This on-line version is provided for informational purposes only and cannot be responded to electronically.

CAMPUS-WIDE OPINION SURVEY

Prepared by the Self-Study Committee
for the Year 2000 Reaccreditation Process  

Every ten years, colleges and universities across the country are required to go through the process of reaccreditation. In March of the year 2000, Saint Michael’s will host a visitation team from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) who will determine if we are in compliance with a set of 120 standards. To help prepare for reaccreditation, the members of the Saint Michael’s Self Study Committee are asking for your help by completing this survey. All responses must be returned to Dr. Herb Kessel in the enclosed envelope no later than March 1st, 1999.

The information that you provide will be combined with the material contained in the on-going committee and program self-studies and incorporated into the College’s Final Self-Study Report. The survey offers the entire Saint Michael’s community an opportunity to assess the College from a perspective beyond the confines of an individual program or committee.

All too often, survey research is compromised by low response rates. Many of us have the best intentions of completing surveys, especially when, like this one, we can see a direct connection between the questions and what we do on a daily basis. We find ourselves putting surveys on a "to do" list that grows longer by the day. We urge you not to let this happen with our survey.

The SMC Self-Study Committee would like to send gentle reminders within a short period to those who fail to respond to our requests for assistance. Since the survey is anonymous, (no names will appear any place on the questionnaire), we have placed a code number on the return envelope so that we can track nonrespondents. Of course, the coded return envelopes will be discarded immediately upon receipt so that names cannot be associated with responses. While this process might be cumbersome, the anonymity of each respondent will be protected.

Your completed survey should be returned to Herb Kessel, Chair of the Self-Study Committee, in the enclosed envelope by March 1st, 1999. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Herb Kessel at 2460.

Thank you for your assistance.

1. Saint Michael’s College is a complex and dynamic institution, and while we might be making improvements in some areas, we also might be doing less well in others. We would like to ask you two questions. First, from your perspective, how would you rate the quality of the following aspects of life at Saint Michael’s (use a 5 point scale in column 1 where 1 is very poor and 5 is excellent, if you are unable to judge an area use the number 9). Second, do you think that the College improved or declined since 1995 in each of the following areas? (If you have not been here since 1995, either skip this question or answer based upon how long you have been here).

Since 1995, has this area:
................................... Check One...........................

Rating (1 to5)
(5=high, 1=low, 9=DK)

 Improved Declined No Change Unable to Judge
a. Quality of academic courses _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
b. Quality of academic life _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
c. Quality of student life _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
d. Sense of community _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
e. The fulfillment of the Mission _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
f. As a place to work _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
g. Planning for change in your area _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
h. Evaluating outcomes in your area _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
i. The quality of the faculty _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
j. The quality of the physical resources _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
k. Effectiveness of the governance structure of the College _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
l. The academic quality of the student body _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
m. Fair hiring-promotion policies _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
n. Academic honesty in the classroom _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
o. Support for diversity _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
p. The religious-spiritual character of SMC _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
q. Climate of trust between staff and administration _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
r. Opportunities to influence your area of work _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
s. Quality of nonacademic support staff _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
t. Quality of academic administrators _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
u. Quality of nonacademic administrators _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
v. Quality of academic support staff _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
w. Openness of College communications _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

 

1a. In looking at this list (from a to w), what one area of the College has:

Improved the most since 1995 ___

Could benefit the most from additional attention ___

 

2. One of the objectives of our institutional self-study is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of our College. What do you consider to be our 3 most prominent strengths and weaknesses?

Strengths

1.

2.

3.

 

Weaknesses

1.

2.

3.

 

3. What do you see as the single most important challenge that Saint Michael’s College will face over the next 10 years? (if you need more room to respond to this or any question, please attach a separate sheet with your answer).

 

 

4. From your perspective, do you think the Mission of Saint Michael’s College is widely understood?

_____ Yes _____ No

5. Does the way you carry out your job at Saint Michael's College differ from how others might in similar positions at other small colleges with different missions?

____ Always ____ Often ____ Sometimes ____ Hardly Ever

____ Never (skip to question 6) ____ Unsure (skip to question 6)

5a. Can you describe specifically one way in which this occurs?

 

6. Growth and change are the hallmarks of a healthy institution. Can you identify one thing that the College might do in the coming years to strengthen our institution?

 

7. How many years have you been at Saint Michael’s College? _______

8. Gender: ____ Male ___ Female

9. Employment Status: ____ Full Time ____ Part Time

10. Position:

_____Faculty ____ Academic Administrators _____ Academic Support Staff

____ Non-Academic Administrators _____ Non-Academic Support Staff

11. Religious Affiliation:

____ Catholic ____ Protestant ____ Jewish ___ Other _____Unaffiliated

Thank you for your time and support

Please return completed surveys to Herb Kessel Box 166

|| Self-Study Homepage || Saint Michael's Homepage ||

Questions or comments relating to Accreditation should be directed to:
Dr. Herbert Kessel hkessel@smcvt.edu
last revised: May 11, 2000