Making the Case for Christian Higher Education: New

Challenges, New Opportunities

Laurie A. Schreiner, Ph.D.

Azusa Pacific UniversityCCCU CEO Conference

1/8/2004

The CCCU’s Comprehensive Assessment Project

Has collected data on entering students since 1994

Added student satisfaction data in 199790% of the CCCU has participated in

some aspect of the project Retention and graduation rates posted

on the web annually

CCCU Retention and Graduation Rates

01-02 02-03

First-year retention 73.5 76

Sophomore retention 61.1 63.1

5-year graduation 49.5 53.2

6-year graduation 51.1 56

Average SAT 1146 1121

Comparison to National Data

CCCU Trad. Sel.

First-year 76% 72.7% 81.2%

retention

5-year 53.2% 51.6% 62.1%

Graduation

Source: ACT website, 2003

Predictors of Retention in the CCCU

Type of Institution More selective Higher tuition Larger Gender balance

Student satisfaction Campus climate Spiritual fit Teaching effectiveness Academic advising

Retention Predictors (cont.)Student Characteristics

Living on campus Intend to pursue graduate study Not working In their first-choice institution (71.3% of

students in Fall 2003)

Retention in the CCCUThe more selective the school, the more

predictive campus climate and teaching effectiveness are of retention rates.

The less selective the school, the more predictive spiritual fit is of retention.

The Latest Student Satisfaction Data

Fall 2003 Results

Comprehensive Assessment Project

SatisfactionSatisfaction

When expectations are met or exceeded by the student’s perception of the campus reality.

- Schreiner & Juillerat, 1994

The Student Satisfaction Inventory

The Student Satisfaction Inventory Importance Scores

How important is it that this expectation is met?

Satisfaction Scores How satisfied are you that this expectation is being

met on this campus?

Performance Gap Scores The discrepancy between the expectation

(importance score) and the reality (satisfaction score)

Identifying StrengthsAnd Challenges

Identifying StrengthsAnd Challenges

Not at all importantNot at all important

Very ImportantVery Important

VeryVeryDissatisfiedDissatisfied

VeryVerySatisfiedSatisfied

Strengths to Market1. Academics – most important issues to students are

Valuable content in the major Excellent instruction in the major Knowledgeable faculty Excellent instruction in most classes Able to experience intellectual growth Knowledgeable/approachable academic advisor Campus commitment to academic excellence Faculty available outside of class Caring faculty

All of the above are in the top quartile of satisfaction items

Strengths to Market

2. Sense of Community Most important to students:

Enjoyable experience to be a student here Safe and secure campus Caring staff and faculty Institution shows concern for students as individuals Students are made to feel welcome

All of the above are in the top quartile of satisfaction items

Strengths to Market3. Spiritual Growth

Most important to students are:1. Being on campus contributes to spiritual growth2. Understanding of God is being strengthened by

classroom and/or campus experiences3. Given where I am spiritually right now, this campus is a

good fit for me4. Faculty/staff/administrators available to process faith

issues5. Opportunities for ministry

All of these are in the top quartile of satisfaction items, EXCEPT for #4

Challenges to Address

1. Tuition as a worthwhile investment

2. Course registration issues and variety of courses available

3. Financial issues Adequacy of financial aid Timing of financial aid awards Helpfulness of financial aid counselors

Challenges (cont.)

4. Housing

5. Security response time

6. Timely feedback from faculty

7. Career services

8. Campus run-around

New Realities 14% enrollment growth continues into the

next decade BUT 80% of that growth will come from

students of color – a population where the CCCU track record is not stellar

In Fall 2003, only 11.6% of CCCU students were students of color

Students of color are significantly less satisfied than white students on ALL items on the SSI

Challenges in Meeting the Needs of Students of Color

1. Academic Issues Course variety Registration process Commuter population Library Drop/add policies Faculty taking into consideration student

differences as they teach Academic support services Computer access

Challenges in Meeting the Needs of Students of Color

2. Social Issues In general, climate issues are not as important to

students of color However, the notable exceptions are

Commitment to racial harmony Commitment to under-represented populations Freedom of expression on campus Gender equity

This is also an area where students of color are very dissatisfied

This is the area of the biggest perceptual differences between students of color and white students

Challenges in Meeting the Needs of Students of Color

3. Financial Issues These issues are much more important to

students of color—and on the whole, we are doing well in this area

Exception: the timing of financial aid award announcements

Challenges in Meeting the Needs of Students of Color

4. Spiritual Issues These issues are not nearly as important

to students of color as to white students They tend to be about as satisfied as

white students in this area

Recruiting Students of Color Lead with the academic experience

Quality of the majors offered Teaching effectiveness

Emphasize the academic community on campus – especially advising, support, and availability of courses

Continual follow-up and involvement of the family throughout the recruiting process—especially regarding financial aid awards

Institutions with the Best Graduation Rates

Institutions with the Best Graduation Rates

Have a distinctive niche and a strong sense of mission

Emphasize the learning process, recognizing that retention is a natural by-product of quality education

Focus on fit: academic, social, and spiritual integration

Value-Added EducationOur biggest challenge is to convince our

students that it’s worth graduating from a Christian college

We have made strides in retention, but may have only postponed the attrition to the end of the sophomore year

The “sophomore slump” exists on too many of our campuses

Identifying and Affirming Students’ Strengths

Key to the sophomore slumpKey to students of colorKey to academic engagement and

student motivationDistinctive of a Christian college

education: “Becoming the person God created you to be”