University rates highly in key areas

February 27, 2012

If students across the country had an opportunity to navigate through the college selection process again, 73 percent of them would side with their current college.

UM-Dearborn logo

At University of Michigan-Dearborn, 79 percent of students would reenroll if they had the choice, six percent higher than the national average.

That’s according to survey results from the 2011 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). UM-Dearborn exceeded national averages in four key areas.

“The bottom line that nearly eight out of ten UM-Dearborn students would choose to enroll here again is both a testimony to our Michigan Excellence and a challenge to go to the next level of service and experience,” said Stanley Henderson, vice chancellor for enrollment management and student life.

Students credited the University for its academics, as 87 percent of them felt coursework emphasized analyzing the basic elements of an idea, experience or theory.

And UM-Dearborn’s diversity across campus also received high marks from students. More than 60 percent of them had a serious conversation with a student of a different ethnicity or race. Another 60 percent of students had a serious conversation with students who are very different, in term of religious, political or personal beliefs.

UM-Dearborn students rated their satisfaction with the University higher than the national averages on more than 75 percent of the areas surveyed, on the recent Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI). The SSI survey benchmarks the student experience on 12 key indicators related to academic services and campus life. 94 percent of students agreed or strongly agreed that UM-Dearborn provides a welcoming and inclusive campus community.

“Our students' voice, as expressed in these surveys, will give us a rich roadmap for assessing both the academic and student life on the campus,” Henderson said.