Getting faculty to see through students' eyes
By CCTIMES, Published August 18, 2008

Directing a college’s culture isn’t easy. Just as Shirley Reed, president of South Texas College (STC).

Reed has served at the helm of the college since it opened 15 years ago. STC serves more than 20,000 students in the fall and spring semesters across five campuses, graduating more than 2,000 students annually.

To ensure her college continuously serves the needs of its students, Reed relies on data to map areas needing improvement. The college has also used structured student focus groups to gauge students’ perceptions of the college, including barriers they face.

When the college initially started the group talks, it found that lack of information and student aid were students’ top issues. STC immediately created new student services and new systems to make it easier for students to navigate through the college.

Subsequent focus groups revealed the college’s efforts worked. The issues no longer surfaced. But another issue emerged. Students didn’t feel instructors were in-tune with their needs.

While faculty said they graded papers and returned them to students immediately, the focus groups indicated that students they didn’t think they were getting feedback in a timely manner and were not kept abreast of how they are doing, Reed said.

Some instructors balked at such criticism. But Reed used faculty evaluations and college data to illustrate the disconnect. She noted faculty usually receive high marks, often 3.8 point on a 4.0 scale. But the college’s annual student retention rate hovers at 52 percent.

“How could such great faculty lose half their students over a year?” Reed said.

The data catches faculty’s attention. Sometimes it creates tension, but it is essential to win faculty’s support to change culture.

“We go through denial of the data, anger with the data and, finally, I say if you don’t believe the data, do your own research and bring me your data,” Reed said.

Sometimes allowing faculty to see feedback can open their eyes, Reed said. It may be the little things that effect students and their perception of the classroom, such as an off-color joke, she said.

“When they actually hear how deeply a student is hurt when a faculty member is a little rude or insensitive, it’s a wake up call,” Reed said.

College faculty sometimes so focused on the academics of the classroom that they forget who the students are, especially community college students, who often have families and full-time jobs.

Reed acknowledged her approach hasn’t made her the “most popular president,” but she it’s the way the college’s board of directors wants the college to run. And for Reed, making just one student’s experience at her college could have a resounding affect.

“If we can change one person, we can change a life and the future of that person’s family,” Reed said.