Date of Award
2001
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Richard Hoehlein
Keywords
career development, college student needs assessment survey, educational planning, financial aid, human ecology, intellectual skills, leadership development, life skills, mathematics skills, needs assessment, personal development, program development, student needs, student services, test-taking skills, undergraduate students, university students
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the perceptions of educational and personal needs held by undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Human Ecology. The descriptive research design was utilized to carry out the study. The procedures used to complete this study are as follows: (1 ) a comprehensive literature review, which provided the conceptual framework for this study, (2) procurement of a list of students enrolled in the department from the Registrars' office, (3) correspondences and consent forms where mailed to students and faculty regarding the nature and logistics including a time line and location of the study, ( 4) the researcher utilized the College Student Needs Assessment Survey to collect the data, (5) The American College Testing Evaluation Survey Service scored and tabulated the data ,:,.,J. . v"'-< ---- generating a computerized summary of the analysis of data, ( 6) the computerized data reported descriptively in the form of ranking by amount of help needed within the area. The researcher used a four-point scale to summarize the data in terms of frequencies and percentages. (7) a panel of experts was convened to review the analysis of data. This group utilized a feedback form to determine whether the analysis of the educational and personal needs reported in section three and in the report to administration was appropriate and valid.
Results of students responses indicated five major areas of need: ( 1) in terms of career development, the major concern was learning about job opportunities in their career area, (2) in reference to educational planning, students' major concern was obtaining adequate funds to finance educational and learning more about sources of financial aid available at the University, (3) with regard to intellectual skills development, student expressed a need for increasing skills in mathematics and improving test-taking skills, (4) relative to life skills development, students indicated that the need to learn how to budget, spend money wisely, and handle stress and anxiety, and (5) in terms of personal development, students indicated a need to develop 3 leadership skills and to participate in governmental activities. Thus, the researcher concluded that there was a need to heighten the awareness of existing programs as well as the need to organize new programs and services to address unmet needs.