WATCH: UC Continues Gains in National Student Satisfaction Survey

UC student response to a new national survey reflects the Bearcat Pride that’s growing UC’s retention and graduation rates. The 2010 Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI) reflects UC student pride both in and out of the classroom.

The SSI is a survey that allows participating universities to examine their own strategies to build student satisfaction with their college experience as well as compare themselves with other institutions.

UC has administered the SSI four times and is now comparing 2010 results with the survey from 2008. The survey indicates student satisfaction increased in more than 50 percent of the categories, even parking, which is a challenge on any urban campus.

UC’s Office of Institutional Research adds that there were no statistically significant drops in student satisfaction from the last survey in 2008.

The responses are reported on a scale of one-to-seven, with seven reporting the highest satisfaction.

UC student satisfaction increased over 2008 in categories such as:

• Good reputation in the community
• Athletics contribute to a strong sense of school spirit
• Good living conditions in the residence halls
• Academic advisors are knowledgeable
• Admissions counselors are helpful
• There’s a good variety of courses on campus
• Parking lots are well-lighted and secure

UC student satisfaction also showed its Bearcat Pride in comparison with the student surveys at other four-year public institutions in areas such as

Good variety of courses on campus                     UC-5.90       4-Year Publics-5.43
Library resources/services are adequate            UC-5.89       4-Year Publics-5.52
The campus is well-maintained                             UC-5.86       4-Year Publics-5.60
Good reputation in the community                        UC-5.81       4-Year Publics-5.53
Students experience intellectual growth               UC-5.79       4-Year Publics-5.55
It’s enjoyable being a student on campus             UC-5.74       4-Year Publics-5.35
Faculty are available after class                           UC-5.74       4-Year Publics-5.59
Sense of pride about campus                                 UC-5.72       4-Year Publics-5.21
Adequate and accessible computer labs               UC-5.70       4-Year Publics-5.47
Adequate academic support services                   UC-5.42       4-Year Publics-5.15
Sufficient number of weekend activities               UC-5.17       4-Year Publics-4.55
Adequate food selection                                        UC-4.95       4-Year Publics-4.57
Student parking space is adequate                       UC-4.13       4-Year Publics-3.28

UC students were also stronger than students in other four-year public institutions in stating that they felt a sense of belonging, that there was a strong commitment to building racial harmony on campus and that the institution held a commitment to its older, returning learners.

“The Student Satisfaction Survey is just one of the tools we use to gauge the impact of our efforts to be a student-centered campus, focused on student success,” says Caroline Miller, senior associate vice president for Enrollment Management.

The survey was administered in spring 2010 on the Uptown Campus and drew responses from 712 randomly selected students.

The accompanying video features UC campus highlights including the MainStreet Stride Foot Parade; academic advising in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH); student services advising in the One Stop Center; learning in classrooms on campus and abroad; and of course, the university-wide celebration of student success, Commencement.

The new edition of U.S. News & World Report’s annual college guide lists the University of Cincinnati in the top tier of its “Best National Universities,” and continues to cite UC as an “up and comer.”

The Princeton Review lists UC in the 2011 edition of its annual college guide, “The Best 373 Colleges.”  Last March, Forbes named UC among the world’s most beautiful college campuses.

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