JMU friendliness up from '02

School satisfies most students

Student perceptions of JMU remain in high standing, with 87 percent of undergraduates who responded to a survey reporting that they find JMU to be friendly, up from 81 percent last year and 78 percent in 2001, according to the 2003 Continuing Student Survey.

The survey, which gathers responses from JMU undergraduates about perceptions and their degree of satisfaction with the university, as well as their personal values and beliefs, recorded responses from 2,876 students and was released Feb. 4.

The Executive Summary of Results lists the topics receiving more than 80 percent satisfaction or topics that raised or dropped 5 or more percentage points.

More than 90 percent of respondents indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with JMU in general, University Recreation class size relative to the type of course and the attitude of the faculty toward students.

Between 80 and 90 percent of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with out-of-class availability of faculty, classroom/laboratory facilities, variety of courses offered, dining facilities and quality of food and methods of instruction.

Al Menard, associate vice president for Student Affairs, University Planning & Analysis helped conduct the survey.

"The survey was first conducted 24 years ago," Menard said. "Its purpose was to learn more about JMU students, in hopes that the information could be used to improve the community. This survey is helpful in learning — in general — about JMU students."

The survey was administered during classtime late October and early November 2003 with cooperation of 45 professors teaching 112 sections of classes.

Two of the most common uses of the survey are to gauge response to student services, including Carrier Library, the post office, resident halls, dining facilities and class scheduling, he said.

Responses also are gathered based on statements relating to availability of faculty and staff, equipment and activities.

Menard said, in regard to the high number of students who agree that the school is friendly. "We don't look at the absolute number as closely as we look at the trend. Impressions are more positive every year."

Sophomore Shaina Grant agreed with Menard.

"This campus is extremely friendly," she said. "Everybody always says thank you. It is more friendly than my high school was, and that's impressive because JMU is so much bigger and, yet, so much friendlier."

Although the percentage of students who find the school personable has increased, the students involving themselves in cultural events or racial diversity has decreased.

Involvement with students of another race or ethnic group has gone down from 75 percent in 2002 — the last year the survey was conducted — to 68 percent in 2003. Attendance at cultural events has gone down from 64 percent to 55 percent, as well.

The level of satisfaction with racial harmony is down to 66 percent from 70 percent last year. Promoting racial understanding was considered to be "essential" by 23 percent of respondents.

Sophomore Becca Rotz, who lives in Ashby Hall, as a member of the international living experience, said she is not surprised by the drop in attendance of cultural events or involvement with diversity.

"As a resident of Ashby Hall, I place great importance on cultural diversity," she said. "Despite that fact, I find that I have to seek out cultural experiences instead of coming across advertisements for them. Perhaps a greater effort should be made to represent the diversity that is becoming more important in today's society."

Some levels of satisfaction or agreement increased 5 percent or more, including attitude from non-teaching staff toward students, student assessment testing and academic probation and suspension policies.

Levels of satisfaction or agreement decreased 5 or more percent in campus media (student newspaper, campus radio, etcetera), course content in a major field, preparation for future occupation and Carrier Library's online catalog and computers available for electronic reference sources.

Political preference of students has changed from last year as well. Those describing themselves as "middle-of-the-road" has remained at 44 percent, while conservatives have increased from 20 to 28 percent and liberals decreased from 36 to 27 percent.

Satisfaction with campus parking remains very low with a 16 percent level of satisfaction.

"With the help of my assistant, we use a unique computer program that selects class sections that will hopefully give us an accurate representation of students," Menard said. "We add and delete sections until we get a sample that we know will represent all demographics. In the end, we have a representative sample.

"Since we know exactly how many people fit into the demographics, we can be sure we are representing the school," he added. "The test is anonymous, and the results are based on student response."