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Reclaiming Lutheran Students Project

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AGENDA

• Reclaiming Lutheran Students: background• Research findings:

– Church leaders’ expectations for Lutheran education

– Alumni experiences and outcomes– Greater church involvement by Lutheran college

graduates– What parents don’t know about Lutheran education

• RLS communication campaign• How can the Church help?

RLS Background

• Currently, only 5% of Lutheran students enroll in Lutheran colleges

• Task force of college leaders was formed to investigate

• Goals: increase awareness of Lutheran college value among Lutheran families; increase Lutheran enrollment by at least one percentage point – to 6%.

We hope the Church will share this goal, because…

Church member

Do volunteer activities

Bible study

Committees

Teaching

Youth work

Church council

LutherancollegeLutherans

FlagshippublicLutherans

Lutheran College Graduates Are More Likely to Participate Actively in their Churches

Q.22 Are you involved in any of the following church activities?

S = Significant difference

Committee Recommendation: Three Interlocking Research Projects

– Alumni research: undergraduate experiences and life outcomes

– Parent research: expectations and perceptions of college education

– Church leader research: expectations and perceptions of college education

Church Leader Methodology

–Mail surveys sent to the following ELCA and LCMS groups:

• Bishops• District Presidents• Pastors of the 300 largest congregations in each

synod• Lutheran high school teachers• Lutheran church youth directors

–A total of 1900 surveys mailed

–630 returned for an overall response rate of 33%

St. Olaf

Luther

Concordia College (Moorhead, MN)

Pacific Lutheran University

Gustavus Adolphus

Wartburg

Augustana (SD)

Augustana (IL)

Augsburg

California Lutheran

Valparaiso

Wittenberg

• National Awareness of Lutheran Colleges--ELCA

Q.8 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? (mentions above 50%)

Concordia (IL)

Concordia (NE)

Concordia (WI)

Concordia (CA)

Concordia (St. Paul, MN)

Concordia (NY)

Concordia (MI)

Concordia (TX)

Valparaiso

Concordia (OR)

Concordia (AL)

Q.8 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? (all LCMS colleges)

• National Awareness of Lutheran Colleges--LCMS

According to Church pastors, teachers, youth directors:

To what extent do you agree that the Church has done as much as it should to inform you of the value

of Lutheran colleges?

ELCA: 22% -- LCMS: 29%

THE CHURCH’S EXPECTATIONS FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE

EXPERIENCE

• A commitment to good teaching and a personalized learning experience

• A strong sense of community and the value of involvement beyond the classroom

• The integration of faith and values into the college experience

High quality, teaching oriented faculty

Reputation for excellence in student'sacademic area

Strong overall academic reputation

Professors who challenge, but help meetchallenges

Good academic facilities and equipment

Affordable cost

Employment opportunities aftergraduation

A Commitment to Good Teaching and a Personalized Learning Experience

Q.13 How important should each of the following be in selecting a college?

Q.15 How important is it for students to have each of the following academic opportunities in college?

Where likely to find: no difference

Mentoring relationships withprofessors, others

Involvement in classroom discussions

Internships/other applied learning

All classes taught by professors

Conversations with professorsoutside of class

Many small classes

Classes that include the perspectivesof women and minorities

Likelihood of graduating in four years

Faculty directed research orindependent study

International study

Sense of community on campus

Balance between academics andsocial/personal development

Volunteering or other communityservice

Participating in intramural sports

Participating in music or theater

A Strong Sense of Community and the Value of Involvement Beyond the Classroom

Where likely to find: no difference/Lutheran

10/89%

36/58%

42/54%

61/24%

34/57%

Emphasis on personal values andethics

Integration of values and ethicsin classroom discussions

Learning more about their faith

Meeting people on whom to modeltheir spiritual life

Participating in church orreligious activities

Interacting with students ofsimilar values

The Integration of Faith and Values Into the College Experience

Q.18 How important is it for students to have each of the following non-academic opportunities in college?

Where likely to find: Lutheran college

THE CHURCH’S EXPECTATIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE OUTCOMES

• Development of job-related skills and abilities• Strong sense of commitment to community• Integration of faith and values into daily life

Writing effectively

Thinkinganalytically

Solving problems

Ability to learn newskills

Speakingeffectively

Development of Job-Related Skills and Abilities

Q.20 How important do you believe it is for colleges to help students develop each of the following skills or traits?

Using best skillsand abilities

Being prepared forsuccessful career

Placing problems insocial andhistorical

perspective

Prepared for careerchange or

advancement

Development of Job-Related Skills and Abilities

Q.22 Think about the kind of people you hope students will become some day. How important do you hope the following things will be to them?

Promoting racialequality or other

social issues

Being politically orsocially aware

Appreciating fine artssuch as music,

literature, theatre

Affiliating withorganizations that

help disadvantaged

Strong Sense of Involvement in Community

Having a sense of purpose in life

Being free to consider ethical andmoral sides of decisions

Developing moral principles that canguide actions

Being an active member of acongregation

Integrating faith with other aspectsof life

Raising a family

The Integration of Faith and Values Into Daily Life

Where likely to find: Lutheran college

Comparative Alumni Research: Undergraduate Experiences and

Outcomes– Telephone surveys with Lutheran and non-Lutheran

graduates of the following institutions (600 each)• Lutheran colleges

• Other private colleges

• Flagship public universities

• Other public colleges and universities

– From the classes of 1958-1993

– 2400 surveys completed

– Regional balance

Undergraduate Experiences

Lutheran college graduates were more likely than their Lutheran peers who attended public universities to say that their undergraduate experience included….

94% SHigh quality,teaching-

oriented faculty

Strong overallacademicreputation

Good academicfacilities andequipment

Strong Academic Reputation, Faculty and Facilities

Developin91%

Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=did not benefit at all, and 5=benefited very much)

Majority of classes taught by professors

Many classes with less than 20 students

Faculty were interested in studentspersonally and academically **

Personal interaction with professors

Professors who challenged, but helpedyou meet challenge *

Professor was a mentor ***

Involvement With Faculty

Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . (top-two box)* Q.2 How often did your college experience include the following? (top-two box)** Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box)*** Q. 4 Who, if anyone, did you meet in college who was a mentor or role model for you?

92% SThere was a sense of community amongstudents *

Interaction with other students whoshare your interests **

Interaction with students with similarvalues ***

Balance between academics andsocial/personal development**

Friendships developed from classroomexperiences ***

Involvement With Peers

* Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box)** Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . .

(top-two box) *** Q. 2 How much did your college experience include the following? (top-two box)

Applied Learning Experiences

No appliedlearning

experience

Off-campus orinternational

Internship

Q.5 While in college, did you participate in…?

Extracurricular Activities

Volunteer/service activities

Academic clubs

Music/theater performances

Campus publications or studentgoverment

Had leadership role in anyextracurricular activity

Q.6a Were you involved in…? Q.6b Did you have a leadership role in…?

Emphasis on personal values andethics

Opportunities for spiritualdevelopment

Involved in church or religiousactivities*

College helped integrate faith intoother aspects of life**

The Integration of Faith and Values Into the College Experience

Q.1A/1B Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . (top-two box)* Q.6a Were you involved in…? ** Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box)

Outcomes

Compared to Lutheran graduates of public flagship universities, Lutheran graduates of Lutheran colleges rate their colleges as...

More Effective in Career Preparation and Leadership

Speakingeffectively

Writingeffectively

Teamwork

LeadershipLutherancollegeLutherans

Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

Relating to people ofdifferent backgrounds

Placing problems in socialand historical perspective

Being politically or sociallyaware

More Effective in DevelopingInterpersonal Skills

84% SHaving asense of

purpose inlife

More Effective in Helping Students Develop a Sense of Purpose

Compared to Lutheran graduates of public flagship universities, Lutheran college graduates...

Are Much More Likely to Graduate in Four Years or Less

Lutheran college Lutherans Flagship public Lutherans

Q.18 How many years did it take for you to complete your undergraduate degree?

Are Equally Likely to Earn a Graduate or Professional Degree

Are Likely to Earn Equal Incomes

Raise a family

Be free to considerthe moral and ethical

side of decisions

Integrate faith orspirituality in your

Be well-offfinancially

Place Higher Value on Family, Ethical and Religious Concerns

Q.19 How important is it to you to. . .? (rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)

78% SAppreciating Fine Arts*

Promote racial equality or othersocial justice issues

Contribute to your community

Affiliate with organizations thathelp the disadvantaged

Place Higher Value on Community Concerns

* Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (top-two box)

Q.19 How important is it to you to. . .? (rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)

81% SInvolved with foundations or

non-profit organizations

Involved with elementary orsecondary school

Involved with yourundergraduate college or

university

Are More Likely to be Active, Contributing Members in Their Communities

Financial support

Recent Involvement in Volunteer Activities

Q.20 In the past five years, have you been involved in the volunteer activity . . . ? Have you financially supported. . . ?

Church member

Do volunteer activities

Bible study

Committees

Teaching

Youth work

Church council

Are More Likely to Participate Actively in their Churches

Q.22 Are you involved in any of the following church activities?

Lutheran Parent Survey Methodology

–Surveys mailed to members of ELCA and LCMS churches:• Parents of 9th grade students• Parents of 10th grade students

–A total of 3000 surveys mailed

–Overall response rate of 30%

Many Parents Don’t Have Strong Awareness or Impressions of Lutheran Colleges

No Impression of Lutheran colleges

Highest national awareness of anyLCMS college*

Highest national awareness of anyELCA college**

Mentioned a Lutheran college theywould consider for son/daughter

When asked about Lutheran Colleges they were aware of:

* Among LCMS parents ** Among ELCA parents

Q.9 Overall, what are your impressions of Lutheran colleges?Q.5 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? Q.6 What Lutheran colleges would you consider for your son or daughter?

Like church leaders, many parents don’t recognize important

educational differences…

In College Experiences and Outcomes:• High-quality teaching oriented faculty• Mentoring relationships with professors• Most classes taught by professors• Professors who both challenge and help students• Opportunities for independent study, internships,

international study• Extracurricular opportunities*************************************************• Career preparation• Communication skills• Critical thinking skills• Interpersonal skills

Parents’ Financial Concerns:

• Affordable cost – Considered more likely at public university

• Employment opportunities after graduation

• Graduation in four years– Both considered equally likely at public and

Lutheran colleges

Lutheran colleges must:

• document their academic rigor and practical value

• educate parents about the importance of an involving educational experience

• explain the availability of financial aid

Reclaiming Lutheran Students Communication Campaign

Direct mail campaign to Lutheran parents of high school students– Four-panel mailers offer a brochure featuring key messages about

educational quality– Series of five messages, sent over three years

Press kit prepared for colleges, distributed to nationwide media

College Fair banners promote key messagesCollegevalue.com website expands on information in

brochureCD-Rom presentation used by colleges with funders

How Can the Church Help?

Promote research findings and Lutheran college value throughout the Church

Display & distribute brochures in individual churches

Hold college planning information sessionsEncourage participation in Lutheran college

fairs – send a van!Publicize research findings in church mailings

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value of lutheran colleges

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