CCSSE Data Reports for 2006 Greenfield Community College
Greenfield Community College conducted the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) in spring 2005 and spring 2006. In spring 2005, 477 students participated and 538 students participated in the spring 2006 survey. This national survey questions students on a wide range of measures of student engagement; questions were identical for the two years. The survey is a valuable tool to assess how well Greenfield Community College performs and meets student needs relative to other community colleges across the United States and relative to itself. Since 2005 was the first year CCSSE was administered at GCC, a consecutive second year of surveying was done to validate the 2005 findings. The results of the 2005 survey were strongly confirmed in the 2006 survey responses with very little deviation. This report summarizes those findings from the two years. Because the validation of the 2005 results was so expansive and complete, the format of reporting our 2005 survey analysis was not duplicated for the 2006 survey. Rather we summarize the results here, refer you to last year’s report, and ask you to contact the GCC Institutional Research Office if there are particular findings on which you would desire more information and statistical analysis. The survey reports were divided into the following seven subject groups: Student & Faculty Interaction Student Preparation for Classes Computer & Information Technology Related Measures Financial Aid Related Measures In-Class Behaviors Student Behaviors & Attitudes Outside of the Classroom How Students Spend Their Time The summaries from those reports are presented here; each report can be accessed at www.gcc.mass.edu/about/ccsse.html. Again, these findings are supported in both the 2005 and the 2006 CCSSE survey. Student & Faculty Interaction The survey contains several items related to our student’s interactions with the faculty of the college. In summary: Positive student & faculty interactions are key to students having a positive experience at Greenfield Community College. Students, who rated strongly GCC faculty as being available, helpful and sympathetic, rated highly their entire experience at GCC. Although discussing career plans with an instructor or advisor is reported by most students as never or sometimes occurring, for those who engage in this activity, it is highly correlated with a very positive experience at GCC. Student Preparation for Classes
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The survey contains several items related to our student’s preparation for academic work done outside of the classroom. These responses are student opinions about themselves regarding being prepared for class. In summary:
Over half of the students responding to the CCSSE survey reported discussing ideas from readings or classes with others outside of class, getting encouragement to spend time studying, and feeling that GCC provides support to be successful. Although most students self-reported never or rarely skipping class, those who skip classes are more likely to be full-time, attend during the day, be younger, unmarried and have no children. Students who self-reported lower GPAs reported themselves more likely to come to class unprepared and to skip class.
Student Behaviors & Attitudes Outside of the Classroom
The survey contains thirty-three items related to our students’ behaviors and attitudes outside of the classroom. In summary:
Students who feel that the college provides a supportive and inclusive environment for succeeding in their academic and professional goals have a positive assessment of their entire experience at Greenfield Community College. Students who feel that they have gained valuable skills, knowledge, and abilities through their education and experiences have a more positive assessment of their entire experience at Greenfield Community College. Most students receive positive support for attending GCC from family and friends.
How Students Spend Their Time The survey contains five questions that ask respondents to judge the time that they spend on various activities per week. In summary: Although, as expected, the majority of evening students work for pay, about 17% of evening students do not work for pay. Seventy percent of students read four or fewer unassigned books during the school year for enjoyment of academic enrichment. Most students spend 10 or fewer hours preparing for classes every week. Computer & Information Technology Related Measures The survey contains several items related to computer lab use and computer technologies at the college. In summary: GCC students who use the computer labs are overwhelmingly satisfied with the computer facilities on campus. Students who use email, the internet and computer and IT technologies in their academic work are more likely to use the computer labs than their peers. Students that use email and feel encouraged to use computer and IT technologies in their work are significantly more likely than their peers to feel that their experiences at GCC have contributed to gaining valuable technology skills in their time at the college. Financial Aid Related Measures
3 The survey contains several items related to financial aid advising at the college. CAUTION: The CCSSE survey uses the term “financial aid advising” in its measurements of
use, satisfaction and importance. However, at GCC we use “financial aid services.” To a CCSSE survey respondent the term advising could mean talking with someone in depth or it could mean just picking up a form. We do not know how respondents distinguished this difference.
In summary: Students who use financial aid advising often at GCC are overwhelmingly very satisfied and consider the service very important. 80% of survey respondents work for pay while concurrently attending GCC; 50% work at least 20 hours per week. Student age has a significant effect on: use, satisfaction, and importance of financial aid advising; funding sources for college payment; and withdrawing from classes due to financial reasons. In-Class Behaviors
The survey contains several items related to our student’s behaviors in the classroom. In summary:
Students who participate in active and engaged learning at GCC (analyzing, synthesizing, adapting, applying) rated highly their entire experience at GCC; they are positive about being challenged. Students who engaged in classroom group work and experienced positively challenging exams highly rated their faculty. Student participation in class activities is correlated with amount of course time; full-time students, more total credit hours, and day students have more opportunities for active participation.