Graduate Student Town Hall Meeting May 2,...

7th Annual Graduate Student Town Hall

Meeting May 2, 2016

Columbia EngineeringGraduate Student

Quality of Life Survey

Introduction

2

• Survey Design and Analysis Methodology

• Results and Key Insights• Overview• Academics and Mentoring• Academic Integrity• Professional Development• Career Development• Student Life• Libraries and Facilities

• Question and Answer Panel

3

Survey Overview

Survey Design and Analysis

4

• Likert scale• Randomized sections, options in matrix questions

1) State the research question2) State the null hypothesis

3) Conduct appropriate statistical analysis4) Draw statistical conclusions5) Draw research conclusions

S U R VEY R ES PONDENTS AR E R EPR ESENTATIVE OF D EGR EE

PR OGRAMS AND D EPAR TMENTS

5

Demographics

2016 Student Body 2016 Survey

6

Representation by Degree Program

MS74%

MS/PhD6%

PhD19%

EngScD1%

MS71%

PD0%

MS/PhD5%

PhD24%

EngScD0%

SurveyResponseRate:555/2,405(27.1%)

2015 Survey 2016 Survey

7

Representation by Degree Program

SurveyResponseRate:431/2,038(21.1%) SurveyResponseRate:555/2,405(27.1%)

MS74%

MS/PhD6%

PhD19%

EngScD1%

MS67%

PD1%

MS/PhD8%

PhD23%

EngScD1%

2016 Student Body 2016 Survey

8

Representation by Department

SurveyResponseRate:555/2,405(27.1%)

APAM5% BMEN

9%

CHEN6%

CEEM7%

COMS17%

EAEE4%

ELEN15%

IEOR22%

MECE10%

DSI5%APAM

7%BMEN

6%CHEN

5%

CEEM8%

COMS18%

EAEE5%

ELEN17%

IEOR22%

MECE8%

DSI4%

𝝌𝟐 =17.20,p=0.07

9

Overview of Student Satisfaction

Importance vs. Satisfaction

10

Academics

Mental Health Physical Health

Professional Development

Social Life

Career Services

Housing

Intercampus Shuttle

Library ServicesFunding

Opportunities Student Life and Advising Technology Services

-1

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

-0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6

Impo

rtan

ce

Satisfaction

Overall Student Satisfaction

11Errorbarsarethestandarderrorofthemean

1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

MECECEEMCOMS

IEORCHENAPAMELEN

DSIBMENEAEE

MSPhD

2015 2016

The overall student satisfaction in 2016 is 75% ± 1%.

Strongly disagree Strongly agree

Student Satisfaction by Department

12

0% 50% 100%Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree

2016201517

40

86

45

109

63

29

34

45

22

43

86

31

109

75

22

25

37

52

n n

0% 50% 100%

MECE

CEEM

APAM

ELEN

IEOR

CHEN

COMS

BMEN

EAEE

DSI

Student Satisfaction by Department

13

2

4

0

0

2

9

1

3

1

0

8

1

4

4

5

7

2

11

2

0

7

6

3

2

12

11

4

5

6

4

29

21

12

11

45

60

21

56

28

13

6

5

6

5

11

22

3

11

6

5

0% 50% 100%Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree

2016201517

40

86

45

109

63

29

34

45

22

43

86

31

109

75

22

25

37

52

n n

1

2

1

1

5

2

3

1

1

2

0

4

6

7

3

9

2

0

5

8

5

13

12

6

13

7

1

34

21

16

35

72

27

51

27

13

3

3

3

8

13

7

10

3

2

0% 50% 100%

MECE

CEEM

APAM

ELEN

IEOR

CHEN

COMS

BMEN

EAEE

DSI

STUDENT SATISFACTION WITH ACADEMICS AND

COURSEWORK

14

Academics

Academic Satisfaction

15

APAM

BMEN

CHEN

CEEM

COMS

EAEE

ELEN

IEOR

MECE

DSI

MS

PhD

-0.35

-0.3

-0.25

-0.2

-0.15

-0.1

-0.05

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

-0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

Impo

rtan

ce

Satisfaction

SEAS Classes and Academics

16

Disagree Neutral Agree

8% 12% 80%

9% 17% 74%

8% 21% 71%

13% 16% 70%

13% 20% 67%

14% 22% 64%

14% 22% 64%

12% 24% 64%

12% 26% 62%

21% 17% 62%

18% 21% 61%

27% 21% 52%

0% 50% 100%

Selection of ElectivesDegree Flexibility

Course AvailabilityDepartment Websites

Career PreparationCourse Descriptions

TA PreparationTheory/Practical BalanceManageable Courseload

Quality of SeminarsTeaching Assistance

Degree Requirements

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

SEAS Classes and Academics

17

1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Selection of ElectivesCourse Availability

TA PreparationDegree Flexibility

Manageable CourseloadCourse DescriptionsCareer Preparation

Theory/Practice BalanceDepartment Website

Teaching QualityQuality of Seminars

Teaching AssistanceDegree Requirements

PhD MS

Strongly disagree Neutral Strongly agree

Errorbarsarethestandarderrorofthemean

Course Availability to Fulfill Degree Requirements

18

4

11

1

2

1

1

0

4

0

1

6

21

12

10

6

2

5

11

2

5

4

15

12

6

5

5

7

18

4

11

11

34

22

22

14

8

19

58

11

51

0

6

5

3

5

6

6

18

5

7

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

DSI

COMS

MECE

BMEN

CHEN

APAM

CEEM

IEOR

EAEE

ELEN

Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree

n75

22

109

37

22

31

43

52

87

25

Selection of Electives

19

4

3

4

8

6

2

5

3

0

5

4

16

9

25

5

4

10

10

3

10

7

10

3

18

7

13

9

16

5

20

4

11

8

27

11

17

23

39

11

53

3

3

1

9

2

1

5

7

3

21

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

APAM

BMEN

DSI

COMS

CHEN

CEEM

MECE

ELEN

EAEE

IEOR


109

22

75

52

37

31

87

25

43

22

n

20

PhD Advisor Mentorship

Strongly disagree Neutral Strongly agree

Errorbarsarethestandarderrorofthemean

“The level of mentorship and guidance provided by my advisor is adequate.”

1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

COMS

IEOR

CEEM

BMEN

MECE

EAEE

ELEN

CHEN

APAM

2015 2016

0% 50% 100%

COMS

IEOR

CHEN

MECE

BMEN

EAEE

CEEM

ELEN

APAM



21

10

22

11

5

26

19

10

2

23

n

0% 50% 100%

n 2016201511

25

14

5

34

14

13

7

18

2

0

2

3

6

1

0

3

0

1

0

4

0

2

1

0

2

2

2

1

2

2

6

0

1

0

0

4

4

3

5

14

2

4

14

6

9

2

2

4

6

1

9

6

3

0% 50% 100%

COMS

IEOR

CHEN

MECE

BMEN

EAEE

CEEM

ELEN

APAM



22

10

22

11

5

26

19

10

2

23

n

0

0

2

2

2

1

0

0

0

6

0

0

1

2

0

1

1

0

6

1

2

4

4

0

0

1

0

5

1

2

5

14

2

3

15

5

6

0

4

7

4

2

7

5

5

0% 50% 100%

11

25

14

5

34

14

13

7

18

n 20162015

New CourseWorks

23

“I find the following features of Canvas useful”:Disagree Neutral Agree

6% 9% 84%

6% 10% 84%

7% 9% 84%

9% 28% 62%

10% 31% 59%

15% 34% 51%

18% 40% 43%

18% 43% 39%

0% 50% 100%

Chat

Collaborations

Discussions

Canvas Mobile App

Piazza

Course Announcements

Assignment Submissions

Course Materials


Course materials

Assignment submissions

Course announceme

nts

Communication features

Courseworks is convenient 88% 83% 81% 41%Canvas is convenient 84% 84% 84% 49%Courseworks is inconvenient 5% 5% 5% 29%Canvas is inconvenient 6% 6% 7% 15%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

New CourseWorks (Canvas) versus Old CourseWorks (Sakai)

24

New CourseWorks: Comments

25

� User Experience¡ “The method to log on is so tedious and redundant. I have to click

many times in order to enter one course's page.”¡ “Don't understand the rationale behind using box (which is horribly

slow, laggy and at times outright buggy) as the default pdf file viewer.”

¡ “Announcements don't read well-courses all mixed up together, old announcements continue to be marked new.”

¡ “The mobile app makes all the difference! I love it!”¡ “Still cannot ask for the desktop version of Canvas; Cannot submit

any Word or PDF file through the mobile access(Canvas app)”¡ “Canvas can establish groups. It is really cool.”

New CourseWorks: Comments

26

� Use by professors/instructors¡ “Professors still aren't quite sure how Canvas works, or still aren't familiar

with the system. The location of course content isn't as intuitive as with Courseworks.”

¡ “Many functions were underutilized. Students and lecturers should be familiarized with the various features.”

� TA Experience¡ “When using Canvas as TA, it would be nice if editing of the grade book was

embedded in the site, not through Excel downloads/re-uploads”¡ “Sending emails to specific people is impossible - can't even look up the

students uni.”¡ “When you send an email to the class as a TA on Canvas, you don't get that

email yourself as you did on the older courseworks. This is really inconvenient [sic] and needs update asap!”

¡ “Grading tools are horrible.”

Student Services Online

27

“I find the following features of SSOL useful”: Disagree Neutral Agree

12% 13% 75%

12% 17% 72%

6% 23% 71%

4% 32% 64%

10% 28% 62%

8% 34% 58%

0% 50% 100%

Vergil Course Planning

Waitlist

Academic Certification Requests

Transcript Requests

Accounts and Billing

Course Registration


SSOL: Comments

28

� “I found billing difficult -- the names of the items being billed are not intuitive and things are not itemized clearly. Sometimes multiple items are grouped together as one item.”

� “There is time lag for the waitlist. And it is kind of hard to know the sequence.”

� “Very annoying that registration database is frequently offline so I can't even check registration status for courses between registration appointments a lot of the time”

� “Looks outdated”� “Wish it was easier to get an unofficial transcript”� “Vergil is a good idea, poorly executed. I am restricted to only

take courses from certain departments, but you cannot search by department!”

29

Academic Integrity

Code of Honor

30

• AcademicCodeofHonorpassedinMarch2014byCOI,EGSC,andESC• PresentedtoincomingstudentsatorientationofAugust2014• AddedtheonlineAcademic IntegrityModuleinAugust2015

“We,theengineeringgraduatestudentsofColumbiaUniversity,pledgetoupholdthevaluesofintegrity,honesty,anddignityinthepursuitofcommonscholasticgoals,bothatColumbiaandbeyond.”

Academic Integrity Policies

31

81%

67%

58%

84%

67%62%

85%

70% 68%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Policies were clearly communicated

Policies were enforced Classmates followed policies

2014 2015 2016

Academic Integrity: Reporting

32

Violationsreportedto: Reasonfornotreporting:

18.2%ofstudents(n=80)haveobservedanacademicintegrityviolation.

TA16%

Instructor/Professor

58%

TA & Instructor

23%

Office of GSA3%

Friend12%

Classmate

26%

Uncertain of confidentiality

22%

Uncomfortable approaching

authority figures18%

Lack of severity of violation

10%

Unclear how to report12%

Academic Integrity: Rationale

33

32% of students provided reasoning as to why they may violate the Academic Integrity policies.

Heavy courseload

43%

Policies misunderstood24%

Classmates are not

disciplined33%

Academic Integrity: Reporting

34

“Do you believe that peer reporting should play a role in enforcing Academic Integrity policies?”

No25%

Yes46%

Not sure29%

Academic Integrity: Comments

35

� Cultural ¡ 2016: “From my experience, it seems certain aspects of Academic

Integrity are not followed by all students due to cultural norms. During exams, the same groups of students are consistently the ones communicating during exams in the back of the room.”

¡ 2015: “A specific session should be held for international students due to cultural differences in the concepts surrounding academic integrity violations.”

¡ 2014: “[…] perhaps making Academic Integrity policies available in as many native languages as feasible would ensure that all students come to a similar understanding of the Academic Integrity Policies.”

� Suggestions¡ “More transparency on actions that have been taken.”

36

Professional Development

Professional Development Satisfaction

37

APAM

BMEN

CHEN

CEEM

COMS

EAEE

ELEN

IEOR

MECE

DSI

MSPhD

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

-0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3

Impo

rtan

ce

Satisfaction

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

5

MS

PhD

Overall

Improved/Enhanced Skills at SEAS

38

Strongly agree

Strongly disagree

NETWORKING AND

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

39

Career Development

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Alumni Associations (CEAA, CEYA, CAA)

Events organized by the Alumni Affairs Office

Department administration

Events organized by student groups (GradSWE, DGE, CLASS, SFB, CEEC, etc.)

Faculty

Events organized by EGSC or Office of Graduate Student Affairs

Friends

Alumni Networking: Connections

40

74.0% of students are actively developing alumni contacts.

>2x

Career Development Satisfaction

41

APAMBMEN

CHEN

CEEM

COMS

EAEE

ELEN

IEOR

MECE

DSI

MS

PhD

-0.5

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

-0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

Impo

rtan

ce

Satisfaction

School and Department Career Activities

42

“The following have been useful in my job search”: Disagree Neutral Agree

7.2% 29.5% 63.4%

13.7% 36.2% 50.1%

16.4% 37.5% 46.1%

20.2% 37.5% 42.3%

18.1% 40.4% 41.5%

14.9% 44.6% 40.4%

0% 50% 100%

EGSC career related events

Alumni networking events

Faculty

Department administration/ Career placement officer

Department sponsored career events

Personal contacts

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree

Center for Career Education (CCE)

43

“The following resources provided by CCE have been useful in my job search and application process:” Disagree Neutral Agree

12% 37% 51%

11% 38% 50%

11% 41% 49%

12% 42% 46%

10% 45% 45%

11% 44% 44%

9% 53% 38%

10% 53% 38%

0% 50% 100%

Counseling Sessions

Mock Interviews

2015-2016 Career Planning Guide

Workshops

Weekly Newsletters

LionShare

CCE Website

CCE Career Fairs

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree

Relevance of Career Fairs

Strongly Disagree Neutral Strongly Agree

1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

CHENBMENMECEAPPHCEEMIEOREAEEELEN

DSICOMS

MSPhD

44

Career Development: Comments

45

� “My degree isn’t well-represented in career fairs.”� “Host them at different times of day. I wasn't able to attend any of them this

semester because I always had class at that time.”� “Services for people with experience would be helpful. Most of the jobs are

internships.”� “...separate events for different degree programs…”� “The more tailored the better. I found immense use from the All-Ivy Sustainability

Career Fair. For the large generic ones, I waited in line for over an hour to talk to 1-2 relevant companies.”

� “Efforts to setup a segregated organization of employer tables in the fair, based on the specialization of the hiring pool they are targeting, eg: zones of tables can be allotted for each of Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering etc.”

� “When filtering in the iOS app for the Career fair, it‘d be useful to have the option of not including those employers that do not list details about the desired majors or degrees.”

46

Student Life

Safety

47

Strongly disagree

1%

Disagree1%

Neutral8%

Agree47%

Strongly agree43%

“I feel safe on campus”

SVR and Gender-Based Misconduct

48

“I think the following resources are effective”:

0% 50% 100%

Presentation at orientation

Individual online movie viewing and reflection

Workshops and trainings

Live film screening and discussion

Sexual Respect Website

Small discussion groups & case studies



14% 28% 58%

18% 28% 54%

15% 36% 49%

15% 37% 48%

16% 38% 46%

14% 42% 44%

Health Services: Columbia Psychological Services

49

Yes14%

I am too busy12%

I am too embarrassed

3%

I did not know about them

9%

I do not need them60%I was not aware of

the confidentiality in the process

2%

No86%

USE OF SERVICES

Dental Insurance

50

Have you ever deferred needed dental work while at Columbia due to lack of dental insurance?

No46%

Yes30%

Not applicable

24%

86% of students are enrolled in a voluntary dental plan.

Health Services: Usefulness

51

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Medical services at Columbia

Go Ask Alice!

Alice organized workshops


Health Comments

52

� “The two-to-three-week waiting time is too long.”� “More dental and vision coverage needed, especially for

PhDs. The plan for PhDs needs to be on par with post-docs/staff/faculty.”

� “I need dental! Stress causes me to grind my teeth at night.”� “Please keep a cheaper option available for students who

don't really get sick all that often and don't need medical treatment much.”

� “I chose a better and cheaper insurance than the one provided by Columbia.”

Social: Satisfaction

53

I am satisfied with the overall sense of community:

1 3 5

MECE

COMS

CEEM

APPH

IEOR

CHEN

BMEN

DSI

ELEN

EAEEStrongly Disagree

5% Disagree13%

Neutral31%

Agree43%

Strongly Agree

8%

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

Social: Satisfaction with Community Building Efforts

54

Strongly Disagree

4% Disagree7%

Neutral

32%Agree46%

Strongly Agree11%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

EGSC/GSA event capacity

Sense of community

Diversity of student groups

Number of social events and programs

Diversity of social events and programs

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral

Agree Strongly Agree

Social: Event Preference

55

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Interschool events

Themed social events

Events organized by student groups

Small on-campus gatherings

Organized sporting activities

Off Campus socials

Entertainment/Sports games/AMC movie nights

Performance Arts


Social: Peer Networking

56


8% 28% 64%

8% 35% 57%

8% 40% 52%

11% 43% 46%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Student group sponsored events

GSA events (including orientation)

EGSC events

Department sponsored events


Orientation Programming

57

“Orientation helped me become acclimated with”:

0% 50% 100%

New York City

Student groups

Columbia campus

SEAS

University resources

My department



5% 21% 74%

9% 22% 70%

7% 25% 68%

10% 25% 66%

12% 35% 53%

16% 36% 48%

Orientation: Comments

58

� “It was hard to catch all of the information presented during orientation. There should be a website or handout given that recaps on all of the information that was discussed.”

� “More comprehensive view of resources/student groups on campus.”

� “Anything that would serve as a guide to students on how they can manage their time the best, would be very useful.”

� “Should provide them with suggestions about where to eat good food.”

� “Student-led shopping trips for new students.”� “Invite more continuing students.”

59

Libraries/Facilities

Library Use

60

“How many times per week do you frequent the Northwest Corner library?”

2015

037.8%

1-240.1%

3-412.1%

4+10.0%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Avery

Butler

Uris

SEL

0-1x 1-2x 2-3x 3-4x >4x

“How many times per week do you frequent the following libraries?”

Library Space Satisfaction

61

“The following resources at the Northwest Corner Library are useful to me”:

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Individual study and/or workspace

Group study and/or workspace

Reference materials

Computer terminals

Printing and scanning facilities

Hours of operation


1 2 3 4 5

Individual study and/or workspace

Group study and/or workspace

Reference materials

Computer terminals

Printing and scanning facilities

Hours of operation

PhD MS

Strongly disagree Strongly agree

Library Services: Comments

62

� “The online resources are a [sic] great [tools] for engineers.”� “Library hours are too short!” “24/7 library during midterms and

finals.” “Open the engineering library at 8am.”� “I find the amount of study space on campus insufficient. More

individual and group study space is needed.”� “More scanning facilities need to be introduced.”� “We need more outlets to plug in our computers”� “Library computers need engineering software on all computers.

Please make Matlab, Solidworks, and CATIA available.”� “Put carpet in the engineering library. I stopped studying there

because the sound of people in heavy shoes constantly walking on wood floors was distracting. Also, the soundproofing is inadequate when people speak loudly in the group study rooms.”

Space Facilities: Satisfaction

63

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Mudd classroom cleanliness

Department lounge

Cleanliness of laboratory and office space

Quality and maintenance of equipment in labs

Columbia Makerspace

Carleton Commons


Technical Facilities: Satisfaction

64

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Wireless internet coverage

Wireless internet speed

Wired internet speed

Availability of engineering software for personal computers

Availability of engineering software in computer labs

Availability of advanced computing resources

Quality of CUIT technical support


Blue Java Café: Satisfaction

65

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Availability of healthy food options

Hours of operation

Availability of food for dietary restrictions

Friendliness of staff

Cost

Cleanliness

Variety of food options


Housing: OCHA

66

“I am satisfied with the service provided by the Off-Campus Housing Assistance Office (OCHA)”:

Strongly disagree8%

Disagree14%

Neutral37%

Agree32%

Strongly agree9%

Housing: UAH

67

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Helpful doorperson

Building security

Helpful superintendent

UAH helpful in issue resolution

Building maintenance

Quality of Internet service

Apartment renovations

Cost


Graduate Student Town Hall Meeting May 2,...

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