The majority of college students nationwide have reported overallsatisfaction with their college experience.
Information collected by the National Survey of Student Engagementfor 2003 measured college students’ participation in school-relatedactivities. The study polled 348,000 freshmen and senior studentsrandomly selected from 437 participating four-year colleges anduniversities.
The review covered a variety of questions, including integrationof knowledge and experience, community service and volunteerism, theamount of time students spend outside of class on school-relatedissues and overall student satisfaction.
Schools used in the survey were closely related in demographics tothe national profile of other four-year colleges and universities,according to the National Survey of Student Engagement’s Web Site.
The first area of study – integration of knowledge and experience- incorporated six different questions, including the amount ofstudent-faculty interaction and student’s application during classsessions.
Fifty-eight percent of students involved in the survey said theyinteract with their teachers outside of class. Business majorsreported the least amount of contact with professors and chemistrymajors reported the most time spent with professors.
Finance junior Cari Duke said she believes the amount of timestudents spend with professors varies by person, rather than bymajor.
“I think a student would need to go to their writing teacher toget help on an essay just as much as I would go to my economicsteacher to get help with the function I was currently working on,”she said.
Duke said she has found most of the professors in the businessdepartment to be available.
“If I need help, I know I can – and do – go to my teachers,” shesaid. “I have found very few who aren’t supportive.”
English senior Sarah Rogers spends more time with her literatureteachers than any other professors.
“I have a better relationship with my major teachers because I ammore interested in (the topic),” she said. “If I have a question onan assignment in a non-major class, like my media class for example,then I will go to that teacher, but otherwise, probably not.”
Rogers said she thinks a major that involves heavy writingrequires more student-teacher involvement than others simply becauseof the level of proofreading and editing involved.
Sixty-one percent of freshmen and 73 percent of seniors reportedoften asking or answering questions during class discussions.
Rhetoric and writing studies professor Michael Krekorian said hewould like to see more methods of contact and informal discussionduring classes for the purpose of learning.
“Some students, even in smaller classes, just won’t askquestions,” he said. “Formality can often prevent students fromfeeling comfortable participating. That is why I try to structuresome of my sessions in an informal manner to allow for moreinteraction.”
Krekorian said he also tries to meet with students outside ofclasses and his office hours.
“Students get more headway working one on one with theirprofessors, especially in writing,” he said.
According to the study, about 13 percent of full-time studentsspend more than the 25 hours a week recommended by teachers preparingfor class.
Duke, who spends an average of one hour per class each daypreparing, said she allows much more time and concentration for herfinance classes.
“As far as non-major classes go, I try to take things that don’trequire a lot of time so I can focus on my major classes,” she said.”I generally look for something that is interesting and involves onlymemorization and maybe a little writing.”
Krekorian said he does not think students are adequately preparedfor some classes.
“I think individual interaction between students and professors,more outside class preparation and smaller classes would bebeneficial to students.”
He said he wishes students maintained more contact with professorsoutside of class getting to know each other.
Two-thirds of students in the study reported doing communityservice or volunteer work during college.
Students involved in greek organizations were most likely toparticipate in service functions. Transfer students reported theleast amount of volunteer work.
Duke, who has two jobs and is taking a full load of classes, saidshe loves to give back to the community whenever she can.
“What I have been doing this season is writing checks for donationto charities and dropping off toys at the Toys for Tots bins,” shesaid. “I also try to help out at fundraisers or charity events if Ican.”
The study also looked at the overall satisfaction in collegeexperiences. Eighty-seven percent of students rated their time incollege as either good or excellent.
Rogers said she has been very happy with her experience at SanDiego State.
“My teachers, especially my literature professors, are reallygreat,” she said.
Rogers said her enjoyment of college comes from her involvement inand fascination with her major classes.
Duke, also reporting satisfaction in her college years, thinks itis partly due to her contact she has had with her teachers.
“I think the relationship I have with my professors affects myoverall encounter,” she said. “My teachers know that I am interestedand know that I am trying hard because of the questions I ask. Ithink when it comes to my final grades, they consider that and italways helps.”
