how distance learners will shape student affairs practice on tomorrow’s campus

Leslie Dare, Ed.D.Amanda G. Thomas

Student AffairsDivision of

How Distance Learners will Shape Student Affairs Practice on

Tomorrow’s Campus

NASPA Annual ConferenceTampa, FloridaMarch 22, 2005

Presentation Agenda1. Overview of “DE & Student Affairs Survey”

• Overview of NC State & Division of Student Affairs• Overview of Distance Education at NC State• Survey Goals, Process & Methodology• Respondent Demographics• Survey Results

2. Distance Education Planning: Campus Considerations3. Distance Education Planning: Student Affairs Considerations4. Integrating the Distance Learning Population5. Recommendations for Serving Distance Learners6. Questions & Answers

Part 1Overview of Survey

NC State University

•Established 1887: Land-Grant Institution•29,000+ students

–50 States–90 Countries

•6,000+ employees•11 Colleges

Division of Student Affairs

•Mission: The Division of Student Affairs facilitates the total educational growth and development of NC State students to include personal, social, physical, cultural, leadership, and intellectual development.•35 Units •600 Employees•Motto: STUDENTS FIRST

Division Units & Programs

Women’s Center

University Career Center

ROTC

Upward Bound/Talent Search

University Scholars

Campus Activities

Student Health Services

University Housing

Carmichael ComplexFacilities & Operations

Music

Multicultural Student Affairs

Center State/Arts Outreach

Physical Education

Greek Life

Crafts Center

Caldwell Fellows

Student Conduct

Distance Education& Technology Services

Gallery of Art & Design

Counseling Center

University Dining

Dance Program

University Theatre

Health Promotions

Campus Recreation

Research & Assessment

Student Leadership, Ethics& Public Service

Why Distance Education and Student Affairs?

•Increasing numbers of distance learners

Projected Enrollment Increase:University Total = 22%Distance Education = 302%

Distance Education Enrollment

29,854

2,215

36,500

8,908

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

Fall 2003 2012

TotalDE

Why Distance Education and Student Affairs?

•Increasing numbers of distance learners•“Students First” •Accreditation: “Appropriate student development services must be provided for distance learning programs as well as on-campus programs.” •Created leadership position

Distance Education & Technology Services

•Help Division units serve distance learners •Technology Planning & Resources

29,854

2,215

36,500

8,908

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

Fall 2003 2012

TotalDE

DE is 7.42% of Total


DE is 24.40% of Total

•“Pure” DE population-Those students taking only DE courses

•“Hybrid” DE population-Those students taking both DE and On Campus courses


Primary1. Create a baseline understanding of distance learners.2. Gauge their use, sense of importance, and satisfaction of the various

services, programs and courses emanating from our Division.

Secondary1. Other units outside of the Division will be provided an opportunity to submit

items for the survey.

2. Develop and maintain partnerships with other service and program units.

Survey Goals

•DELTA •Registration & Records•Adult Credit Programs •Libraries•Orientation •Many Others

1. Overall DE Experience2. Technology Resources & Skills3. Sense of Connection4. Communication5. Services and Programs

Survey Topics

1. Census of “Distance Education” population• All students enrolled in a minimum of one distance

education course during Fall 2003 semester• N = 2,077

2. Control Group of “On Campus” population• Students not taking any distance education courses

during Fall 2003 semester• Matched against census group for gender & ethnicity• N = 6,190

Methodology – Survey Sample

1. Method• Web vs. paper• Online survey (using .asp and MySQL database)• Paper available (about 10 requests)

2. Correspondence• Initial invitation• Two follow-up messages• Bulk email used for all correspondence• Email, phone and fax used for troubleshooting

3. Incentive• Cash rewards via drawings

Methodology – Survey Distribution

20.60%23.60%

32.80%

29.10%

37.40%31.60%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Initial Invitation Follow-Up #1 Follow-Up #2

DEOn Campus

*DE Students also received follow-up from faculty just prior to Follow-up #1.

Methodology – Return Rate

1. Gender2. Ethnicity3. Age4. Full-Time/Part-Time Status5. Classification

Demographics

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

DE Hybrid DE Pure Total DE On Campus Total Campus

FemaleMale

Respondent Profile - Gender

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%


African American AsianHispanic Native AmericanOther White

Respondent Profile - Ethnicity

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%


Under 1818 - 2223 and up

Respondent Profile - Age

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


Full-TimePart-Time

Respondent Profile - Status

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


Life Long Ed Freshman SophomoreJunior Senior Graduate

Respondent Profile - Classification

SurveyResults

1. Purpose for today is not to make a complete report on the survey data, but rather to set the stage for a discussion about responding to this new population in our practice.

2. This survey conducted in November 2003 and population has already changed; this is just a snapshot of that time frame. (Survey will be repeated in November 2005.)

3. Full survey data and previous presentations available on the website.

Reminders

1. Primary Reason for Taking DE Course2. Frequency of Campus Visits3. Reasons for Campus Visits

Section 1: Overall DE Experience

0%5%

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

Daily Weekly Monthly Once/Twicea Semester

Never

Hybrid DEPure DE

Frequency of Campus Visits

0%10%

20%30%

40%

50%60%

70%

80%

Live t

oo far

Work

Financi

al

Family

Course n

/a on

campu

s

On campu

s sectio

n full

Prefer

DEOthe

r

Hybrid DEPure DE

Primary Reason for Taking DE Course

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Use Compu

terRes

ource

s

Use Li

braries

Purcha

se Tex

tbooks

Supplie

s

Meet A

dviso

r

Meet In

structo

r

Register fo

r Cou

rses

Pay fo

r Cou

rses

Get ID Card

Attend N

C State Events

Take T

ests

and E

xams

Other

Hybrid DEPure DE

Reasons for Campus Visits

1. Satisfaction of Overall Computer Skills2. Type of Internet Connection at Home3. Quality of Internet Connection at Home

Section 2: Technology

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Very Unsatisfied Unsatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied

Hybrid DEPure DEOn Campus

Satisfaction of Overall Computer Skills

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Do not connect Telephonemodem

Highspeed Wireless Don’t know


Type of Internet Connection at Home

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Do notconnect

Unacceptable Poor Adequate Good Excellent

Hybrid DEPure DE

Quality of Internet Connection at Home

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Do not connect Several times aday

Once a day Several times aweek

Once a week


Frequency of Typical Internet Home Use

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Home Work NC State Campus Public Library Other


Locations for Internet Connection

1. Students in course2. Other students in general3. Instructor4. Academic advisor5. Academic department6. Faculty in general7. NC State in general

Section 3: Sense of Connection With…

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Very Unimportant Unimportant Important Very Important


Sense of Connection: Other Students in Course

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%



Sense of Connection: Other Students in General

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%



Sense of Connection: Instructor

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%



Sense of Connection: Academic Advisor

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%



Sense of Connection: Academic Department

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%



Sense of Connection: Faculty

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%



Sense of Connection: NC State University

•Receiving Initial Communication•Receiving Subsequent Communication•Sending Communication

Section 4: Communication Preference

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Mail Email Website Chat Phone In person

Receive InitialReceive SubsequentSend

Communication Preference – DE Pure

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Mail Email Website Chat Phone In person

Receive InitialReceive SubsequentSend

Communication Preference – On Campus

•Academic Advising - Credit Programs Office•Academic Advising - Faculty Advisors•Academic Advising - Virtual Advising Center•All Campus Student ID Card•Bookstores•Career Center•Cashier’s Office•Center Stage•Chaplains’ Cooperative Ministry•Club Sports •Computing Help Desk - College

Section 5: Services and Programs

•Rating on Importance and Satisfaction

•Computing Help Desk - University•Counseling Center •Crafts Center•Dance Program•Dining•Financial Aid •Fitness/Wellness •Gallery of Art and Design•Greek Life•Gym Facilities •Health Promotion


•Rating on Importance and Satisfaction

•Housing•Intramural Sports•Library Services•Multicultural Student Affairs•Music•Orientation •Online Leadership Development Series •Outdoor Adventures •Parents and Families Services•Physical Education•Registration & Records•Student Center

•Student Conduct•Student Government•Student Handbook•Student Leadership, Ethics & Public Service •Student Health Services •Student Legal Services •Student Media•Student Organizations •Theatre Programs•WolfCamp•Women’s Center

•Club Sports•Intramurals•Outdoor Adventures•Fitness/Wellness•Gymnasium•Counseling Center•Student Legal Services•Student Health Services•Online Leadership Development Services•Virtual Orientation


•Currently NOT Available to Distance Learners•Rating on Importance and Likeliness

55%

30%

9%5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Very Unlikely Unlikely Likely Very Likely

Club Sports - Likeliness

14% Combined

53%

32%

10%5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%


Intramurals - Likeliness

15% Combined

46%

34%

15%

5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%


Outdoor Adventures - Likeliness

20% Combined

36%

26%25%

13%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%


Fitness/Wellness - Likeliness

38% Combined

31%

25%21% 23%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%


Gymnasium - Likeliness

44% Combined

37% 34%

22%

8%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%


Counseling Center - Likeliness

30% Combined

33%

39%

21%

7%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%


Student Legal Services - Likeliness

28% Combined

35%

33%

16% 16%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%


Student Health Services - Likeliness

32% Combined

33% 35%

25%

6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%


Online Leadership Development Series - Likeliness

31% Combined

34% 36%

23%

7%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%


Virtual Orientation - Likeliness

30% Combined

Highlights from Survey

•Accurate profile of distance learners•Success with online survey and bulk email•Good skills, good connections•Importance is slippery•If we build it, they will come

Part 2DE Planning:

Campus Considerations

DE Planning: Campus ConsiderationsEnrollment Conundrum

• DE is the supposed solution to already growing enrollment;

• At the same time, we are actively recruiting new DE audiences • military, community colleges, corporate• “OneCampus” campaign

• Result of straining our resources

DE Planning: Campus ConsiderationsProjected Enrollment

• 9% per year student headcount(both “pure” and “hybrid”)

• 15% per year student credit hours(both “pure” and “hybrid”)

DE Planning: Campus ConsiderationsGrowth of Degree Programs

1. 1999 (Designation of DE funding)• 3 Master’s programs

2. 2004-2005• 10 Graduate programs• 10 Certificate programs

3. 2005-2006• 14 Graduate programs• 10+ Certificate programs

4. 2006-2008• 19 Graduate programs• 10+ Certificate programs• Undergraduate degree completion programs

Administration1. Deliberate inclusion of courses taught via DE

as part of the tenure review process.2. Integration of admissions, billing, registration

for courses, registration windows.3. Integration of tuition and fees model.

DE Planning: Campus Considerations

Part 3DE Planning:

Student Affairs Considerations

Services & Programs1. Allocation of funds to Student Affairs (2000)

from DE budget2. Funds used to create a full-time position

(2001); “Distance Education Coordinator” now is “Director, DE & Technology Services”

3. Creation of “Distance Education/Technology Advisory Group” (2002)

DE Planning: Student Affairs Considerations

Services & Programs4. Administration of “DE & Student Affairs

Survey” (2003)5. Dissemination of Results; Decisions

• Division-wide presentation• Unit presentations• Special Requests• Repeat in 2005• “Likeliness” groups involved in fee

discussion


Services & Programs6. Integration of Fees Model

• Possible new model: per credit hour• Concern of suddenly serving significantly

larger population• Concern of managing expectations• Concern of providing appropriate services


Part 4Integrating theDE Population

Perceptions of Distance Learners by…1. Student Affairs literature: multi-dimensional

learners whose non-curricular needs are likely met through existing life circumstances

2. Student Affairs practitioners: confusion3. Student Affairs graduate students: not “real”

students as compared to traditional4. Distance Learners: in some cases, don’t need

anything beyond basic administrative services; unaware of potential services not currently available and/or advertised.

Integrating the DE Population

Summary: This is the “invisible” population.1. Not physically on campus2. Currently most are not in degree programs (though

that will shift in several years)3. Not often considered in events, budgeting, planning

(especially in Student Affairs)4. Separate/not-available services5. Somewhat analogous to other populations who

were small and marginalized, but are now more mainstreamed.

Integrating the DE Population

Suggestions

•Investigate campus resources•Figure out how distance education is administered and funded•Not everybody understands “Distance Education”•Be aware of the politics•Be aware that not everyone is committed to serving this population•Look for data already collected at your institution

Questions& Answers

Assessing the Co-Curricular Needs of Distance Learners:A Student Affairs Perspective

Leslie A. Dare, Ed.D.Amanda G. Thomas

Division of Student AffairsNC State UniversityCampus Box 7301Raleigh, NC 27695-7301

[email protected]

[email protected]

•This Presentationhttp://www.ncsu.edu/student_affairs/naspa05/

•This Projecthttp://www.ncsu.edu/student_affairs/survey/de.html

•Distance Education & Technology Services (Student Affairs, NC State)http://www.ncsu.edu/student_affairs/dets/

•Research & Assessment (Student Affairs, NC State)http://www.ncsu.edu/student_affairs/sara/

•Division of Student Affairs (NC State)http://www.ncsu.edu/student_affairs/