Spring Break
SGA surveys students' happiness, stress levels
Issue date: 12/4/08
Though this survey is aimed at calibrating students' satisfaction in their academic and personal lives, both Paula Burger, dean of Undergraduate Education, and Susan Boswell, dean of Student Life, said they were not involved in its administration, nor were they specifically aware that the survey was being issued.
"I do know that SGA told me some time ago that they were thinking about periodically gathering student opinion more systematically, but I did not know they went ahead with it ... Administratively, we do periodic surveys of student satisfaction on a wide variety of issues, including an annual senior survey and periodic enrolled student survey, sometimes in conjunction with peer universities, but these are done with the support of institutional researchers so that we are confident that the questions are carefully worded, etc. and that we are careful to avoid response bias, etc. and all the other traps of survey research," Burger wrote in an e-mail.
Perkins said he is confident that Ouyang has the expertise to draw accurate conclusions from the survey results.
"I'm using data techniques to find out the relationship between what students wrote in [as supplements to their answers] and what they specifically answered - a lot of these results aren't obvious. We have to look at variables such as demographic, gender, class, major, etc, to see how much these things affect students' answers," Ouyang said.
According to Ouyang, if the SRIC can determine which factors most strongly influence student happiness, it can lobby the administration for changes that may actually ease stress levels, such as a Student Union.
Eighty-seven percent of students surveyed answered that they would use a Student Union if the University were to establish one, and many students wrote in that they were incredulous as to why Hopkins does not already have one.
"Seriously, I work in [the Admissions office] and we always get asked where the Student Union is and I have no idea what to say. Hopkins needs a student union. I understand the university does not have a bottomless wallet, but a Student Union should be high on its list of new projects!" one student wrote.
"I do know that SGA told me some time ago that they were thinking about periodically gathering student opinion more systematically, but I did not know they went ahead with it ... Administratively, we do periodic surveys of student satisfaction on a wide variety of issues, including an annual senior survey and periodic enrolled student survey, sometimes in conjunction with peer universities, but these are done with the support of institutional researchers so that we are confident that the questions are carefully worded, etc. and that we are careful to avoid response bias, etc. and all the other traps of survey research," Burger wrote in an e-mail.
Perkins said he is confident that Ouyang has the expertise to draw accurate conclusions from the survey results.
"I'm using data techniques to find out the relationship between what students wrote in [as supplements to their answers] and what they specifically answered - a lot of these results aren't obvious. We have to look at variables such as demographic, gender, class, major, etc, to see how much these things affect students' answers," Ouyang said.
According to Ouyang, if the SRIC can determine which factors most strongly influence student happiness, it can lobby the administration for changes that may actually ease stress levels, such as a Student Union.
Eighty-seven percent of students surveyed answered that they would use a Student Union if the University were to establish one, and many students wrote in that they were incredulous as to why Hopkins does not already have one.
"Seriously, I work in [the Admissions office] and we always get asked where the Student Union is and I have no idea what to say. Hopkins needs a student union. I understand the university does not have a bottomless wallet, but a Student Union should be high on its list of new projects!" one student wrote.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
charles
posted 12/10/08 @ 4:43 AM EST
wonderful. the SGA is putting out another survey. and by the time they actually look at it it will be elections and they'll be congratulating themselves on all they did this year. (Continued…)
Cancer Cure
posted 12/30/08 @ 11:19 PM EST
It sounds like a Student Union should be made a priority. Although a lot of what a student feels is really up to him, not the school. Doing yoga makes you happier whereas drugs like alcohol and cigarettes make you more depressed. (Continued…)
Paula Todhunter
posted 3/06/09 @ 10:52 AM EST
Good information. Thanks for the post.
Sharon Theodoric
posted 3/06/09 @ 12:40 PM EST
I have to agree with teh poster above... :/ looks like a lot of hot air to me.
Maria Schellden
posted 3/07/09 @ 12:00 AM EST
A think this new storie have some mistakes.
Alice Heaton
posted 3/07/09 @ 11:34 AM EST
Good and interesting article, thanks!
Anna Reed
posted 7/03/09 @ 5:35 PM EST
I have to agree with teh poster above... :/ looks like a lot of hot air to me.
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