The 2007 Parent Survey

Margie Bennett, Ph.D.Institutional Research

May 3, 2007

Parent Survey Respondents

Survey Group: 287 Parents of Returning First-Time Freshmen

that Enrolled in Fall 2006 and Were Still Enrolled in March 2007

Survey Mailing: March 13-23, 2007

Response Rate: 55 Parents (19%)

Open-ended Survey Commentsby Type and Number of Respondents

Survey Category # Parents* Response Rate

Strengths 40 80% Concerns 35 64% Suggestions 32 58% No Comment

Since Satisfied 9 16% Parents Identified

Themselves by Name 40 73%

*Total number of parent respondents: 55

Freshmen Demographics

MVNU Residence:

Pioneer Hall 25 46%Oakwood Hall 17 31%Galloway Hall 61 1%Other 1 2%Off Campus 5 9%Response Rate 54 98%

State of Residence:

Ohio 35 88% Pennsylvania 2 5%All Others 3 8%Response Rate 40 73%

Academics

Types of Parental Responses Strengths Concerns Suggestions Total

Academics 15 15% 8 18% 4 10% 27 15%

Courses/Programs/General Quality of Education

8 4 1 13

Professors/Instruction 7 4 3 14

Total # & % of all comments 98 54% 44 24% 41 22% 183 100% Total # & % of respondents 44 80% 35 64% 32 58% 55 100%

Academic Strengths

Impressed with strong academics, degrees offered, and seeing their children grow academically. With regard to courses/programs/general quality of education, parents mentioned specifically:

Reputation/placement of graduates Christian emphasis in textbook, course, and professor choices Starting classes with prayer Cutting edge exposure to the business world Education-degree program Freshman field observations Free tutoring program

Valued high academic standards, quality of professors and instruction, professors’ caring attitudes, and their willingness to help students.

Academic Suggestions

With regard to professors/instruction, parentssuggested that:

Faculty talk to the student that are failing before the critical point of no return

Professors who teach doctrine – Bible – Philosophy need to be 100% in agreement with the doctrine of the Nazarene Denomination. Members of etc.

Parents also suggested the need for better organization/ communication system at the Academic Support Center.

Academic Concerns

With regard to their children’s course performance and perceived lack of academic support, parents expressed the following specific concerns:

Academic support center needs to be more user-friendly. Students must get all paperwork to and from professors, e-mail reminders, etc., and sometimes the tests aren’t available/dropped-off when they should be or locked up. A student who is already in need of extra help, must do more work, be more organized, etc. I feel the academic support center should seek to develop a better system for student success.

One of the reasons we chose MVNU was the Academic Support. Academic Support told son no tutors were available; he has failed 3 courses. We are all disappointed and very disillusioned by the lack of support given to a student who actively seeks out help. (follow-up by Assistant VP for Academic Administration) Also, feel frustration about music scheduling procedure; music department did not inform during tour and interview that knowing piano was necessary (student failed Piano 101).

Very disappointed not contacted that daughter failing and that she (learning disability) was not given more support (follow-up as above)

Daughter (high school valedictorian) has not done as well as expected

Academic Concerns

Parents expressed some concerns about professors and instruction as follows:

Some instructors (especially religion) seem to really down outside beliefs (other than Nazarene) and single out the outsiders, which has caused deep hurt with non-believing students. How does this method cause one to want to come closer to Christ?

Spiritual and political liberal bias of some professors Couple of professors need to retire Inflexibility of teacher to accept a paper after a class that was

dismissed early

Spiritual Life

Type of Response Strength Concern Suggestion Total

Spiritual Atmosphere 18 18% 5 11% 3 7% 26 14%

Chapel/Programming 4 3 2 9 Environment 11 0 0 11 Spiritual Growth 3 2 1 6

Total #& % of all comments 98 54% 44 24% 41 22% 183 100% Total #& % of respondents 44 80% 35 64% 32 58% 55 100%

Spiritual Life Strengths

Parents praised Chapel services and special programs, including missions (its emphasis and influence), recent revival (which they reported helped their child), and “life-changing” ministries (like the Refugee Camp and Mandate).

They also were pleased with the MVNU spiritual, educational, and social environment that supports and emphasizes spiritual values, Christian viewpoint, and service to others and the worship and Bible study that are valued by their children.

Parents appreciated the opportunities for spiritual growth and maturity and said they saw evidence that their children were growing spiritually.

Spiritual Life Suggestions

Parents questioned whether chapel/programming could implement the following suggestions:

Station the Praise and Worship leaders behind stands, podiums, or a prop and practice the early Christian song mix of: “hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs.” Today’s version could be a chorus, a narrative song, and a hymn etc. giving spiritual depth and variety.

Expand outreach ministries. Update Chapel services on Fridays. Today’s young Christians want to be challenged; they seek a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Make sure the service is biblically-based, intentional, and never lacks the power of the Spirit of God. Increase on staff/student spiritual mentoring groups. Kudos to (staff member in Campus Ministries) and (a biology professor).

Parents requested that someone talk to their son about his relationship with God and then about his career. (This request was forwarded to his advisor and to the Assistant to the Chaplain for Missions and Ministry Opportunities.)

Spiritual Life Concerns

With regard to chapel/programming, parents expressed the following concerns:

Attended chapel 3 times and found the level of noise during the singing and speaking to be very disrespectful to the worship band, speaker, and other students who are trying to pay attention. I wish that somehow the bar could be raised in this area. The reason we want our son to attend a Christian university is so that he would get a DISTINCTLY Christian education and experience

Chapels could be more stimulating Snug-fitting clothes on waving bodies when I’m supposed to be

worshipping the Lord doesn’t work for me or my other 10 children that are considering MVNU.

Parents expressed concerns about the spiritual growth and development of their children:

Please continue to uphold the Nazarene doctrines and spiritual values that are so important. Make sure our kids are encouraged (nudged) to take advantage of opportunities for spiritual growth.

When parents asked their son about Chapel services, they were told that it is a good place to get homework done and sleep if you can.

Enrollment Services & Student Life

Type of Response Strength Concern Suggestion Total

Enrollment Services 13 13% 10 23% 3 7% 26 14%

Financial Aid 3 8 2 13 Programs/Activities 4 0 0 4 Treatment/Courtesy 6 2 1 9

Student Life 10 10% 13 30% 15 37% 38 21% Extra Activities/Programs 2 4 7 13 Food 2 1 3 6 General Student Life 3 2 2 7 Guidelines/Rules 0 2 0 2 Living Conditions 3 4 3 10

Total #& % of all comments 98 54% 44 24% 41 22% 183 100% Total #& % of respondents 44 80% 35 64% 32 58% 55 100%

Enrollment Services Strengths

Parents included the following as positive treatment/ courtesy/

communication examples:

Wonderful communication Keeping parents and students informed/up-to-date Quick reply to questions Phone calls warmly received Helpful employees

Enrollment Services Concerns(Financial Aid Services and Cost)

Parents shared the following concerns about financial aid and cost:

Need more grants, scholarships, and work opportunities Need counselors or a place to go that is truly for finding help; found most

of the scholarships on the Web aren’t real Financial Planning should be more accurate in amount of funds necessary

for the entire year (example given of several inaccuracies) Not told at beginning of school year to take out a parent plus loan for the

whole year Grant money initially suggested was a lot more than what actually received Cost/year to attend and cost of text books and no re-use May not be able to afford increases in tuition Cost!

Enrollment Services Concerns(Admissions and a Concern about a Department)

Parents expressed the following treatment/courtesy concerns:

More interest needs to be shown to students even after decision is made. Admissions Office often contacted daughter when high school senior, but VERY little communication after she indicated MVNU was her choice. She almost lost interest.

Recruiters need to be more visual and aggressive – Olivet and Indiana Wesleyan are all over…

There have been a couple of times I have called and left a message for a department to return my call. No one has returned my call and a few days later I would have to call back until I reached a human. (Department was not identified.)

Student Life Strengths

Parents identified the following as specific strengths of Student Life:

Extra-curricular opportunities such as SonFest and the basketball team

Living accommodations, dorm life, feeling safe, calling hours, roommate matching, and programs that promote healthy boy/girl relationships

Student-life opportunities/resources and wonderful friends

Meal plan, emphasis on good nutrition, and cafeteria being open from 7:00 to 7:00

Student Life Suggestions

Parents suggested the following:

More student activities/events throughout the year; specifically mentioned were plays, receptions with professors, student displays of their work, music recitals

More sports/facilities be added, including a football program, wrestling team, a pool (swimming), and racquetball courts/indoor tennis

Commuter message board by mailboxes/cafeteria so students can post rides and share information.

Formal banquet – event for Homecoming such as a Christian concert

More creative activities for Parent’s Day; parents love visiting MVNU and like to have reasons/excuses to visit

Different types of meal plans and variety in daily menu; opportunity for parents to eat with their kids for free or at a minimal cost once or twice during the school year

Student Life Suggestions

Parents expressed concerns with regard to current health services, making the following suggestions to improve services to students:

Implement better methods to test students for illnesses, such as strep throat

During off-hours, have security provide rides to the emergency room (follow-up with Student Services identified MAs currently responsible)

Parents also recommended improving residential services as follows:

Extend open hours of dorms during breaks so parents that work until 5pm on Fridays or who live out-of-state can pick up students

Encourage RDs and RAs to be more accountable with regard to girl/girl interaction and immodesty in the dorms/apartments

Add air conditioning, especially in the boys dorms and the apartments, and more washers and dryers

Student Life Concerns

Parents expressed concerns about their children not having enough extracurricular activities/programs:

Not much to do on campus (per our child). Lack of students’ activities/events on weekends. Lack of concerts

(this could draw potential MVNU students).

Parents also shared their concerns about Parent’s Day and the potential negative impact of football:

Parent’s Day strengthened. Schedule is light (sports, bookstore etc.). Not worth coming in.

I am concerned with how football could change the university. We watched another Ohio Christian College change overnight with the addition of football. It brought to campus a huge amount of students that didn’t conform at all to the rules. We hate to see this happen at MVNU.

Student Life Concerns

Parents’ issues with residential life will be shared with Student Services.

Parents expressed a concern about living conditions: keeping dorm and lobby clean and maintained.

Only one parent listed “food” under concerns with the comment: Doesn’t everyone say this?

Some parents expressed concerns about lack of attention to guidelines and rules. (These concerns were shared directly with the Student Services staff.)

Campus Life, Facilities, Personnel, & Other

Type of Response Strength Concern Suggestion Total

Campus Life & Facilities 20 20% 0 0% 2 5% 22 12%

Atmosphere 13 0 0 13 Facilities 4 0 2 6 Size/Small Campus 3 0 0 3

Faculty/Staff/Administration 17 17% 3 7% 3 7% 23 13%

Care/Concern/Commitment 17 0 0 17 Communication 0 3 3 6

Other 5 5% 5 11% 11 27% 21 11%

Total #& % of all comments 98 54% 44 24% 41 22% 183 100% Total #& % of respondents 44 80% 35 64% 32 58% 55 100%

Campus Atmosphere, Facilities, Size Strengths

Parents appreciate MVNU Christian atmosphere, describing it using terms such as:

High moral standards Very warm and personable environment Welcoming, comfortable, and friendly Community Know students by name Developing the “whole” student

Parents also specifically praised the beauty, cleanliness, safety, and layout of the campus and the up-to-date facilities, large dorm rooms/apartments, and small class sizes.

Faculty/Staff/AdministrationPersonnel Strengths

Parents appreciated the care, concern, and special attention that MNVU personnel provided to their children. They specifically mentioned:

Spiritual influence provided by MVNU leadership High praise for professors and staff—readily available, friendly,

genuinely care about the students, try to nurture a spiritual atmosphere Excellent faculty and staff Amazing kind, informed, helpful, polite, extremely personable, quality

staff Godly staff and RA’s who support and encourage students MVNU totally cares about students as evidenced by counselor quickly

being found to help a student

Faculty/Staff/Administration Request and Concerns about Communication

Parents requested that information for new students provided at orientations be honest, correct, and realistic. One set of parents, claiming to have attended five orientations, said their concerns were covered during orientations but the information was not the reality that they experienced. They also requested that MVNU not penalize “overbearing parents.”

Under concerns, parents expressed the following communication issues:

Information that is to be sent home never being sent or only partially. You have our students’ consent. (Fall grades sent to the wrong place, haven’t seen J-term!)

Parents need to verify information from students

Miscellaneous—MVNU Strengths and Praise

Awesome university…cannot say enough good about our experiences.

I am very pleased with the programs and services of the university. Thank you!

We are satisfied and pleased that our daughter attends MVNU.

Keep on in the direction you seem to be going! I believe God is pleased!

Keep up the good planning.

We love the Victorian/Historic flow of the town of Mount Vernon and are excited about the new president!

Our daughter loves MVNU!

Keep up the good work! We love MVNU!

Tremendous growth in my daughter’s life since attending MVNU. She very much loves it. I encourage the school to continue to seek feedback from both students and parents

Miscellaneous Suggestion to MVNU (Bulk Mailings and Deadlines)

Concern was expressed by two parents that their surveys were received on or after the deadline for returning them. One parent made the suggestion to allow more time for all MVNU bulk mailings. (The parent indicated other similar mailings from MVNU had arrived on or after their return deadline dates.)

The IR Office’s follow-up determined that all the mail was metered and bulk mailed from MVNU on March 13th. It is assumed that the receiving post offices may have chosen to hold and deliver the bulk- mailed survey when it was convenient instead of when it was first received. As a courtesy to parents, future IR survey deadlines will be extended to address this concern.