MMA Senior Exit Survey Class of 2017 Findings During the spring of 2017, a senior exit survey was administered to Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) undergraduates anticipated to graduate as part of the Class of 2017 (i.e., students earning a degree between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017). The survey included questions about students experience at the Academy as well as the degree to which MMA education and experiences helped to increase students skills, abilities, or attitudes in areas tied to MMA s institutional student learning outcomes for undergraduate education. In total, 312 of the 351 students invited to participate in the survey responded (i.e., an overall response rate of 89%). This report provides an overview of the key questions from the survey. Demographics of survey respondents are also included. Select Survey Findings: 75% of all survey respondents (n=312) were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their overall experience at MMA. 89% of all survey respondents indicated Definitely Yes or Probably Would when asked if they would recommend MMA to a high school senior. A majority of survey respondents (68%) strongly agreed or agreed that tutoring through the Academic Resource Center is effective. 84% of survey respondents were very satisfied or satisfied with the ability to meet with faculty. More than 1 in 4 survey respondents were very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the availability of courses they wanted. Additionally, 37% of survey respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed that online registration is effective. A majority of survey respondents (75%) strongly agreed or agreed that administration is accessible; that administration is responsive to student needs and requests (64%); and, that administration makes policies and procedures clear (63%). 73% of survey respondents were very satisfied or satisfied with leadership opportunities yet just 42% were very satisfied or satisfied with the leadership selection process. 79% or more of survey respondents were very satisfied or satisfied with classroom facilities, computer facilities, laboratory facilities, library facilities, and athletics/recreational facilities. In contrast, 56% and 58%, respectively, were very satisfied or satisfied with student housing and the TS Kennedy. About 60% or more of survey respondents rated their current level of achievement as high as pertaining to the following MMA student learning outcomes: performing and behaving in a professional manner (70%); working in a team (68%); making appropriate decisions (65%); ethical reasoning/acting in a socially responsible manner (60%); listening effectively (58%); reading effectively (58%); and leadership/ making decisions while complying with a set of standards (58%). MMA Office of Institutional Effectiveness 1 Published: November 13, 2017
Survey Demographics*: 10% of survey respondents were Students of Color. This approximates the latest campus demographics for degree-seeking undergraduates (9% Students of Color, Fall 2016). 15% of students who responded to the survey were female. This approximates the latest campus demographics for degree-seeking undergraduates (13% female, Fall 2016). The primary academic program for most survey respondents was either Marine Engineering (31%) or Marine Transportation (24%). Overall, the distribution of survey respondents by primary academic program approximates the latest campus statistics for undergraduate enrollment by program (MT 21%, MSEP 10%, ME 28%, IMB 13%, FE 14%, ESE 4%, and EM 11% (Fall 2016)). *Demographics based on Colleague data. Percentages based only on known cases (i.e., missing cases/unknowns ignored). MMA Office of Institutional Effectiveness 2 Published: November 13, 2017
Survey Findings Overall Experience*: 75% of all survey respondents (n=312) were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their overall experience at MMA. 89% of all survey respondents (n=312) indicated Definitely Yes or Probably Would when asked if they would recommend MMA to a high school senior. MMA Office of Institutional Effectiveness 3 Published: November 13, 2017
Survey Findings Academics*: Eighty-six percent of all survey respondents strongly agreed or agreed that tutoring through the Academic Resource Center is readily available. In contrast, 68% of all survey respondents strongly agreed or agreed that tutoring through the Academic Resource Center is effective. Meanwhile, 84% of survey respondents strongly agreed or agreed that laboratories are well-equipped. Eighty-four percent of all survey respondents were very satisfied or satisfied with the ability to meet with faculty. Meanwhile, more than a quarter (28%) of all survey respondents were very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the availability of courses they wanted. Note on Chart Legends: Due to the order in which response choices were presented in the actual survey, the midpoint response choice for questions about level of agreement throughout the survey read as Neither Disagree nor Agree and the midpoint response choice for questions about level of satisfaction read as Neither Dissatisfied nor Satisfied. MMA Office of Institutional Effectiveness 4 Published: November 13, 2017
Survey Findings Information Technology & Library Services*: Eighty-two percent of all survey respondents strongly agreed or agreed that Blackboard is accessible when required. Likewise, 73% of survey respondents strongly agreed or agreed both that library resources are available and adequate and that computer labs are well-equipped. In contrast, about a third of survey respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed both that: Information Technology services (e.g., available software and hardware) are adequate and that Library hours are adequate. Survey Findings Course Information & Registration*: Eighty-four percent of all survey respondents strongly agreed or agreed both that the Registrar s Office is accessible and that the Registrar s Office provides effective support. In contrast, about 1 in 4 (26%) of all survey respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed that online registration is accessible. Nearly 40% of survey respondents also strongly disagreed or disagreed that online registration is effective. MMA Office of Institutional Effectiveness 5 Published: November 13, 2017
Survey Findings Student Services*: 60% or more of all survey respondents strongly agreed or agreed to the following: Financial Aid, Career and Professional Services; Student Health Services; Athletics/Recreational facilities; and the Business Office are accessible; Book Store services, hours, resources, and materials; Uniform services; and Athletics/Recreational facilities are adequate; and Student Health Services is effective. While 75% of survey respondents strongly agreed or agreed that the dining hall is well-maintained and clean, more than 1 in 3 survey respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed that dining hours are adequate and dining menu choices are sufficient. More than a quarter of survey respondents also strongly disagreed or disagreed that Career and Professional Services are effective. MMA Office of Institutional Effectiveness 6 Published: November 13, 2017
Survey Findings Campus Community*: About 60% or more of all survey respondents strongly agreed or agreed that administration is accessible; that administration is responsive to student needs and requests; that administration makes policies and procedures clear; and that Public Safety provides a safe environment. Nearly 1 in 3 survey respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed that Public Safety responds to the community s needs and concerns. While 73% of all survey respondents were very satisfied or satisfied with leadership opportunities, just 42% were very satisfied or satisfied with the leadership selection process. Similarly, 58% of all survey respondents were very satisfied or satisfied with regimental life while 49% were very satisfied or satisfied with regimental discipline and policies. MMA Office of Institutional Effectiveness 7 Published: November 13, 2017
Survey Findings Facilities*: A majority of all survey respondents strongly agreed or agreed that both classrooms (83%) and laboratories (85%) were clean and well-prepared. Nearly sixty percent of all survey respondents (58%) also strongly agreed or agreed that student housing was well-maintained. 70% or more of all survey respondents were very satisfied or satisfied with classroom facilities, computer facilities, laboratory facilities, library facilities, and athletics/recreational facilities. Meanwhile, about 1 in 4 survey respondents were very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with student housing (28%) and the TS Kennedy (25%). MMA Office of Institutional Effectiveness 8 Published: November 13, 2017
Survey Findings Skills and Abilities*: % of Students Rating as High MMA Student Learning Outcomes Current Level MMA Contribution Ability to perform and behave in a professional manner acceptable for career goals. 70% 49% Ability to work and achieve goals as a member of a team. 68% 42% Ability to make appropriate future decisions based on past and present conditions and circumstances. Capacity for ethical reasoning, including the ability to make decisions and act in a socially responsible manner. 65% 43% 60% 26% Ability to listen effectively. 58% 30% Ability to read effectively. 58% 13% Capacity for leadership, including the ability to make rational decisions while complying with a set of standards. 58% 44% Ability to critically and creatively comprehend and evaluate new information and ideas. 55% 32% Ability to speak effectively. 54% 28% Capacity for lifelong learning, including ability to utilize technology and information literacy skills. Ability to use quantitative reasoning skills, applying basic concepts of mathematics and science. Basic knowledge and understanding of the history, theories, scholarship, tools, technologies, methods, and/or specialized terms of a field of study. 52% 29% 51% 40% 50% 43% Basic knowledge and understanding of sciences. 49% 43% Basic knowledge and understanding of mathematics. 49% 44% Ability to write effectively. 47% 15% Ability to explore concepts and questions that bridge different areas of learning. 47% 29% Capacity for civic action, including the ability to engage in service that benefits the public good. 45% 24% Capacity for empathy, including an appreciation for diversity and inclusion. 44% 18% Basic knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of diverse social and political values. 44% 23% Ability to integrate knowledge and skills in civic and global contexts. 36% 19% Basic knowledge and understanding of humanities. 31% 16% Basic knowledge and understanding of social sciences. 28% 16% For each of MMA s institutional student learning outcomes, students were asked to rate their current level of achievement and how much MMA education and experience contributed to their achievement. Shown above are the percentages of students indicating ratings of high (valid response choices were low, medium, and high). Results are sorted by students current level of achievement in descending order. A majority of students rated their current level of achievement as high regarding performing and behaving in a professional manner, working in a team, and making appropriate decisions. Forty percent or more of students also rated MMA s contribution to their level of achievement on these outcomes as high. A substantial percentage of students also rated their capacity for leadership as well as MMA s related contribution to it as high. MMA Office of Institutional Effectiveness 9 Published: November 13, 2017
Survey Findings Most Positive Aspect: At the end of the survey, students were offered the opportunity to comment on the most positive aspect of their MMA experience. Of the 312 seniors who responded to the survey, 232 provided feedback about the most positive aspect of their MMA experience. A word cloud depicting student comments was created using the online web-based program, Wordle (below). Wordle creates an image where the size and prominence of text depicted is directly related to the frequency by which words are cited in comments. Among the students who provided feedback, the following were the top five key words that appeared when students talked about the most positive aspects of their MMA experience (percentages reflect the total number of comments that mentioned the given key word): 1. Leadership (22.0%) 2. Learn (14.2%) 3. Friends (13.8%) 4. Experience (11.6%) 5. Hands-on (6.5%) [tie] 5. Job (6.5%) [tie] MMA Office of Institutional Effectiveness 10 Published: November 13, 2017