As we claw our way toward the finish line at the end of another spring term, it isn’t hard to look around and see proof of our passion for our students’ development.  But one disadvantage of working in the unusually autonomous environment of a small college is that we don’t often get the chance to step back and enjoy the totality of our collective efforts. So in my last post of the 2013-14 academic year, I hope this data I share below will give you a chance to revel in our success and take some real pride in what we have accomplished together.

A few weeks ago, Gallup released the summary report of its first large-scale study of college graduates (they hope to make this an annual study).  The project, titled the Gallup-Purdue Index, explored the relationship between undergraduate experiences and the nature of college graduates’ engagement at work and overall well-being.  You can read some of the reviews of these findings in The Chronicle and Inside Higher Ed (or the actual report) here. Essentially, after surveying over 30,000 individuals across the country, Gallup found what we have known for a very long time: the quality of student-faculty interaction is fundamentally important to a college graduate’s long-term quality of life.

Interestingly, the various questions on which the Gallup findings are based look awfully familiar.  That is because we’ve been asking many of the same questions for years now, and using that data to inform our work and our perpetual effort to improve.  So I thought it would be nice to take a moment to step back, compare the responses from our students to those questions with the responses from the Gallup study participants, and smile.

Below I list each of the Gallup data points followed by a couple of similar Augustana data points.

Gallup-Purdue Index

• I had at least one professor at [College] who made me excited about learning.
  • 63% strongly agree

Augustana Senior Survey

• My one-on-one interactions with faculty have had a positive influence on my intellectual growth and interest in ideas.
  • 54% strongly agree + 37% agree
• I really worked hard to meet my instructors’ expectations.
  • 45% very often + 39% often

Gallup-Purdue Index

• My professors at [College] cared about me as a person.
  • 27% strongly agree

Augustana Senior Survey

• Faculty in my major cared about my development as a whole person.
  • 52% strongly agree + 34% agree
• My major advisor genuinely seemed to care about my development as a whole person.
  • 50% strongly agree + 28% agree
• The faculty with whom I have had contact were interested in helping students grow in more than just academic areas.
  • 41% strongly agree + 48% agree

Gallup-Purdue Index

• I had a mentor who encourage me to pursue my goals and dreams.
  • 22% strongly agree

Augustana Senior Survey

• Faculty in my major knew how to help me prepare to achieve my post-graduate plans.
  • 37% strongly agree + 38% agree
• How often did you major advisor ask you about your career goals and aspirations?
  • 84% very often, often, or sometimes
• I am certain that my post-graduate plans are a good fit for who I am right now and where I want my life to go.
  • 41% strongly agree + 36% agree

Gallup-Purdue Index

• I worked on a project that took a semester or more to complete.
  • 32% strongly agree

Augustana Senior Survey

• 100 % Participation in Senior Inquiry
• My senior inquiry project challenged me to produce my best possible intellectual work.
  • 44% strongly agree + 34% agree
• During my senior inquiry project I learned a lot about myself (work habits, handle setbacks, manage a larger project, etc.) in addition to the topic of my paper/project.
  • 42% strongly agree + 38% agree

Gallup-Purdue Index

• I had an internship or job that allowed me to apply what I was learning in the classroom.
  • 29% strongly agree

Augustana Senior Survey

• 60% Participation in an Internship
• My out-of-class experiences have helped me connect what I learned in the classroom with real-life events.
  • 22% strongly agree + 54% agree
  • 65% of seniors work on campus

Gallup-Purdue Index

• I was extremely active in extracurricular activities and organizations while attending [College].
  • 20% strongly agree

Augustana Senior Survey

• How many student groups or clubs did you find that fit your interests?
  • 32% many + 48% some

Gallup-Purdue Index

• I feel emotionally attached to [College].
  • 18% strongly agree

Augustana Senior Survey

• I felt a strong sense of belonging on campus.
  • 24% strongly agree + 43% agree
• If you could relive your college decision, would you choose Augustana again?
  • 40% definitely yes + 33% probably yes

While the senior survey data we highlighted in this table came from the 2013 senior class, these responses aren’t any different from the 2012 class or the class that will graduate in this weekend.  So take a moment, even in the midst of all the last minute craziness and stress the comes with finishing out the last term of an academic year, and pat a colleague on the back today.  Because we do this together.  And we have every right to be proud of ourselves, each other, and the work that we do.

Make it a good day,

Mark