SGA surveys students' happiness, stress levels
In the hopes of obtaining honest information from undergraduates about their levels of overall happiness, their academic stresses and their social stresses, the Student Government Association (SGA) issued a survey to the entire study body last month and is currently in the process of analyzing the results.
Over a fourth of the student body - 1,219 students - have completed the survey so far. The SGA Student Rights and Interest Committee, led by junior Marc Perkins, have hired a statistician, junior Charlie Ouyang, to analyze the results.
Though they are still in the initial stages of analysis, Ouyang and Perkins say that one trend is particularly evident: Of those who admitted to being unhappy at Hopkins, the vast majority attribute their unhappiness to academic, rather than social, factors.
According to Perkins, this could be because the majority of Hopkins students prioritize academics over social life. No specific question was aimed at determining this, but dozens of students wrote in to the question "If you could go back in time to your senior year of high school and reapply to universities, would you attend Johns Hopkins?" with answers that they had come to Hopkins primarily for the academics, and that they are often too stressed out by their schoolwork to socialize.
In light of these results, Perkins and his team want to focus on developing convenient social support systems, such as the possibility of a Student Union.
According to Perkins, the SRIC decided to administer this survey as one of their first projects in becoming the liaison between the administration and the student body. Over 60 percent of students surveyed said they feel that the administration "rarely" or "never" shows that they care about its undergraduates, an answer that the SRIC hopes to change over the next few years.
"I want [the results of this survey] to be on Ron Daniel's desk in the first month of him becoming President, because he seems to really care about the undergraduate experience. Hopkins is one of the best schools in the world, and it has the resources to be a school where undergraduates really grow and develop, not just in their academics, but in their social networks as well," Perkins said.
Over a fourth of the student body - 1,219 students - have completed the survey so far. The SGA Student Rights and Interest Committee, led by junior Marc Perkins, have hired a statistician, junior Charlie Ouyang, to analyze the results.
Though they are still in the initial stages of analysis, Ouyang and Perkins say that one trend is particularly evident: Of those who admitted to being unhappy at Hopkins, the vast majority attribute their unhappiness to academic, rather than social, factors.
According to Perkins, this could be because the majority of Hopkins students prioritize academics over social life. No specific question was aimed at determining this, but dozens of students wrote in to the question "If you could go back in time to your senior year of high school and reapply to universities, would you attend Johns Hopkins?" with answers that they had come to Hopkins primarily for the academics, and that they are often too stressed out by their schoolwork to socialize.
In light of these results, Perkins and his team want to focus on developing convenient social support systems, such as the possibility of a Student Union.
According to Perkins, the SRIC decided to administer this survey as one of their first projects in becoming the liaison between the administration and the student body. Over 60 percent of students surveyed said they feel that the administration "rarely" or "never" shows that they care about its undergraduates, an answer that the SRIC hopes to change over the next few years.
"I want [the results of this survey] to be on Ron Daniel's desk in the first month of him becoming President, because he seems to really care about the undergraduate experience. Hopkins is one of the best schools in the world, and it has the resources to be a school where undergraduates really grow and develop, not just in their academics, but in their social networks as well," Perkins said.
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.
Post a Comment