Students’ responses to the open-ended questions echoed and amplified their responses to the closed ended, forced choice questions (described in the first report). Students are consistently focused on how to reach their goal of graduating with a high quality degree. Students are well-informed about effective teaching and learning methods and expect the university to be continuously improving its delivery of education.
Students identified a number of barriers or challenges that they face on the way to obtaining their goals. Two areas clearly in need of action are those most often experienced by students in their first semesters at CSULB, whether they enter as freshmen or transfers. These are advising and general education. There are a number of commonalities these two areas share: they are outside of the scope of responsibility of any one college, department, or academic program, and they have not been evaluated in terms of expected outcomes.
These two areas could be addressed holistically by creating a campus entity to oversee both general education and pre-major advising. This entity would be charged with the responsibility for student retention in the first two years for students who have yet to select a major as well as with the responsibility for the coordination and assessment of the general education program.
The results of this first solicitation of student comments on their educational experience at CSULB should be widely disseminated through a number of media. There should also be venues or events where students can discuss these findings and provide feedback. Finally, additional surveys should be administers on a regular basis to evaluate university progress in addressing student concerns.
