Results of the annual survey given to the graduating class of 2022 showed a decline in satisfaction, according to the Graduating Seniors Survey report.
The Equinox believes that this decline in satisfaction with Keene State College is a shared responsibility between both students and the college. While KSC can do a lot to improve how students perceive their experience, it also falls on the students to take action to make their college life more fulfilling.
The lowest area of agreement on the survey among the most recent outgoing seniors was whether KSC provides the support needed for them to thrive socially, with 68% agreeing, a slight decline from the previous year.
KSC has many events that students can attend. The Equinox thinks that students who do not participate in events and choose to stay in their dorm have only themselves to blame for not taking full advantage of the opportunities provided. However, a lot of the events provided are sporting events, which attracts most students, but is not all-encompassing; focusing on other activities would be a good idea to help get more students involved in on-campus events.
Not everything falls solely on the students, however. Only 78% of seniors agree that KSC provided them the assistance needed to succeed academically. Numbers that low are concerning when seeing how academics are handled. Something that The Equinox sees as entirely the college’s fault is how they treat certain majors by cutting classes. Majors across campus have had classes necessary for graduation cut, leaving students to scramble to find course substitutions and replacements to stay on track to graduate. It is an extremely horrifying thought to have a class that is mandatory to graduate not be provided anymore. Keene State students deserve better than to have classes pulled out from beneath their feet.
The Equinox does not see the failure of academic success as the fault of professors and department chairs. The Equinox sees how hard professors work to uphold integrity when it comes to education. While there are some unmotivated students who would not learn regardless, the burden of academic failure largely falls on the school itself.
Considering only 71% of seniors would recommend KSC to friends or siblings, it is critical that the college reflects on its actions and makes the changes necessary to fix the mistakes they have made.
College years are said to be the best time of a person’s life, and right now KSC is not showing that statement to be true. With how much students are paying to attend, Keene State College is not providing enough to get your money’s worth. Out-of-state students are even more money, and all of the debt that they will need to pay off later is hardly worth the time.
The Equinox wants Keene State College to do the best it can to get satisfaction numbers up. One way to help could be to bring back short answer questions to the Graduating Senior Survey instead of just multiple choice questions. Surveys in the past offered short answer questions, and while The Equinox understands quantitative data is easier to compile than qualitative, we believe the need for descriptive feedback is pivotal. The college needs to listen to feedback from students in order to improve its crumbling reputation.
It would be disheartening to see satisfaction numbers get any lower.
