Poll shows student satisfaction with academic experience

Fresno State students give their academic experience high marks -- higher, in fact, on all 16 academic-related indicators than five years ago.

Those are among the many encouraging findings from the Student Needs and Priorities Survey (SNAPS) administered on campus to 1,113 students in 59 randomly selected classes in spring 1999.

The SNAPS is a CSU systemwide poll conducted every five years to track student perceptions and help ensure accountability by the university. It was previously conducted in 1994, 1989 and 1984.

Following are the 16 academic-related factors and the percentage of the Fresno State respondents that rated each one either "good" or "excellent":

• Coursework consistent with stated objectives: 81%
• Faculty preparation for class: 78%
• Quality of instruction: 78%
• Required courses in major: 77%
• Relevance of coursework to major: 73%
• Courses that stimulate and challenge: 73%
• Accessibility of faculty: 72%
• Faculty ability to communicate subject matter: 71%
• Faculty enthusiasm for teaching: 69%
• Opportunities to meet with faculty outside class: 67%
• Fairness of testing and grading: 67%
• Class size: 66%
• Variety of courses offered: 66%
• Classes focused on career concerns: 64%
• Availability of necessary classes: 43%
• Convenience of class scheduling: 41%

The academic-related factors showing the greatest percentage of improvement between 1994 and 1999 were variety of courses offered (21% improvement), class size (19%), and availability of necessary classes (17%).

Findings in other areas include the following:

In student services, the three most highly rated items ("good" or "excellent") were library services (72%), student health services (72%), and the bookstore (69%). The student services showing the greatest percentage of quality-rating improvement were financial aid services (30% improvement), educational equity programs (25%), and services to disabled students (22%).

As with the academic-related factors, all 21 student-services items were rated more highly in 1999 than in 1994.

In reaction to the statement, "I am pleased with my overall experience on this campus," 68% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed. That's up from 65% in 1994.

More than 68% of respondents in the current survey said they would recommend Fresno State to others, up from 62% five years earlier.

In one question, respondents were given a list of 12 possible actions the university could take to further assist students. The top three selected actions were improve parking situation (66%), offer a state-supported summer term (62%), and provide online access to customized information about course requirements a student still needs to complete (62%).

The SNAPS sample included classes at all three levels of instruction (lower division, upper division and graduate division) and in all eight academic schools. The entire process of developing, administering and evaluating the survey takes about one year.

Questions about the survey may be directed to Dr. William Stock, (559) 278-2227.