As a changing landscape continues to put pressure on colleges and universities, giving a voice to the student will be a way to separate institutions from one another as each looks to enhance the student experience. Higher education institutions continue to feel pressure from many sides in this fast changing world. Some of the many challenges faced by higher education include:
- Declining Student Enrollment
- Financial Pressures
- State Funding
- Changing Technology
- Competition for Resources and Rising Costs
- Higher Student Expectations
- Competition for Staff and Grants
- Lower Completion Rates from Students
- Job Readiness of Students in a Fast Changing Environment
- Increase Reliance on Donors
- Managing Perceptions with Online Reviews
- More College and University President Turnover
These challenges faced by higher education institutions also include the increasing issues faced by students. These student issues impact not only the students but the institution interacts with them and how that is perceived within the local community and on the internet worldwide.
Below is a list of many challenges faced by students as they make their way through their higher education journey. Although not inclusive of the issues, it shows that the challenges faced by both the institutions and students are plentiful. Here are some of the top issues and challenges that students face:
- Concern of School Debt
- Managing Money while in School
- Housing Issues
- Overwhelming Anxiety
- Time Management
- Balancing Work and Studies
- Meeting New People
- Feeling Isolated or Alone
- Sleep Habits
- Home Sickness
- Depression
- Increased Stress
- More Distractions
- Uncertainty in Career Choice
- Relationship Issues
- Safety Concerns
- Discrimination and Loneliness
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- Food Issues
- Obtaining Academic Success
- Navigating the Education System
As a way to overcome the challenges faced by institutions and students, having access to real time feedback by the students will allow an institution to make the right changes to improve the student experience while at the same time, increasing the performance of the institution and its competitive position.
By first measuring student impressions along an experience, the college or university can make quick changes by having access to real time data. After positive improvements are made, following the performance of these changes and making adjustments along the way will enhance the experience given to students on campus. Lastly, as positive changes are made and documented, these results can be shared with the students and others. Whether it is in social media, posting improvements at the points of experience, on digital boards, or through email, an institution can share the positive impact it is making on behalf of the students. Also, since the feedback is coming straight from the students in real time, it will bring more credibility to the perception given both on and off campus.
Having a way for students to have a voice is an important way to overcome perception gaps between the school and the students they serve. By engaging with students and having access to their feedback while they are in the experience brings a more reliable measure as to the emotions felt by a student while they are in that emotion.
As a way to generate ideas for student feedback along their experience, here is a list of potential spots on campus and the internet to obtain real time feedback:
- School Web Page
As a potential first impression, the school web page becomes a place of reference for potential and current students. Measuring the perceptions of the user experience will allow an institution to keep up with the fast changing expectations of those who use the resources of the pages.
- Campus Visits
As students come to visit the campus, their impression can be captured to see how they perceived the experience. Quick changes can be made based on this feedback for future student and family visits to enhance the value. Within their first visit, a potential student will see that the college/university is giving them a voice before they are even a student. This can be a signal to the student and their family that the institution is taking a lead on the student experience.
- Admissions Department
As more interaction occurs with potential new students, their feedback will play an important role in making sure that their voice is heard as they explore the benefits of enrolling at the university.
- Financial Aid
With education costs escalating, financial aid continues to play an important role in working with students to gain access to higher education. Confusion and miscommunication can be captured to make quick changes to this important process.
- On Campus Housing
As a student enters a new chapter in their life, capturing perceptions of their living conditions and making improvements will help students focus on their academics while they adjust to this new life chapter. Ideas can be formulated for future changes based on this instant feedback.
- Dining Experiences
With real time feedback, the dining experience can be enhanced as students can give instant feedback on potential food shortages, taste preferences, and then rate the overall experience.
- Medical and Mental Health Facilities
Helping students with medical and mental needs far from home can be measured and improved with real time feedback.
- Athletic Department
Whether it is the fan experience or the work out facilities for athletes, the university can capture perceptions in real time to make appropriate adjustments.
- Fitness Centers on Campus
As student health continues to be a priority, having access to proper and maintained equipment at the fitness facility is important. Giving the student a voice can help them be more engaged with their health and fitness goals.
- Library Services
In a world of fast changing technology and information, having access to the right tools and information will continue to be a high priority for students to succeed.
- Student Activities
Measuring student engagement with constant real time feedback can raise the bar on the activities provided to them on campus. Future activities can be guided by the feedback just given. Learning what is working versus what is not working will be a shorter life cycle.
- Events Center/Events
Are the events on campus matching the expectations of the student needs? Having instant feedback of the events on campus allow for adjustments for future events as well as sparking new ideas for the student experience.
- Student Centers
As a place where friends meet and engage, the student centers on campus can bring strong memories and be a place where positive perceptions are made.
- Copy and Print
Having an essential role in presentations for students and other needs, the services rendered by the Copy and Print location on campus can be measured and improved upon.
- Book Stores
Are the book stores having the right items, at the right time, and at a price the student can afford? Capturing instant feedback will allow stores to be more useful for the students they serve by obtaining a better understanding of their needs.
- Computer Center / Lab
Are the students getting the computer resources needed to be successful? Do the students understand the technologies to be computer savvy in a fast changing environment? Capturing the student needs within this experience as well as monitoring resource availability will help the student be more successful in their academics.
- IT Services
With the advancement in new technologies and the speed at which they are occurring, understanding the needs of students is important with their learning and success. Measuring student feedback on what they need to be successful and where the perceived gaps are will help the institution match the needs and expectations of the students.
- Tutoring and Academic Support
To lower the dropout rate of students, having strong support and communicating this support is vital for an institution to meet the academic challenges that students face.
- Registrar’s Office
Managing a smooth transition along a student’s journey is an impactful touchpoint on the impression given to a student and their family.
- Student Safety
Concerns of personal safety make a large impact on students as their interactions on campus produce long term memories of their campus experience. Having a voice in this area can relieve the stress given, especially if the improvements are there to match.
- Parking
Listening to and address parking grievances both on and off campus gives a student a voice on this daily impactful experience.
- Disability Services
Allowing students with disabilities and their families a voice on campus is important not only for the student but the impression given to future students and the community.
- Victim Services
Having a voice for victims is vital to both student and the institution in obtaining information on what is happening on campus and how student’s lives are being impacted.
- Facilities on Campus
Whether it is the restrooms or other facilities on campus, capturing real time data will allow an institution to make changes to serve the needs of the students.
- Career Services
As the pressure to choose the right career path increases, having a way to capture the perception of this important aspect of a student life will increase.
- Counseling Services
Helping students with their needs while they are in the experience can change the path of a student’s life while they are at school and how they progress after.
- Social Media and other Communications
Perceptions of organizations can change instantly in this 24 – 7 online world. Managing communication through social media will continue to be a way the student accesses information. Whether it is through the social media channels or through other means, making sure the student gets the information they need in a timely and useful way will leave an impression on them that they will share with others.
Conclusion
Both colleges and universities and the students they serve are under constant pressure in this changing higher education landscape. Having the right tools to counteract the stresses imposed on each will help separate institutions from one another and will enhance the experience for current students. This will impact the perception of potential students as well as the donors who support the improvements on campus. Visit SmileyAnswers today to see how HappyOrNot® can help measure the various points of experience and allow for quick improvements with the real time feedback that is received. Being able to share the successes while expressing the student’s voice within this environment will show more credibility as it comes straight from the student as they experience it. This information will show current students, potential students, staff, alumni, and donors that the college or university is taking the lead on providing a great experience and a solid education.
