Student input needed for national survey

The president is pushing participation in a survey to determine how students feel about this college.

The online survey has been active since Feb. 15 and is available only to 1,894 randomly selected students.

Of those students, only 8 percent have participated.

In 2008, the college offered the national survey, called Noel-Levitz student satisfaction inventory, but it was a paper and pencil survey and took up classroom time.

This year, the college tried an online version through a secure Web site and required students to log on with a password.

The college pays 25 cents per invitation, for a total of $473.50, whether they respond or not, and will cost more per response.

The last day to participate is March 22.

Sonia V. Valdez, coordinator of measurement and evaluation in the institutional effectiveness office, said the college budgeted for this survey because the administration thinks it's important.

Once the survey is complete, people will be able to compare the college's results with those of other colleges that participated.

The survey yielded only 1 percent participation in its first two weeks.

At that point, Valdez said, "We knew it was a total fiasco."

Part of the problem is that so many students don't check their PALS e-mail account, she said.

The survey includes online students and those who are enrolled in San Antonio College courses at Northeast Lakeview College.

Valdez then sent a notice to the selected students' personal e-mails and the participation was at about 3 percent to 4 percent.

As another way to gauge interest in the survey, she said President Robert Zeigler sent out voice messages to the selected students' phones.

Participation went up to 6 percent.

Valdez said she called Noel-Levitz and they told her that to have a valid survey, the college would need a minimum of 15 percent participation.

The student life office was asked to post fliers letting students know they should check their PALS accounts to see if they were chosen.

Zeigler also mentioned the Noel-Levitz survey on KSYM's morning talk show, The Sauce, to promote awareness.

The college's Web page also features an announcement requesting that students check their e-mail.

Valdez urged students who were selected to participate because it will give them an opportunity to improve the college.

"Students are the focal point of everything we do here. Without feedback, how can we better the college?" she said.

The survey is designed to take 10-15 minutes and includes questions on parking, registration, convenient class times and library resources.

Students can input how important those services are to them and their current level of satisfaction with how the college is handling them.