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Some 98 percent of respondents to a survey of members of the Class of 2006 are pleased
with the out-of-class availability of faculty at Dartmouth. Nearly 97 percent
give the College high marks for extracurricular opportunities. Almost 92
percent are satisfied with the overall quality of their undergraduate
education.
These are among the results of a survey conducted last spring in conjunction
with a group of highly selective private universities and colleges.
Last year's seniors report a high degree of overall satisfaction with their
undergraduate education, continuing an upward trend in this category. Almost 92
percent of respondents say that they are "generally" or
"very" satisfied. Rigorous and detailed, the survey covers almost
every aspect of undergraduate life and provides important feedback on how
different parts of the College are working together to provide one of the
finest undergraduate liberal arts educations anywhere.
"The senior survey is one of our most valuable instruments in assessing
our progress," says President James Wright.
"This year's numbers and the trends over the last several years confirm
that we are moving in a positive direction. The fact that so many seniors are
so positive about the Dartmouth experience is particularly meaningful, since
when they answer these questions they are still immersed in that
experience."
In addition to high marks in overall satisfaction, 85.3 percent of survey
respondents from the Class of 2006 say that they probably or definitely would
encourage talented high school seniors to choose Dartmouth, a percentage that
has been steadily climbing. "The survey asks seniors to look at Dartmouth
with an extremely fine lens," says Provost Barry
Scherr. "For example, within the category of the academic experience,
they are asked to rate that experience looking at close to 20 indicators,
ranging from academic advising and the availability of courses in their majors
to opportunities to participate in research with a faculty member."
Other categories on the upward trend include out-of-class availability of
faculty. Almost 96 percent of respondents in the Class of 2004 report being
generally or very satisfied, and almost 98 percent in the Class of 2006 feel
the same way. Students report a high degree of satisfaction with Dartmouth's
extracurricular programs as well. Almost 97 percent of respondents in the Class
of 2006 are "generally" or "very satisfied" with the
College's offerings, up from 95 percent of respondents in the Class of 2004.
"These results support what students have long told us: that Dartmouth
does an excellent job in providing a wide variety of extracurricular
opportunities that challenge and inspire them," says Acting Dean of the College Dan
Nelson '75. "Student input has been an important part of developing
these opportunities and creating experiences that help them grow as young
adults."
"While we are understandably pleased with these results," says
Wright, "there are still areas we need to improve." Noting that
Dartmouth has made strides in many areas, he explains that there is still
ground to be gained in many of the categories the survey measures, citing
counseling for careers and undergraduate academic advising as examples.
"The detailed nature of this survey allows us to focus in on specific
aspects of the instructional experience, which is extremely helpful," says
Carol Folt, dean of the
Faculty of Arts and Sciences and professor of biological sciences. For example,
she notes that students increasingly seek opportunities to conduct research
with faculty members. While this year's survey results are high (81.7 percent
report being generally or very satisfied in that category), they are not as
high as those for overall instructional quality (96.4 percent). "This
tells us, among other things, that we need to continue our efforts to increase
the size of our faculty, so that more students have the chance to study
individually under the guidance of these dedicated teachers and accomplished
scholars."
The survey breaks the college experience down into several categories, with
quality of academic experience first, followed by quality of campus services
and facilities, and campus life. It also asks respondents to reflect on how
they have grown over their undergraduate careers, delving into such areas as
where they have gained greater understanding or expertise, how they have
improved their ability to relate to people of different backgrounds, or whether
they have learned to lead and supervise tasks or groups. In the Class of 2006,
close to 84 percent of respondents say they have acquired broad knowledge in
the arts and sciences, while almost 85 percent say that their years at
Dartmouth have helped them think more analytically and logically. Eighty-four
percent say they have substantially improved their ability to write
effectively, and 81 percent have developed a greater awareness of social
problems.
The last questions on the survey deal with post-graduation plans, providing
an insight into how students hope to use the broad spectrum of experiences that
have defined their Dartmouth careers. "What our students are telling us
about their aspirations and what they are saying about the educations they have
just received," says Wright, "is informative and even inspirational.
It gives us cause to celebrate, but it will not let us be complacent. A
Dartmouth education is one of the finest anywhere precisely because we are
constantly striving to move to new levels of excellence in doing what we have
done for over 200 years."
By LAUREL STAVIS
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