Assessment Projects - Residence Life

Freshman Connections Retention Tracking Project
The Freshman Connections (FC) Retention Tracking Project is an annual fall assessment of freshmen retention through graduation. Residence Life staff sort NAU freshman students into cohorts defined by where they live their freshman year. There are five different cohorts: those living on-campus in 1) FC halls, 2) Greek housing/Mountain View Hall, 3) Upper Division halls, and 4) Family Housing, and those living 5) off-campus. These living arrangements have varying degrees of support targeted for freshman students. Comparisons of these five cohorts’ retention rates are used to illuminate connections between student retention and housing. Ultimately, the results inform residence hall programming in a variety of ways. A secondary purpose of the project is to determine NAU freshmen retention rates for various cohorts and compare these rates to national numbers in order to assess success relative to other institutions.

Annual Quality of Life Survey
Quality of Life is a satisfaction survey administered each spring to the on-campus resident population. The survey consists of items pertaining to the several key areas: academic environment, community, diversity, and facilities. The results obtained from Quality of Life are used annually to assess the fulfillment of department, area, and hall goals; to identify areas of needed improvements; and generally to inform potential and continuing NAU students as well as staff, faculty, and administrators about on-campus housing at the university. Furthermore, the results of the survey are analyzed longitudinally to assess progress or other changes over time. (Go to Full Report)

Freshman Connections Computer Survey
All incoming freshmen who live in one of the four Freshman Connections halls on campus are asked upon moving in, “Did you bring a computer with you to campus?” Initially, the university was interested in acquiring this information because NAU leadership was considering requiring all students to bring a personal computer with them to NAU. While that requirement was never implemented for a variety of reasons, the survey has continued to be administered. The results are available each year to inform a variety of university decisions from levels of staffing support for student computer users, to size and hours of full service campus computer laboratories, to a faculty member’s curriculum (e.g., requirements to use CD Roms, submit word processed homework). (Go to Full Report)

Resident Assistant Evaluation
Resident Assistant (RA) evaluations are compiled each fall and spring. To assist with this process, some residential areas choose to evaluate RAs by administering a satisfaction survey to residents on the topics of student interaction, community development, and programming. The main purpose of the survey is to assist in the assessment of RA performance and develop appropriate follow up in terms of daily supervision and training.