Diversity at Stetson: Diversity at Stetson: Perspectives of Students Perspectives of Students

and Faculty and Faculty

John TichenorJohn TichenorAssociate Professor of Decision and Associate Professor of Decision and

Information ScienceInformation Science

BackgroundBackground

NSSE (The National Survey of NSSE (The National Survey of Student Engagement)Student Engagement)

Stetson regularly participates in Stetson regularly participates in NSSE (2006, 2008, 2010, NSSE (2006, 2008, 2010, 20122012))

FSSE (Faculty Survey of Student FSSE (Faculty Survey of Student Engagement) began in 2008Engagement) began in 2008

Stetson regularly participates in FSSE Stetson regularly participates in FSSE (2008, 2010, 2012)(2008, 2010, 2012)

NSSE BasicsNSSE Basics Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington

Center for Postsecondary ResearchCenter for Postsecondary Research Survey examines student Survey examines student

engagement in a variety of areasengagement in a variety of areas– Time and effort spent in educational Time and effort spent in educational

activitiesactivities– Levels of institutional commitment in Levels of institutional commitment in

various areasvarious areas Student engagement measured in Student engagement measured in

first and senior yearsfirst and senior years

NSSE items specifically related NSSE items specifically related to diversity issuesto diversity issues

Had serious conversations with students of a Had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your own different race or ethnicity than your own (Item 1.u.)(Item 1.u.)

To what extent has Stetson:To what extent has Stetson:– encouraged contact among students from different encouraged contact among students from different

economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds (Item (Item 10.c.)10.c.)

– encouraged understanding people of other racial and encouraged understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds ethnic backgrounds (Item 11.l.)(Item 11.l.)

Included diverse perspectives (different races, Included diverse perspectives (different races, religions, genders, political beliefs, etc.) in class religions, genders, political beliefs, etc.) in class discussions or writing assignments discussions or writing assignments (Item 1.e.)(Item 1.e.)

Tried to better understand someone else's views Tried to better understand someone else's views by imagining how an issue looks from his or her by imagining how an issue looks from his or her perspective perspective (Item 6.e.)(Item 6.e.)

Had serious conversations with students of a Had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your owndifferent race or ethnicity than your own

(NSSE Item 1.u.)(NSSE Item 1.u.)

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

2006 FirstYears

2010 FirstYears

2006Seniors

2010Seniors

NeverSometimesOftenVery often

Are there differences in reported Are there differences in reported interactions by ethnicity/race of interactions by ethnicity/race of

student?student? NSSE survey respondents matched NSSE survey respondents matched

institutional demographics extremely institutional demographics extremely well.well.

– 2010 2010 Stetson Census Stetson Census White (non-Hispanic) = 73%White (non-Hispanic) = 73%– 2010 NSSE White (non-Hispanic) respondents = 2010 NSSE White (non-Hispanic) respondents =

74%74%

– 2010 2010 Stetson Census Stetson Census African American = 5.8%African American = 5.8%– 2010 NSSE African American respondents = 5.9%2010 NSSE African American respondents = 5.9%

Had serious conversations with students of a Had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your owndifferent race or ethnicity than your own

(2010 NSSE Item 1.u.)(2010 NSSE Item 1.u.)

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

2010ALANA

FYs

2010ALANASeniors

2010White FYs

2010White

Seniors

NeverSometimesOftenVery often

What is faculty perception?What is faculty perception?

The FSSE item:The FSSE item:– About how often has the typical student About how often has the typical student

had serious conversations with students had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than his of a different race or ethnicity than his or her own?or her own?

What do YOU think faculty perceive What do YOU think faculty perceive regarding this item?regarding this item?

Had serious conversations with students of a Had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than his or her owndifferent race or ethnicity than his or her own

(FSSE Item 7.u.)(FSSE Item 7.u.)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

2008 Faculty 2010 Faculty

NeverSometimesOftenVery often

A Faculty Disconnect?A Faculty Disconnect?

When we compare what When we compare what students students report report to what to what faculty perceivefaculty perceive, , there is a noticeable difference.there is a noticeable difference.

Who is correct?Who is correct? Does it matter?Does it matter? Is there something to learn here?Is there something to learn here?

Had serious conversations with students Had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than his or of a different race or ethnicity than his or

her own “often” or “very often” her own “often” or “very often” (2010 (2010 Results)Results)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Student Report FacultyPerception

First-YearsSeniors

Does Stetson encourage Does Stetson encourage contact among students from contact among students from different economic, social, and different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds? racial or ethnic backgrounds?

To what extent does Stetson encourage contact among To what extent does Stetson encourage contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic

backgrounds? backgrounds? (NSSE Item 10.c.)(NSSE Item 10.c.)

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

2006 FirstYears

2010 FirstYears

2006Seniors

2010Seniors

Very littleSomeQuite a bitVery much

ALANA and White student ALANA and White student perspectivesperspectives

Does Stetson encourage contact Does Stetson encourage contact among students from different among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds?backgrounds?

Do you think ALANA and White Do you think ALANA and White students share the same perceptions?students share the same perceptions?

Do you think perceptions change from Do you think perceptions change from first year to senior year when first year to senior year when controlling for race/ethnicity?controlling for race/ethnicity?

To what extent does Stetson encourage contact among To what extent does Stetson encourage contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic

backgrounds? backgrounds? (NSSE Item 10.c.)(NSSE Item 10.c.)

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

2010ALANA

FYs

2010ALANASeniors

2010White FYs

2010White

Seniors

Very littleSomeQuite a bitVery much

What do Stetson Faculty What do Stetson Faculty think?think?

Do faculty believe Stetson Do faculty believe Stetson encourages contact among students encourages contact among students from different economic, social, and from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds? racial or ethnic backgrounds?

To what extent does Stetson encourage contact To what extent does Stetson encourage contact among students from different economic, social, and among students from different economic, social, and

racial or ethnic backgrounds?racial or ethnic backgrounds?

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

2008 Faculty 2010 Faculty

Very littleSomeQuite a bitVery much

Stetson encourages contact among students Stetson encourages contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or from different economic, social, and racial or

ethnic backgrounds “quite a bit” or “very ethnic backgrounds “quite a bit” or “very much” much”

(2010 Results)(2010 Results)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

StudentPerception

FacultyPerception

First-YearsSeniors

To what extent has your To what extent has your experience at Stetson experience at Stetson contributed to your knowledge, contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal skills, and personal development in development in understanding people of understanding people of other racial and ethnic other racial and ethnic backgroundsbackgrounds??

(NSSE Item 11.l.)(NSSE Item 11.l.)

To what extent has your experience at Stetson contributed to your To what extent has your experience at Stetson contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in knowledge, skills, and personal development in understanding understanding

people of other racial and ethnic backgroundspeople of other racial and ethnic backgrounds? ? (NSSE Item 11.l.)(NSSE Item 11.l.)

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

2010ALANA

FYs

2010ALANASeniors

2010White FYs

2010White

Seniors

Very littleSomeQuite a bitVery much

How do students perceive their How do students perceive their relationships at Stetson?relationships at Stetson?

How do students perceive their How do students perceive their relationships at Stetson?relationships at Stetson?

Averages on a 7-point scale (7 = best Averages on a 7-point scale (7 = best relationships)relationships)

OTHER STUDENTSOTHER STUDENTS– ALANA=5.64, White (non-Hispanic)=5.72ALANA=5.64, White (non-Hispanic)=5.72

FACULTY MEMBERSFACULTY MEMBERS– ALANA=5.68, White (non-Hispanic)=5.80ALANA=5.68, White (non-Hispanic)=5.80

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFADMINISTRATIVE STAFF– ALANA=5.15, White (non-Hispanic)=4.85ALANA=5.15, White (non-Hispanic)=4.85

Stetson’s NSSE Results on the Stetson’s NSSE Results on the WebWeb

http://www.stetson.edu/administration/iro/

Results include peer schools and Results include peer schools and national comparisonsnational comparisons