UConn students overwhelmingly want the University to focus its resources on academic support and advising, and they prioritize on-campus housing and student activities as amenities that will best enhance their college experience, according to a new survey .
The survey, responded to by more than a third of undergraduates across all campuses, is one of many tools and resources from which UConn is drawing ideas for its new strategic plan, which will be presented in draft form to the board of directors on Wednesday. .
President Radenka Maric launched the strategic planning process this year with the formation of a steering committee, which guides the working groups that have spent the last few months delving into the details of what the plan should incorporate when it is finalized in 2024.
THE strategic vision process included in-person and virtual forums to get input from students, staff and others on UConn’s priorities over the next 10 years through 2034.
It includes in-depth analyzes of how to ensure academic success and student well-being, maximize UConn’s research enterprise and impact, support Connecticut’s economic development, and ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of initiatives.
Margaret Feeney, UConn’s executive director of strategic planning and initiatives, said the process included listening sessions across campuses, wide-ranging discussions with a variety of stakeholders and the use of data from new and existing surveys of employees, parents, donors, alumni. , industry partners and others to “take the pulse of the broader Husky community.”
The student survey, conducted over five days in September, is one of several tools used to inform the process.
“I truly believe that we exist because of our students, and it is very important to hear their voices and prioritize based on what we learn from them,” Maric said while presenting some of the data earlier this fall to the board of directors.
Depending on the topic, some previous student surveys have had response rates between about 5% and 12%. However, student interest in the new survey was evident, with an overall response rate of 35.5% among all UConn undergraduates, and highs of 46% at Avery Point and 40%. in Hartford.
According to the survey, when asked where the university should focus the tuition and fee revenue it collects, students ranked academic support as their highest priority, followed by academic advising; mental health services; initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion; and physical/medical services.
In fact, the top three priorities—academic support, academic advising, and mental health services—were the same across campuses: “This shows how consistently our students view these areas as needs, and the actions we need to take to establish needs. our priorities,” says Maric.
Asked what priorities they felt would best enhance their campus life beyond academics, more than half of students cited the availability of desirable on-campus housing options as their most important choice.
In fact, desirable on-campus housing was ranked first or second by more than two-thirds of those surveyed. The others, in descending order, were student activities; training and career services for professional skills and professional development; off-campus housing options; and financial literacy skills.
In addition to direct communication with all students via email, the survey response rate was also improved by the help of professors, who set aside class time for students to complete the 5 questionnaire minutes ; and promotional ideas such as raffles for a chance at UConn basketball tickets for those who participated.
Reminders were posted in residence halls and on video monitors in common areas such as the student union and academic buildings. The University has also conducted specific outreach efforts to ensure that the voices of students from traditionally underrepresented populations are taken into account.
“We have worked in multiple ways to reach every student,” Dean Anne D’Alleva told administrators at their recent meeting. “I think the survey will be a tremendous resource for our deans and of course the strategic planning process, and will absolutely determine our priorities.
