SEACnet Career Services Benchmarking Project

How does your college or university better understand the career and professional plans of students? What is important to students as they pursue different career opportunities? And how do Career Services Offices assist students in their professional endeavors? StudentVoice, in partnership with a group of directors from Southeastern Atlantic Coast Career Network (SEACnet) have created a benchmarking instrument designed to answer these questions.

The study is open to any institution, with StudentVoice member campuses (on an annual StudentVoice institutional license) receiving complimentary involvement. While the study has some components of satisfaction analysis and student perception, study participation will allow institutions to document the outcomes of Career Services programs and services. The study provides peer and national data to help understand how institutional results compare to similarly situated campuses.

To participate, an institution only needs to customize sections of the survey to best address institution-specific concerns or issues. If needed, assistance from StudentVoice assessment staff is available to aid in the development of additional questions. All technology and administration logistics are carried out by StudentVoice, making the study easy to execute in a short period of time.

Why is the SEACnet Career Services Benchmarking Project unique?

Administration - While most institutions collect graduating student data, this study is designed to be administered approximately 6-12 months prior to graduation.
Content - The instrument has specific sections devoted to satisfaction, usage, outcomes, and needs assessment.
Benchmarking - Institutions can compare results with participating peer campuses.
Customization - Institutions have the opportunity to add institution-specific questions.
Results - All data can be easily accessed immediately, with benchmark data provided at conclusion of study.
Technology - Full data collection and instant reporting capabilities are included with participation.

View a sample online version of the SEACnet Career Services Benchmarking instrument.

View a presentation made at the North Carolina State SEACnet conference in July, 2007.

FAQs

Why benchmark?
Benchmarking provides peer and national comparison data, adding another layer of information about the impact and outcomes of programs and services. Peer and national comparison data enables institutions to identify strengths and areas of opportunity, while yielding results that have scope, relevance, and a basis for comparison which can be an invaluable tool in striving to maintain a high level of service for students. Benchmarking provides clarity to the data and can be a source for validating various programs or services and allows for the sharing of best practices.

Who designed this study?
Led by Russ Coughenour (Director of Career Services at the University of Tennessee), a group of Career Center Directors from SEACnet gathered for two days to discuss assessment possibilities and the value of benchmarking student data. Also in attendance:

Nancy Bernard from Auburn University
Mary Feduccia from Louisiana State University
Marie Geary from Boston College
Donna Ratcliffe from Virginia Tech
Flora Riley from Clemson University
Carol Schroeder from North Carolina State University
Scott Williams from University of Georgia

The group identified topical areas of interest, target populations, and additional logistical details. Throughout spring 2007, the group continued to refine the topics and develop appropriate measures. In April of 2007 the instrument was pilot tested with three institutions and the questions were further refined based on the pilot test.

Do I have to ask all the questions?
You may delete benchmarking questions that are not appropriate for your institutional context.

Can I add institution-specific questions?
Yes, you have the option to add up to 10 institution specific questions to the end of the instrument.

How is the data collected?
All data is collected online through a web link.

Who is the target population?
The target population is junior and senior students.

When is this study administered?
While the timing of the study will be determined by the institution, the recommended timing is November-December or February-March.

What size sample do I need?
Sample size is based on the size of your population size and should also take into consideration your typical online survey response rate. For example, if you have a population of 2000 juniors, you would need 322 junior respondents to have 95% confidence in the results with a 5% margin of error. If your institution has a typical response rate of 30% for online surveys, you would need approximately 1000 students in your sample to achieve 322 respondents. Additional information about sampling is available.

How do I view my data?
All institution-specific data is available through the StudentVoice online reporting site.

Will I get to see data from other colleges?
Benchmarking data will be shared at the conclusion of the study. No individual institution’s data will be shared, rather data will be identified as being from College 1, College 2, College 3, etc… Institutions will have the opportunity to select their preferred comparison colleges and universities.