3P1 Identifying Student Needs

STI regularly uses multiple sources including the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI), Student Government Association and student organization requests, and Student Surveys of Instruction to determine student needs and monitor changing trends. The AQIP Student Success Team, program faculty teams, AQIP Education Design and Delivery Team, and STI’s Administrative Team analyze this information and recommend changes. In situations where student needs are specific to a particular team or department, the department responsible for that area addresses the student needs

The Vice President of Academics, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Institutional Research, and the Director of Students act on recommendations for improvements associated with instruction and support services for students. Table 3.1 indicates some of the sources of information regarding student needs and the process used to analyze and select a course of action to address these needs. Detailed actions are further documented in STI’s Action Database .

Table 3.1 Identifying Student Need

Source	Analyze and Select Action
Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI)	The VP of Student Affairs and Institutional Research disaggregates the results and distributes them to the appropriate group – program faculty, admissions, financial aid, etc. The AQIP Student Success Team develops strategies regarding support services.
Retention and Graduate Rates, Graduate and Employer Surveys	Results are posted on the STInet site so that administrators and program faculty can review the data, share it with appropriate groups such as program Advisory Committees, and use it for planning and program improvements.
Student Government (SGA) and Student Organization Requests	As a regular part of the monthly SGA meeting, the SGA Advisor collects SGA requests and emails the requests to all STI administrators for response. Student organization advisors send student requests to the appropriate administrator for response. SGA representatives also attend Academic Technology Committee meetings to provide input on technology needs.
Student Surveys of Instruction	STI’s Academic Administrative Team reviews survey results with individual faculty members and use the data to improve instruction. Results are also reviewed in the aggregate to initiate a curriculum or program change, or develop in-service training sessions for all faculty.
Program Accreditation and Licensure Pass Rates	Academic administrators and program faculty use program accreditation information and pass rate data to determine future student learning and support needs and curriculum and course changes.
Student Termination Exit Interviews	Student Success Advisors conduct these exit interviews and share compiled data with administration, faculty, and staff for action.
Informal Communications –emails, website requests and questions, in-person interviews with staff, faculty, and students	Information from informal communications is passed on to and addressed by the appropriate department or program.
Individual student conferences, interviews, meetings, and informal interactions	Faculty and staff frequently learn of student needs through daily student interactions.
Student Focus Groups and Student Representatives	Student focus groups on particular student issues, as well as student representatives on certain teams or committees, also provide input on student needs.