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The Office of Student Affairs at the University of Louisville administered an online survey to students at the end of last semester. The purpose of the survey was to gather information about satisfaction in regards to programs, services and the campus community as a whole.

Roughly 6,000 emails were sent to randomly selected students from each class at U of L to participate in the survey. The survey is set up as statements where students have to evaluate the importance of a program or service and the level of satisfaction.

According to Becky Clark, Executive Director of Student Affairs at U of L, the Noel-Levitz survey is administered in several universities throughout the U.S. The responses are then analyzed by Noel-Levitz and U of L will have access to them, as well as comparisons of their scores with other colleges. Clark said they hope to gain insight as to which aspect of campus students find most and least satisfying, how U of L can best meet student expectations, and how they can be more effective in developing a challenging academic environment for their students.

“Our goal is to better serve our students by communicating with them directly and helping them throughout their college experience to be successful by meeting their needs and expectations,” said Clark. “The academic achievement of our student body has continued to improve, and with that, we know comes new and different expectations from students.”

Lauren Brooks, a senior majoring in psychology and sociology, received an email to take the survey, but said she has been really busy, so taking it was a low priority for her.

“I wanted to take [the survey] because I think it is really important for the school,” Brooks said. “It is beneficial for U of L to know what students think.”

Brooks, on the whole, is satisfied with U of L. She has found small problems with advising and the food selection on campus. She would like to see more helpful advisors and healthier food options available on campus. Brooks has also been preparing for graduate school and suggests U of L have better ways of reaching those like her.

“I had a problem knowing what to do in the beginning,” Brooks said. “I’m fine now, but at first I thought, ‘GRE? What?'”

According to Clark, student input is so important because their insights are helpful in evaluating current programs and also in developing newer and more challenging ones. Clark also hopes that they will receive feedback from those on campus as well at those who commute from different areas.

“We want to find ways to engage all of our students in the university community, so this survey is very important as we work to improve services to both commuters and to students living on campus,” Clark said.

Ashley Scholey, a senior majoring in communication, said her biggest complaint is the fact that U of L requires too many General Education classes that she feels have nothing to do with her major.

“They require too many unimportant classes and it takes away focus from what I want to do,” Scholey said. As a result, she feels that her grades in the communication courses are suffering. Scholey did not receive an email to take the survey.

The results of the survey should be in by mid-spring, Clark said. She hopes to then ask for students to help interpret the results as well as help find ways to improve. An email will be sent through Netmail at that point asking for participants.

If students are interested now, however, they should contact Becky Clark at riclar01@louisville.edu or 852-5197.