of communication prove reliable and effective with nearly one out of three students reporting that they are most likely to hear about campus activities and involvement opportunities through banners/flyers/posters/chalking.
- Students' participation in campus activities has a positive impact on the likelihood they would choose the same institution again and their intent to return the following semester/quarter.
- How students perceive the value of student fees and their overall satisfaction with how activity fees are spent are both positively related to the availability of interesting activities and students' satisfaction with their own level of involvement.
- Sense of belonging on campus, increased leadership development, and improved critical thinking are the most important participation outcomes, according to campus activities professionals. Students, however, are most likely to indicate that they gain a greater connection with other students, meet new people with different interests, and improve communication skills through participation.
Campus Safety
- More than 90% of students report feeling very or somewhat safe on-campus overall. However, some 27% of students report that there are particular locations on campus where they do not feel safe. Students were asked to write in explanations so that administrators could implement change.
- Three out of four students were positive about the responsiveness of campus security to safety issues on campus.
- Less than half of students agreed that they had a plan in the case of an emergency on campus, such as a flood, earthquake, tornado, or fire, suggesting an on-campus programming opportunity.
- Over 13% of students indicate that they have carried pepper spray or mace to defend themselves.
- Approximately 6% of respondents were aware of students, including themselves, who had possessed a gun on campus.
Profile of Today's College Student
- While students are less optimistic about job offers in 2009 versus 2008, they are still relatively confident that they will find employment within a few months of graduation. In 2008, some 39% of students believed that they would have job offers prior to graduation. In 2009, that number was 28%.
- Over 20% of students reports that they sometimes or often skip class. The most common reason is personal, such as family and illness, and the second most cited reason is related to the content of the class and teaching quality.
- Students indicated that they most preferred and also learned the most through class discussions, although lecture is still the most common approach in classrooms, according to students.
- 91% of today's college students have a profile on an online community site, and more than 50% report spending between 30-90 minutes each day in an online community.
Press inquiries should be directed to NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, 202.719.1177.