Res Life Spring 2002 Quality of Life Survey

Overview:
Quality of Life is a satisfaction survey administered each spring to the on-campus resident population. Of this population, approximately 50% respond to the survey annually, providing a robust sample of data. The survey consists of items related to academic environment, diversity, educational and social programming, operations, physical features, residents’ efforts, staff, and overall satisfaction. Please see Appendix A for a complete list of items. In aggregate, many survey items also are indicators of the sense of community that exists in each hall and area, and across campus housing. 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 improvement; and generally to inform potential and continuing NAU students, as well as staff, faculty, and administrators about on-campus housing at the university. The results of the survey are also used for longitudinal analysis.

For the first time, Quality of Life was conducted on-line during the spring 2003 semester. The survey was shorter and included more area-specific items compared to previous years, allowing for the survey to take approximately ten minutes to complete and providing detailed results for particular areas of Residence Life. Given the new method of administering the survey, this year’s data represents a new baseline. Thus, although comparisons of results from this year and other years have been made, these may not be as meaningful as comparisons of this year’s data with subsequent years’ data.

Traditional, Suite, and Apartment-Style Housing Snapshot:
Northern Arizona University has traditional, suite, and apartment-style housing, including Freshman Connections halls for new first year students, upper-class housing for single students, and suite-style Greek housing. Overall, items from the survey regarding diversity, staff, and physical features (or facilities) scored the highest in percent Strongly Agree + Agree, while some staff and education/social programming items were among the lowest scoring items. Items pertaining to physical features and diversity had the largest increases from the previous year. Changes from 2002 to 2003 range from +2.5% to -10.2 %. Please see Appendix B for complete 2003 survey results.

Family Housing Snapshot:
Family housing on the NAU campus is available to married couples and students with children. Scores (Strongly Agree + Agree) for items regarding physical features, staff, and overall satisfaction were among the highest. Scores for items specific to the family housing version of the survey were among both the highest and lowest item scores. For example, the item “I would prefer to live in a smoke-free complex” was the highest scoring item. Additionally, as is true for traditional, suite, and apartment-style housing, items pertaining to physical features and academics had the largest increases this year over last year. Changes from 2002 to 2003 range from +8.5% to -15.3%. Appendix B contains complete 2003 survey results.

Pine Ridge Village Snapshot:
Pine Ridge Village is the new apartment-style housing for single students on the Mountain Campus. It is a public/private partnership and thus unique at NAU. Because of this uniqueness, a survey specific to Pine Ridge residents was administered this year. Results of the survey indicate that residents are: 1) highly satisfied with the physical features of the complex; 2) not highly likely to make an effort to get to know one another; and 3) not highly likely to expect staff to provide programming for them. Please see Appendix B for complete 2003 survey results.

Longitudinal Data:
The Quality of Life administered by Residence Life each spring is analyzed both annually and longitudinally. For example, since adding the item “Living in a residence hall has enriched my college experience” in 1999, a steady trend has been observed that year after year nearly 90% of the survey respondents agree with this statement (Figure 1). This data informs marketing, such as is done during Previews, as well as validates Residence Life efforts toward positively impacting student.

Figure 1

Another example of our longitudinal use of the survey involves results from the item “I find my hall quiet enough to study.” When looking at aggregate results from apartment residents from 2000 to 2003, a steady increase in Strongly Agree + Agree percentages (Figure 2) can easily be seen. This data informs hall staffs of residents’ higher and higher satisfaction with quiet hours and adequacy of the study environment(s). Furthermore, Area Coordinators in Residence Life use this information to praise staff for their efforts to increase academic support in apartment-style housing. Lastly, this information leads to the analysis of practices within apartment-style housing and examine the transferability of such practices to other halls. Complete results for Quality of Life longitudinal data (1999-2003) are available in Appendix C.

Figure 2

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Northern Arizona University Office of Residence Life Quality of Life, Spring 2003 - Executive Narrative
Overview: Quality of Life is a satisfaction survey administered each spring to the on-campus resident population. Of this population, approximately 50% respond to the survey annually, providing a robust sample of data. The survey consists of items related to academic environment, diversity, educational and social programming, operations, physical features, residents’ efforts, staff, and overall satisfaction. Please see Appendix A for a complete list of items. In aggregate, many survey items also are indicators of the sense of community that exists in each hall and area, and across campus housing. 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 improvement; and generally to inform potential and continuing NAU students, as well as staff, faculty, and administrators about on-campus housing at the university. The results of the survey are also used for longitudinal analysis. For the first time, Quality of Life was conducted on-line during the spring 2003 semester. The survey was shorter and included more area-specific items compared to previous years, allowing for the survey to take approximately ten minutes to complete and providing detailed results for particular areas of Residence Life. Given the new method of administering the survey, this year’s data represents a new baseline. Thus, although comparisons of results from this year and other years have been made, these may not be as meaningful as comparisons of this year’s data with subsequent years’ data. Traditional, Suite, and Apartment-Style Housing Snapshot: Northern Arizona University has traditional, suite, and apartment-style housing, including Freshman Connections halls for new first year students, upper-class housing for single students, and suite-style Greek housing. Overall, items from the survey regarding diversity, staff, and physical features (or facilities) scored the highest in percent Strongly Agree + Agree, while some staff and education/social programming items were among the lowest scoring items. Items pertaining to physical features and diversity had the largest increases from the previous year. Changes from 2002 to 2003 range from +2.5% to -10.2 %. Please see Appendix B for complete 2003 survey results. Family Housing Snapshot: Family housing on the NAU campus is available to married couples and students with children. Scores (Strongly Agree + Agree) for items regarding physical features, staff, and overall satisfaction were among the highest. Scores for items specific to the family housing version of the survey were among both the highest and lowest item scores. For example, the item “I would prefer to live in a smoke-free complex” was the highest scoring item. Additionally, as is true for traditional, suite, and apartment-style housing, items pertaining to physical features and academics had the largest increases this year over last year. Changes from 2002 to 2003 range from +8.5% to -15.3%. Appendix B contains complete 2003 survey results. Pine Ridge Village Snapshot: Pine Ridge Village is the new apartment-style housing for single students on the Mountain Campus. It is a public/private partnership and thus unique at NAU. Because of this uniqueness, a survey specific to Pine Ridge residents was administered this year. Results of the survey indicate that residents are: 1) highly satisfied with the physical features of the complex; 2) not highly likely to make an effort to get to know one another; and 3) not highly likely to expect staff to provide programming for them. Please see Appendix B for complete 2003 survey results. Longitudinal Data: The Quality of Life administered by Residence Life each spring is analyzed both annually and longitudinally. For example, since adding the item “Living in a residence hall has enriched my college experience” in 1999, a steady trend has been observed that year after year nearly 90% of the survey respondents agree with this statement (Figure 1). This data informs marketing, such as is done during Previews, as well as validates Residence Life efforts toward positively impacting student. Figure 1 Another example of our longitudinal use of the survey involves results from the item “I find my hall quiet enough to study.” When looking at aggregate results from apartment residents from 2000 to 2003, a steady increase in Strongly Agree + Agree percentages (Figure 2) can easily be seen. This data informs hall staffs of residents’ higher and higher satisfaction with quiet hours and adequacy of the study environment(s). Furthermore, Area Coordinators in Residence Life use this information to praise staff for their efforts to increase academic support in apartment-style housing. Lastly, this information leads to the analysis of practices within apartment-style housing and examine the transferability of such practices to other halls. Complete results for Quality of Life longitudinal data (1999-2003) are available in Appendix C. Figure 2 Return to Student Affairs Assessment Page