|
|
||
|
There’s an abundance of college guides on the market that offer consumers all kinds of data and rankings. And while these guides serve an important function, when it comes to measuring the true quality of a college education, students know best. That’s why colleges across the country—including Keuka College— pay attention to data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), an academic assessment effort sponsored by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. “The survey gives us a good idea of how well our students are learning,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Ginny Coombs. Coombs said the survey is valuable because it “tells us the areas we scored highest in and what areas we scored lower in relation to students at our selected peer institutions, Carnegie classification peers, and all four-year institutions that took part.” According to Coombs, the College uses information from the highest performing areas as a marketing tool, “to validate our perceived institutional strengths. Information from the lowest performing areas is also beneficial because it tells us where we need to improve.” The 2006 report from NSSE is based on information from about 260,000 randomly selected first-year and senior students at 523 four-year colleges and universities. Keuka freshmen and seniors completed the survey in the spring 2006 semester. The survey measures five areas of educational performance:
|
“The data indicates that we are providing a quality education,” said Coombs. “Our students find their academic work challenging, interact with faculty and their peers in meaningful ways, and receive the support they need to succeed academically,” said Coombs. Here’s a capsule look at Keuka’s performance in the five areas: Level of Academic Challenge Keuka’s freshmen and senior mean scores were higher than those of its selected peers, Carnegie peers, and nationally. Seniors gave the College superior marks in such categories as “wrote more than four papers or reports between 5 and 19 pages” and “wrote at least one paper or report of 20 pages or more.” “This is a measure of the rigor of our academic program,” said Coombs. “We are challenging our students to perform.” Active and Collaborative Learning Once again, Keuka posted higher mean scores than its peers and colleges nationally, scoring particularly better in the “worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments” (freshmen) and “made a class presentation” (seniors). Student-Faculty Interaction Like the previous two areas, the College out-performed its peers and colleges across the country. Seniors gave the College high marks in the “received prompt written or oral feedback from faculty" category. Enriching Educational Experiences Another strong area for Keuka, with freshmen giving the College high marks in the “did a practicum, |
internship, field experience, clinical assignment” category. “This reinforces our claim to be the national leader in experiential, hands-on learning,” said Coombs. However, seniors gave the College below average marks in the “completed foreign language coursework” category and freshmen and seniors did likewise in the “had serious conversations with students of another race or ethnicity” category. “The foreign language numbers aren’t high because it isn’t a major component of our curriculum,” said Coombs. Diversity is a concern and the College is addressing it, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Jim Blackburn. “The NSSE survey confirmed what we thought", said Blackburn. “About 10.5 percent of our students are students of color and that isn’t bad for a small college in Western New York. However, it’s not where we want to be if we are to prepare our students for a diverse workplace and enhance their educational experience.” Blackburn said the College hired a consultant who is charged with helping the College develop a strategic plan to enhance diversity. Supportive Campus Environment The College outperformed its peers and all colleges in this area, with freshmen giving their college a definitive edge in the “said the institution substantially helps students cope with non-academic matters” category. “This reflects the quality of our supportive staff and the key role it plays in the academic success of our students,” said Coombs. |
|
|
||
'Equal to the Best of Harvard'Keuka China Care Club Honored at Harvard University;
|
||
|
Keuka China Care was recognized at the first Harvard China Care Benefit Dinner held at the Harvard Faculty Club Nov. 13. China Care, a foundation started by Harvard University student Matt Dalio, helps abandoned Chinese children find homes and medical care. Jenzabar Inc., a company that specializes in data management software for colleges—including Keuka—and a sponsor of the event, hosted the College. Jenzabar Inc. CEO Bob Maginn presented Carly Fuerst, president of Keuka China Care, with a check for $2,500 and honored her and Stephanie Wendella, past president and founder of the Keuka organization, for the work it has done in China over the past few years. President Joseph G. Burke, Wendella and Fuerst all delivered remarks at the dinner. Burke said the Keuka China Care club spotlights “several great things” about the College. “It spotlights our Field Periods and national leadership role in experiential education, as our students visited an orphanage and worked with Chinese orphans with disabilities during a Field Period in China,” said Burke. “It highlights our commitment to community service, as each campus club is required to perform a community service activity. Finally, it demonstrates the importance of our Field Period to the future careers of our students, as both Keuka China Care presidents were occupational therapy majors and were using their Field Periods and volunteer experiences to hone their professional skills in an international environment.” |
Wendella, a 2006 occupational science graduate and master of science in occupational therapy student who founded the club two years ago, spoke about getting the club off the ground. Fuerst, a junior, informed the audience of about 50 people—Jenzabar employees, Harvard China Care club members, and others—what Keuka China Care is doing this semester. “Two years ago, I had the pleasure to be a part of the first China Care Club Conference at Harvard,” Wendella explained. “I came to the conference interested in a cause, but unsure of my capabilities to tackle such uncharted territory at Keuka. Listening to Matt’s story, I left Cambridge feeling empowered as an individual. “I vividly remember the day I pitched my idea to Student Senate for starting a China Care club at Keuka,” Wendella continued. “I asserted how it would provide an additional link between the already established relationship between Keuka and China, how it would provide students with an opportunity to give back on a global scale, and how together we would change lives. I discussed the efforts of Harvard China Care and their success to illustrate we had guidance from those that have walked the very road I was asking Keuka to travel. “I was not prepared for one senator’s question: ‘What makes you think Keuka would ever be able to raise as much money as Harvard?’" recalled Wendella. “The question was valid. Keuka is a small, private college in rural Upstate New York. I thought, ‘Would we make a difference? Can we handle this as a small institution? Will the community support us?’ |
“I responded [to the question] by pointing out that Matt was just one person, my exact age,” said Wendella. “He started an entire organization because of his personal interaction with one child. I agreed that we would not likely compare to Harvard in the amount of money raised and I acknowledged that it would be a struggle being in a small town. But what were we to lose?” As it turned out, Keuka China Care has been a huge success. In its first year, the club:
So far this year, the club has sponsored three cleft lip/cleft palate surgeries for three children in China. The funds for the surgeries were raised last semester through bake sales, soda bottle drives and solicitation of local businesses and individuals, according to Fuerst. “Our Keuka students were equal to the best that Harvard had to offer, and were indeed honored by their Harvard student colleagues who compared club notes,” said Burke. “I am proud of them and their accomplishments.” |
