[Learning Effectiveness] [Cost Effectiveness] [Access] [Faculty Satisfaction] [Student Satisfaction]

Quality Framework: Student Satisfaction

STUDENT SATISFACTION reflects the effectiveness of all aspects of the educational experience. The goal is that all students who complete a course express satisfaction with course rigor and fairness, with professor and peer interaction, and with support services. Online students put a primary value on appropriate, constructive, and substantive interaction with faculty and other students. Effective professors help students achieve learning outcomes that match course and learner objectives by using current information and communications technologies to support active, individualized, engaged, and constructive learning. As consumers, students are satisfied when provider services-learning resources, academic and administrative services, technology and infrastructure support -- are responsive, timely, and personalized. Effective practices may analyze and apply the results of student and alumni surveys, referrals, testimonials or other means of measuring perceived satisfaction with learning communities. Student satisfaction is the most important key to continuing learning.

Key practices areas show that students are satisfied with:

• Academic and administrative services
• Appropriateness of technologies
• Interaction with faculty
• Interaction with students
• Learning outcomes that match course description
• Learning community involvement
• Technical support
• Unexpected learning outcomes

These principles of effective online education address STUDENT SATISFACTION:

• Advertising, recruiting and admissions materials clearly and accurately represent the program and the services available.
• Program or course announcements and electronic catalog entries provide appropriate information.
• The institution has admission/acceptance criteria to assess whether the student has the background, knowledge and technical skills required for undertaking the course and program.
• The program or course provides students with clear, complete and timely information on the curriculum, course and degree requirements, nature of faculty/student interaction, prerequisite technology competencies and skills, technical equipment requirements, availability of academic support services, financial aid resources, and costs and payment policies.
• The institution evaluates program and course effectiveness, including student satisfaction.

Quality Framework Table: Student Satisfaction

[Learning Effectiveness] [Cost Effectiveness] [Access] [Faculty Satisfaction] [Student Satisfaction]