Communicating with Communicating with Off-campus Students Off-campus Students

Elizabeth CastroElizabeth CastroMay 17, 2005May 17, 2005

University of St Thomas University of St Thomas School Of Education School Of Education

Off-campus “cohort” ProgramsOff-campus “cohort” Programs

• Offered in locations convenient to practicing professionals and local school districts.

• 12 to 16 graduate programs each year for cohorts of 30 students.

• Degree programs are generally 2 to 2 1/2 years in duration.

• Offered in locations convenient to practicing professionals and local school districts.

• 12 to 16 graduate programs each year for cohorts of 30 students.

• Degree programs are generally 2 to 2 1/2 years in duration.

Cohort DefinitionCohort Definition

A “Cohort” is a group of students who enroll at the same time and go through a program by taking the same courses at the same time.

A “Cohort” is a group of students who enroll at the same time and go through a program by taking the same courses at the same time.

Research QuestionResearch Question

Are the communication methods Are the communication methods of the School of Education meetingof the School of Education meeting

the information needs of the information needs of off-campus students?off-campus students?

Objectives Objectives

• To understand off-campus students information needs.

• To know what they are currently receiving from the School of Education.

• To learn about their preferred method of communication.

• To understand off-campus students information needs.

• To know what they are currently receiving from the School of Education.

• To learn about their preferred method of communication.

MethodologyMethodology

• Mail survey with 16 questions

• Sent to all 468 current off-campus students

• 147 students (31.4%) responded

• Mail survey with 16 questions

• Sent to all 468 current off-campus students

• 147 students (31.4%) responded

How knowledgeable are you How knowledgeable are you about...?about...?

75%

53% 51%

30% 29% 24% 21% 19%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Onlineresources

Library serv

RegistrationDrop/Addpolicies

FinancialAid

SoEducMission &Vission

Businessoffice

USTMission &Vission

Knowledgeable or extremely knowledgeable

How important are the following to How important are the following to your success in class?your success in class?

82%

73%

51%

41%

35%30%

3%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Access libraryonline

Comm. withadvisor

Access library on-campus

Availab Admstaff

Interact w othercohort students

Interact w alarger group of

students

Studying on-campus

Important or extremely important

What kind of information would you What kind of information would you like to receive?like to receive?(Check all that apply)(Check all that apply)

31%27%

10% 10% 10% 9%

3%0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

News specprogr

Workshops& seminars

Job fairs Registration Careercounseling

serv

UST SoEdnews

UST events

How do you receive information?How do you receive information?(Check all that apply)(Check all that apply)

35%

20% 18%14%

9%3% 1%0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

email postal mail Blackboard Handouts CohortCommBoard

Phone Others

How would you want to receive How would you want to receive information?information?

(1 to 5; 5 most preferred)(1 to 5; 5 most preferred)

4.81

3.66 3.32 3.11 2.86

1.030

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

email postal mail cohort commboard

Blackboard handouts phone

Average rank

YesYes

Are the communication methods Are the communication methods

of the School of Education meetingof the School of Education meeting

the information needs of the information needs of

off-campus students?off-campus students?

ConclusionsConclusions• Needs Met:

• Need: Library access online• Students knowledgeable about online services

• Need: Interaction with cohort• School of Education provides online cohort

community tool

• Prefer: E-mail and postal mail.• School of Education regularly use e-mail and

postal mail

• Needs Met:• Need: Library access online• Students knowledgeable about online services

• Need: Interaction with cohort• School of Education provides online cohort

community tool

• Prefer: E-mail and postal mail.• School of Education regularly use e-mail and

postal mail

ConclusionsConclusions

• Needs Unmet:

• More information about their specific program• More communication with advisors• More information about workshops and seminars• More information about policies and financial aid

• Needs Unmet:

• More information about their specific program• More communication with advisors• More information about workshops and seminars• More information about policies and financial aid

RecommendationsRecommendations

• Delivery methods:• Continue use of e-mail and postal mail• Increase communication with advisors• Increase use of Blackboard• Increase use of cohort community board

• Delivery methods:• Continue use of e-mail and postal mail• Increase communication with advisors• Increase use of Blackboard• Increase use of cohort community board

• Information needs:• Increase amount of information about:

• Specific programs• Policies and Financial Aid• Workshops and Seminars

• Information needs:• Increase amount of information about:

• Specific programs• Policies and Financial Aid• Workshops and Seminars

Questions?Questions?