A national survey designed to gauge student engagement, an indicator for retention and ultimately graduation, shows South Piedmont improved in several key metrics.
鈥淪outh Piedmont is committed to continually improving the student experience, ensuring both a rigorous and supportive educational journey that prepares students for higher levels of education, the workforce, or whatever may come next in their lives. Our most recent CCSSE results confirm that we are headed in the right direction,鈥� said South Piedmont Interim President Michelle Brock.
The , part of the University of Texas at Austin, launched the Community College Survey of Student Engagement in 2001 to help community colleges identify areas in which they can improve their programs and services. The survey asks students about institutional practices and student behaviors that are highly correlated with student satisfaction.
South Piedmont has participated in the CCSSE since 2011. A representative sample of South Piedmont鈥檚 student body participated in the in the most recent survey, conducted in spring 2024.
Results were analyzed during the summer and fall and are now being released to the College community. They show:
- 91 percent of respondents would recommend South Piedmont to a friend or family members. Since 2011, South Piedmont has consistently ranked at or slightly above 90 percent on this metric.
- The College showed substantial survey-over-survey gains in metrics related to active and collaborative learning. For instance, 57 percent students said they asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions; 26 percent said they made a class presentation; 46 percent said they worked with other students on projects during class; and 19 percent said they worked with classmates outside of class to prepare for class assignments. Responses to each of these questions improved since the 2021 survey, showing the College continues to build back collaborative learning activities that were limited during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Results were similar on questions that asked students whether they participated in a community-based project (8 percent answered affirmatively, up from 5 percent in 2021) and whether they discussed ideas from their readings or classes with others outside of class, such as students, family members or co-workers (43 percent said yes, compared to 37 percent in 2021).
- The College also showed big survey-over-survey gains on questions about support for students. Examples: 81 percent of students said South Piedmont provides the support they need to succeed, up 13 percentage points from the previous survey; and 61 percent said the College supports students from different economic, social, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, up 12 percentage points from the previous survey.
Brock said she expects future surveys to show even greater gains.
The 2024 results will be used to develop action plans for continuing to improve the College鈥檚 rankings. Additionally, many of the metrics align with efforts already in place, including South Piedmont鈥檚 Strategic Plan, Goal 1 of which is equitable student outcomes, as well as the College鈥檚 Quality Enhancement Plan, Mastering Communication Now, which will provide students enhanced opportunities for collaborating with one another and presenting their work.
鈥淭he CCSSE shows we鈥檙e headed in the right track, but that doesn鈥檛 mean we are content to stay where we are,鈥� Brock said. 鈥淲e thank our students for participating in this survey, and students, we assure you that we will continue working and innovating to provide an ever-more outstanding educational experience.鈥�