Student Experience in the Research University SERU A

Student Experience in the Research University (SERU): A New Resource for Studying UF’s Undergraduates Marie E. Zeglen, Ph. D. Assistant Provost for Institutional Planning and Research

SERU: Background Survey developed by UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education for whole U California System ◦ Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Davis, Santa Barbara, Irvine, San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside Collaboration between academic scholars and institutional researchers to create new data sources and policy relevant analysis Purposes : ◦ Broadening understanding of the undergraduate experience ◦ Promoting a culture of self improvement Tailored to research universities Administered regularly since 2003 to UC Campuses

The SERU Research Consortium Invitation to AAU institutions to join the SERU Research Consortium in 2008 A pilot group of AAUs signed up: ◦ ◦ ◦ University of Florida University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Oregon Rutgers University of Pittsburgh University of Florida will participate and survey its students in 2 of next 3 years – 2008 -09 and 2010 -11

Benefits of SERU Population survey of undergraduates – NOT a sample Target response of 50% Results specific to academic colleges and majors Wildcard module Data support many uses: ◦ ◦ Program review College and department goal setting and tracking Program improvement VSA requirement

Customizing SERU Three basic modules ◦ Time, student development, academic engagement, campus climate, satisfaction, evaluation of the educational experience ◦ Background and personal characteristics ◦ Academic experience Two custom modules ◦ Consortium agreed on common module on globalization – multi-university team will develop ◦ Our Wildcard – ideas on sustainability, arts experiences, student services – need to develop

Robust and Varied Data Institutional data ◦ FICE code ◦ College code ◦ Name Student data ◦ ◦ Demographics Prior educational data Performance data Contact data Academic program data ◦ Major codes ◦ Major names ◦ CIP codes

Response Strategy UC universities average between 40 and 50% How do they do it? ◦ Incentives – required $3 K minimum ◦ Seven follow ups – including summer ◦ Track and analyze what has worked – prizes, email subject lines, publicity ◦ Involve the whole campus – academic departments, colleges, advisors, student government, student affairs, news and PR groups ◦ Executive sponsors – multiple voices ◦ Answer every student e-mail about the survey

UF Incentives Eligibility to participate in football lottery Buy One/Get One Free coupon for Museum of Natural History Butterfly Rainforest UF Bookstore - $50 coupons and gifts Recreation Center – personal training sessions Gator Dining –lunch coupons

How the Football Lottery Will Work Students eligible for survey must complete survey AND enter the lottery through UAA SERU has to be completed before the lottery deadline Students ineligible for SERU are NOT affected and just enter the lottery through UAA: ◦ ◦ ◦ Undergraduates under 18 years of age Non degree students Correspondence study students Graduate students Professional students

Confidentiality of Results SERU results will be aggregated in reports No disclosure of any student identifiers without student approval – for example, to publicize reward winners Safe, secure server for survey data New SERU ID established for all participating institutions to enable comparisons among AAU institutions

Launch and Follow Ups March 16 survey launch by email PR campaign around event – “Give Us Your 2 Bits” Multiple follow ups – from different people ◦ Executive sponsors – President, Provost, VPs ◦ Undergraduate Studies leader ◦ Student government leader Summer follow up – adds 10%

Examples of Posters

Examples of Posters

Data Analyses and Reports By August provide link to additional student data on campus Analyses ◦ Query and report front end from Consortium – for instance - all English majors, specific university comparisons ◦ Develop departmental reports for each major ◦ Develop college and institutional reports ◦ Develop student service and student life reports

How are UC Schools using Data? Academic program review and improvement Assessment – indirect measures of learning Faculty Senate review on curriculum Identification of factors affecting retention and graduation of students Student life and student service improvements Research – faculty publications and graduate student dissertations

Research As members of the consortium: ◦ Research data from all participants available to us ◦ Obligation to present at annual research consortium meeting Our faculty and graduate students are welcome to do active research using the SERU data Must follow IRB rules and maintain confidentiality standards (similar to AAU) Be part of a community of scholars from all the participating schools

Next Steps Spread the word – encourage students to take SERU ◦ ◦ ◦ Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs Advisers Student Affairs units Student Government Faculty Senate Monitor the survey results Distribute and publicize rewards Plan and carry out technical/analytic plan Plan how to use the data

Timeline February – Module finalization March – IRB approval March - SERU deployment April to July – SERU follow-ups August – SERU data links Fall 2009 SERU data report distribution