NEWS

Louisiana Tech’s academic, campus life experiences receive high marks from students

Mar 14, 2013 | General News

Nine out of ten first-year and senior students at Louisiana Tech University said they would rate their entire educational experience at the University as “good or excellent,” according to the National Survey of Student Engagement’s (NSSE) 2012 survey report.
Ninety percent also said that, if given the chance to start over in selecting a college or university to attend, they would choose Louisiana Tech again.
“It has often been said that Louisiana Tech has a private school feel at a public school price,” said Pamela Ford, dean of enrollment management at Louisiana Tech.  “What students have told me this means to them is that individual classes and the university as a whole are just the right size for getting to know their professors well and for getting involved on campus.”
“Given that faculty also hold students to a high academic standard translates to a good economic value for the educational dollar.”
The objective of the survey is to gauge student opinions and perspectives on all facets of academic and student life for the institution’s undergraduates.  Louisiana Tech plans to use this data to improve the overall educational experience for its students, supplement state accountability and accreditation efforts, and support the mission and vision of its Tech 2020 strategic plan.
In addition to the aforementioned responses, 81 percent of first-year students and 91 percent of seniors said the quality of academic advising at Tech was “good or excellent.”  Eighty-two percent of first-year students and 87 percent of seniors responded “favorable” when asked about the quality of their relationship with faculty.
“Students are at the center of Tech’s mission and vision,” said Dr. Terry McConathy, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School.  “Knowing that our students value the academic and co-curricular opportunities available to them is important to us.  These results also guide us as we assess our academic and support services to ensure that we are not only responsive to students’ needs but continuously improving those value-added qualities central to our core.”
The NSSE survey was administered online to Louisiana Tech students during the 2012 spring quarter.  Students classified as freshman and seniors were sent a series of invitation emails soliciting voluntary participation.  Both populations received and responded to the same set of questions.
NSSE annually collects information from hundreds of four-year colleges and universities around the nation about student participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development. The results provide an estimate of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college.
Louisiana Tech’s dedication to high-quality academics and research earned it a Tier One “National University” ranking in US News & World Report’s 2013 Best Colleges report and a designation as a Carnegie Foundation Research University with High Research Activity (RU/H.)  Louisiana Tech is also designated as a SREB Doctoral Four-Year 2 Research University and a “statewide university” as defined by the Louisiana Board of Regents.