Paula Murray Cole, professor in the Department of Theater and Dance Performance and member of Ithaca College’s Faculty Council, met with the college’s Student Governance Council at its March 24 meeting to gather feedback on proposed changes to the student statements surveys given at the end of every course. Cole stood in for David Gondek, chair of the Faculty Council and associate professor in the Department of Biology, who was originally the guest speaker of the meeting but could not attend.
Several SGC senators and executive officers gave updates on their work within their committees. Cliff–Simon Vital, interim director of the BIPOC Unity Center also urged council members to spread the word about the center’s Senior Leadership Awards, which graduating seniors can now apply for via the application form sent to their email.
Proposed changes to student statements surveys
This semester, the provost charged the faculty council with developing a standardized list of questions to appear on upcoming student statement surveys given at the end of every course to assess student evaluations of their courses and instructors. This is a departure from the current survey questions, which are decided by individual departments. She said a standardized set of questions will allow the college to collect consistent data about its performance as an institution while still allowing individual departments to ask their own additional questions.
Cole presented SGC with five proposed student statement questions and asked senators to give constructive feedback. The first question reads, “The methods of instruction in this course contributed to my learning”; the second, “Overall, this course contributed to my academic, professional, and/or personal growth”; the third, “Overall, the classroom environment fostered an equitable space where diverse backgrounds, perspectives and abilities are valued”; the fourth, “Please comment on aspects of the course that contributed to your learning and should be continued”; and the fifth, “Please comment on aspects of the course that you think should be changed.”
Questions 1-3 are evaluated using the Likert Scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree with sections asking students to elaborate on their answers. Questions four and five are open-ended written responses.
Senior Kathi Hodel, vice president of business and finance, and junior Marshall Long, club athlete senator, said they think the written elaborative questions under questions 1-3 should be optional.
Sophomore Haley Beckford, the Students of Color Coalition senator, said she appreciates question three because it gives crucial feedback to professors about their ability to foster a sense of belonging amongst their students, especially international students.
“Having that question there, I think gives professors validation knowing that they’re giving their students an open space to be able to share [their experiences],” Beckford said.
Cole said a major hurdle the college is facing in collecting student data is low response rates, which she says is a result of the surveys moving from paper to the online SmartEval system after the COVID-19 pandemic. While she said she believes student statements should remain voluntary, without adequate response numbers, professors cannot effectively shape their courses to student needs.
Junior transfer senator Login Abudalla said a possible remedy to this issue would be to implement midterm course evaluations so professors can receive feedback and implement changes to their course and instruction in real-time. This, Abudalla said, will reinforce to students that their responses are taken seriously, and in turn, encourage them to participate in the end-of-course student surveys.
“Sometimes students probably feel like [they] give feedback and then things are still the same,” Abudalla said. “Seeing changes that are made and who takes [feedback] seriously [is important].”
At the end of their discussion, Cole gave SGC members pieces of paper to rank the five proposed questions to take back to the Faculty Council for review.
SGC committee updates
Hodel announced that the Appropriation Committee allocated $12,426 to student organizations last week. She said the committee is almost out of money to allocate for Spring 2025 and will move toward Fall 2025 funding in the next few weeks.
Sophomore Eva Horst, vice president of campus affairs, said SGC’s Campus Affairs Committee is working on an accessibility bill with the Disabled Students’ Alliance, the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management and Parking Services. Horst said the bill includes updating signage on campus and highlighting accessible routes on campus maps.
Junior Ty Anderson, vice president of residential affairs, told SGC he is drafting a bill that recommends what utilities should be included in dorms and apartments on campus based on feedback collected from students. Such items might include appliances like toasters.
Abudalla said she is working to increase SGC participation in fall orientation to inform new students about the council’s role and attract new membership. Her proposals include having returning members attend orientation events to promote the council and assist with first-year students’ move in process.
