A student satisfaction survey released by the UNC Board of Governors revealed new information about the way students rate their experiences at the 16 UNC system schools and the overall education they received.

NCCU scored low on library services, low on faculty instruction, low on intellectual environment, but high on career services and high on preparation for intellectual and personal skills.

The survey was sent to all UNC sophomores and graduating seniors in the spring 1998, and to alumni from 1997-98 in the summer following their graduation.

Results from N.C. Central University students showed that most students were dissatisfied with their overall experience and would not choose to return to the institution to complete their education. Only 47.6 percent of sophomores said they would return to the same institution and 48.7 percent of seniors said they would return, the lowest positive response in the entire UNC system.

Alumni had a much higher positive response and 73.3 percent indicated that they would return to the same institution.

Survey questions were designed for students to rate each aspect of their experience and their total education. Most questions required a response of excellent, good, fair or poor, unless otherwise indicated.

NCCU had the second lowest response rate following Winston-Salem State University. Only 49.4 percent of sophomores responded to the survey and 76.2 percent of graduating seniors responded. Low response rates make surveys less reliable.

Students were asked to measure the quality of their academic experiences such as the quality of the library, faculty and instruction.

Sophomores who took the survey rated NCCU’s James E. Shepard Library and its access to databases and collections the lowest in the entire UNC system.

Only 60.7 percent of students rated library access as good or excellent, the second lowest rating in the system, behind WSSU with 58.8 percent.

The largest number of students, 17.4 percent, rated the library’s access as poor. The second largest poor ranking was 8.1% at Elizabeth City State College. Most other Master I universities like NCCU had a poor ranking of less than three percent.

NCCU’s library has access to over 90 databases. Library director, George Grant, explained that a lack of up-to-date equipment and too few computers contribute to student’s lack of access to databases and collections. Grant became library director in September, 2000.

“We didn’t have the right equipment,” said Grant. “We are working on having more and better equipment—that’s access. We’re working on having more databases—that’s access. We are making it more convenient for students to get information from other sources. That gives them access to more and better collections.”

NCCU was also ranked lowest by students for the library use training they receive. Only 51.4 percent indicated the training they receive as good or excellent. NCCU had the highest poor ranking in the same category at 19.8 percent.

Overall, NCCU was ranked 66.4 percent for good or excellent, the second lowest rating in the system behind WSSU at 55.6 percent.

Graduating seniors ranked the library similarly. Staff responsiveness at the library was rated the lowest at 55 percent for good or excellent, behind WSSU at 68.2 percent. Access to databases and collections was also ranked lowest at 48 percent good or excellent, behind WSSU at 68.2 percent.

Overall, graduating seniors ranked NCCU’s library the lowest at 53.7 percent good or excellent, behind WSSU at 68.6 percent. The other 14 schools ranked at least 80 percent or above.

Grant explained that the library has been working on several improvements to increase student satisfaction and to promote a stronger academic environment.

A new computer lab is planned, which will feature 15 new computers with special software from all academic departments that is currently only available in department labs which have shorter hours.

The library’s new computer lab would increase the availability of specialized software to the students.

Other changes include the re-landscaping of the front of the library, replacement of wiring, new equipment, complete cleaning of the carpet and chairs, and new, longer hours. The library is now open Sundays, including Easter Sunday and Martin Luther King holiday.

“We are not doing this to improve the perception of the library,” said Grant. “We think the library ought to respond to the needs of the students.”

Grant also discussed plans for the construction of a new library pending university approval and funding.

NCCU’s University Career Services, however, was ranked among the best in the UNC system.

Students ranked NCCU at 83.9 percent excellent or good in providing information on career related experiences. WSSU was ranked lowest at 56.3 percent.

“We introduce our services to students early, through the Early Orientation Program and the career planning process is reinforced through CFAS classes as well as through other interdisciplinary forums,” said Carmen Dorsey, interim director of University Career Services.

NCCU also ranked highest for providing opportunities for career exploration at 84.5 percent excellent or good. UNC-Charlotte ranked lowest at 66 percent.

“The future looks better for us as we become more web-oriented, thus enabling us to expand our services and links to more information and opportunities,” said Dorsey. “It is great to know that even with limited resources, we are able to provide needed services and avenues which help students chart their career path.”

Overall, NCCU ranked highest in career related services at 86.7 percent excellent or good, tying with UNC-Pembroke.

Graduating seniors ranked NCCU very high in career preparation as well. Each category —opportunity for career assistance, information on internships, resume preparation, and access to employment opportunities—was ranked at 80 percent or higher.

Overall, sophomores ranked the faculty and the overall quality of instruction average to low.

Asked if NCCU’s faculty set high expectations for students, 84.7 percent rated the faculty at good or excellent. This was the second lowest rating in the UNC system. ECSU scored the worst at 75 percent.

NCCU also ranked faculty amongst the lowest for accepting diverse learning styles with 70.7 percent for good or excellent. But NCCU ranked higher than NCSU and UNC-CH, the large Research I institutions in the UNC system.

Faculty who encouraged students to be active learners were ranked 80.3 percent and those who encouraged faculty/student interaction were rated at 66.7 percent.

Overall, sophomores ranked NCCU’s faculty the lowest in the system with a good or excellent rating of 73.5 percent. The faculty at UNC in Asheville rated the highest at 93.9 percent.

Graduating seniors rated the faculty at NCCU similarly.

NCCU rated the lowest in the following areas:

• Faculty set high expectations (87.8 percent)
  
• Faculty encourage you to be an active learner (84.5 percent)
  
• Faculty provide frequent feedback (68.7 percent)
  
• Faculty encourage you to devote time and energy to coursework” (87.1 percent)
  
• Faculty develop cooperative learning opportunities (79.2 percent).
  -- Overall evaluation (83.7 percent)

Both sophomores and graduating seniors rated the overall quality of education at NCCU very low.

Sophomores ranked the overall quality of instruction at 76.4 percent, the third lowest in the system. Graduating seniors ranked it at 85.7 percent, the second lowest in the UNC system.

Graduating seniors also rated the overall quality of instruction at NCCU the lowest in the UNC system at 78.9 percent.

Alumni from the class of 1997-1998 rated the overall quality of instruction at NCCU very low at 24.1 percent excellent and 56 percent good. They rate NCCU highest in the system for fair (16.6 percent) and poor (2.1 percent).

Students rated the intellectual environment at NCCU low as well.

Sophomores rated it at 30.6 percent for very strong and strong, the second lowest in the system behind ECSU at 14.4 percent. Graduating seniors ranked it the lowest in the system at 39.4 percent.

However, the majority of students rated NCCU high in preparing them with essential intellectual and personal skills.

Graduating seniors ranked NCCU in the ninetieth percentile for very much or somewhat as to the extent to which the institution contributed to their knowledge of writing skills, listening skills, speaking skills, comprehension skills, analytic skills and personal growth.

Graduating seniors ranked NCCU equally high in the eightieth percentile for very much or somewhat as to the extent in which the institution contributed to their knowledge of appreciating gender equity, appreciating racial equity, working with people from diverse backgrounds, functioning as a team player, developing computer skills, and applying the scientific method.

Alumni also ranked NCCU very high in these categories.