Diversity at Stetson: Perspectives of Students and Faculty

1
Diversity at Stetson Perspectives of Students
and Faculty

• John Tichenor
• Associate Professor of Decision and Information
  Science

2
Background

• NSSE (The National Survey of Student Engagement)
• Stetson regularly participates in NSSE (2006,
  2008, 2010, 2012)
• FSSE (Faculty Survey of Student Engagement) began
  in 2008
• Stetson regularly participates in FSSE (2008,
  2010, 2012)

3
NSSE Basics

• Indiana University Bloomington Center for
  Postsecondary Research
• Survey examines student engagement in a variety
  of areas
• Time and effort spent in educational activities
• Levels of institutional commitment in various
  areas
• Student engagement measured in first and senior
  years

4
NSSE items specifically related to diversity
issues

• Had serious conversations with students of a
  different race or ethnicity than your own (Item
  1.u.)
• To what extent has Stetson
• encouraged contact among students from different
  economic, social, and racial or ethnic
  backgrounds (Item 10.c.)
• encouraged understanding people of other racial
  and ethnic backgrounds (Item 11.l.)
• Included diverse perspectives (different races,
  religions, genders, political beliefs, etc.) in
  class discussions or writing assignments (Item
  1.e.)
• Tried to better understand someone else's views
  by imagining how an issue looks from his or her
  perspective (Item 6.e.)

5
Had serious conversations with students of a
different race or ethnicity than your own(NSSE
Item 1.u.)
6
Are there differences in reported interactions by
ethnicity/race of student?

• NSSE survey respondents matched institutional
  demographics extremely well.
• 2010 Stetson Census White (non-Hispanic) 73
• 2010 NSSE White (non-Hispanic) respondents 74
• 2010 Stetson Census African American 5.8
• 2010 NSSE African American respondents 5.9

7
Had serious conversations with students of a
different race or ethnicity than your own(2010
NSSE Item 1.u.)
8
What is faculty perception?

• The FSSE item
• About how often has the typical student had
  serious conversations with students of a
  different race or ethnicity than his or her own?
• What do YOU think faculty perceive regarding this
  item?

9
Had serious conversations with students of a
different race or ethnicity than his or her
own(FSSE Item 7.u.)
10
A Faculty Disconnect?

• When we compare what students report to what
  faculty perceive, there is a noticeable
  difference.
• Who is correct?
• Does it matter?
• Is there something to learn here?

11
Had serious conversations with students of a
different race or ethnicity than his or her own
often or very often (2010 Results)
12
Does Stetson encourage contact among students
from different economic, social, and racial or
ethnic backgrounds?
13
To what extent does Stetson encourage contact
among students from different economic, social,
and racial or ethnic backgrounds? (NSSE Item
10.c.)
14
ALANA and White student perspectives

• Does Stetson encourage contact among students
  from different economic, social, and racial or
  ethnic backgrounds?
• Do you think ALANA and White students share the
  same perceptions?
• Do you think perceptions change from first year
  to senior year when controlling for
  race/ethnicity?

15
To what extent does Stetson encourage contact
among students from different economic, social,
and racial or ethnic backgrounds? (NSSE Item
10.c.)
16
What do Stetson Faculty think?

• Do faculty believe Stetson encourages contact
  among students from different economic, social,
  and racial or ethnic backgrounds?

17
To what extent does Stetson encourage contact
among students from different economic, social,
and racial or ethnic backgrounds?
18
Stetson encourages contact among students from
different economic, social, and racial or ethnic
backgrounds quite a bit or very much (2010
Results)
19
To what extent has your experience at Stetson
contributed to your knowledge, skills, and
personal development in understanding people of
other racial and ethnic backgrounds?(NSSE Item
11.l.)
20
To what extent has your experience at Stetson
contributed to your knowledge, skills, and
personal development in understanding people of
other racial and ethnic backgrounds? (NSSE Item
11.l.)
21
How do students perceive their relationships at
Stetson?
22
How do students perceive their relationships at
Stetson?

• Averages on a 7-point scale (7 best
  relationships)
• OTHER STUDENTS
• ALANA5.64, White (non-Hispanic)5.72
• FACULTY MEMBERS
• ALANA5.68, White (non-Hispanic)5.80
• ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
• ALANA5.15, White (non-Hispanic)4.85

23
Stetsons NSSE Results on the Web

• http//www.stetson.edu/administration/iro/
• Results include peer schools and national
  comparisons