Using SERU to Examine Campus Climate at the University of Iowa

A Climate Study vs. A Weather Report

For the purposes of a climate study, the unit of analysis is the institution. We can also look separately at segments of the population within the institution, but institution-level data will not convey all the ways that individual experiences might differ from the profile suggested by an institution-level summary.

1. In a number of important ways, international student and non-international student experiences are more similar than different.

Three observations based on international student responses to SERU

Agreed that there are open channels of communication between faculty and students

Agreed that students are treated equitably and fairly by faculty

Agreed that faculty provide prompt and useful feedback to students

92%

91%

85%

Satisfaction and Interaction with Faculty

92%

90%

92%

Very Often

Often

Somewhat often

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Had a class in which the professor knew or learned your name

OtherVery Often

Often

Somewhat often

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Sought academic help from instructor or tutor when

needed

Satisfaction and Interaction with Faculty

Express satisfaction with the extent of their access to faculty

92%

Express satisfaction with the quality of instruction by faculty

90%

91%

86%

Express satisfaction with the quality of instruction by TAs

81% 92%

Very Often

Often

Somewhat often

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

0% 5%10%

15%20%

25%30%

35%40%

Talked with the instructor outside of class about issues and concepts de-

rived from a course

OtherInternational

Very Often

Often

Somewhat Often

Occassionally

Rarely

Never

0% 5%10%

15%20%

25%30%

35%40%

Found a course so interesting that you did more work than was required

OtherInternational

3. On aggregate, international students tend to report high levels of satisfaction with respect to engagement with faculty, staff, and programs designed to support international students.

However, there is much greater variability in reported sense of belonging and levels of satisfaction with engagement with other students.

Three observations based on international student responses to SERU

1. In a number of important ways, international student and non-international student experiences are more similar than different.

2. As a group, international students tend to be less satisfied with what they’re gaining through their university experience.

* This session is based on a more extensive set of slides that we use for presenting these findings on our campus. In order to keep the session brief for the purposes of the SERU meeting, this session does not include the data slides for Observation #2.

*

Belonging

Strong agree

Agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

I feel that I belong at this institution

OtherInternational“Let the international

students feel more like home here at University of Iowa.”

“Different departments should hold more students' interaction activities, like communication and conversation group between students in different ethnicity. There are lots of activities like this, but seldom much people attend.”

Very satisfied

Satisfied

Somewhat satisfied

Somewhat dissatisfied

Distatisfied

Very Disatisifed

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Overall Social Experience

OtherInternational

Time with other students

When asked to estimated who they are spending time with, both academically and socially, what percentage of international students identified …

“Almost all” or “mostly”

international students

About half international

and half American

“Almost all” or “mostly”

American students

54% 35% 11%

“I think its too hard to make various race friends in here. Student just hang out with same race people.”

0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.51

2

3

4

5

6

Respect

“Students of my race/ethnicity are respected on this campus.”

Strongly Agree

Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

International Students

U.S. URMStudents

White / Caucasian Students

All Students

“I think the university should teach the American students to better understand cultural diversity's benefit and necessity so that it would make studying and living easier and happier for both international students and American students.”

In light of these observations, what steps might help improve the campus climate for international students at UI? Possible areas to consider include …

1. Ideas for increasing levels of engagement in class and interaction with faculty for all students, including international students

2. Ideas for supporting international student learning, success, and recognition of progress toward achieving their academic goals

3. Ideas for fostering international student sense of belonging to the UI community and constructive engagement with U.S. students

Implications of international student responses to SERU for supporting student success