(NOVEMBER 2, 2021 — SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY) SUNY Empire State College students have reported the highest levels of satisfaction with their overall college experience in several key areas of the 2021 SUNY Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS). Fifty SUNY campuses participated in this year’s survey. SUNY Empire has regularly participated in system-wide student opinion surveys since 1994.

The 2021 survey marks the inaugural year for SUNY in-house survey administration. In previous iterations, the survey was called the Student Opinion Survey (SOS) and was administered by American College Testing, Inc. (ACT) in collaboration with SUNY System Administration.

The SSS, conducted on a triennial basis, is designed to evaluate programs, services, and facilities SUNY campuses provide to undergraduate students. College and system administrators use this information to identify areas of strength, as well as areas that require attention.   

The SSS study population is based on degree-seeking undergraduate “home institution” students 18 and older who were enrolled in at least one course during the Spring 2021 semester. The survey was administered to a random sample of SUNY Empire degree-seeking undergraduates.  

Specific areas of high student satisfaction include academic support and student services, campus climate, and lifelong growth and learning. SUNY Empire also took top ranking when students were asked if they would choose their college again if they were starting college over. The college ranked first among all participating SUNY campuses in terms of satisfaction with the campus response to the COVID-19 outbreak.  

“We are thrilled to once again rank first in student satisfaction among comprehensive colleges in the Student Satisfaction Survey. These survey results are a testament to the accessible, quality, student-centered education that has been part of our mission for the past 50 years,” said SUNY Empire State College Officer in Charge Nathan Gonyea. “These survey results also speak directly to the efforts of SUNY Empire’s faculty and staff who have worked so hard to maintain and improve the student experience while dealing with challenges and obstacles in their own professional and personal lives.”  

Among its four-year comprehensive college cohort, consisting of 13 campuses statewide, SUNY Empire ranked first in 39 areas spanning six categories, from academic-related services and information technology services to campus climate and ancillary services, such as billing and financial aid. 

SUNY Empire ranked first in the comprehensive sector on all items pertaining to overall satisfaction: 

• How satisfied? (44.1 + 44.9 = 89% satisfied or very satisfied) 
• Compared to expectations… (42.4 + 45.3 = 87.7% mostly met or completely met expectations) 
• If you could start over… (26.4 + 57.9% = 84.3% probably yes or definitely yes) 

• What is your overall impression… (48.3 + 35.6 = 83.9% high or very high) 
• Considering cost against the quality… (45.1 + 41.8 = 86.9% agree or strongly agree) 
• Additionally – the college ranked first in the sector and among all participating SUNY campuses in terms of satisfaction with the campus response to COVID-19 outbreak. 

Among its four-year comprehensive college cohort, consisting of 13 campuses statewide, SUNY Empire ranked first in 39 areas spanning six categories, from academic-related services and information technology services to campus climate and ancillary services, such as billing and financial aid.  

Satisfaction with academic-related services: 

• Clearly defined academic requirements 
• Overall access to faculty outside of designated class time  
• Library resources and services 
• Overall quality of instruction 
• Academic advising/coaching 
• Tutoring services/Learning support 
• Ability to take courses in your major or program of study when you need them 
• Course registration process 

Frequency of Experiences: 

• Intellectual engagement with material covered in class* 
• Engagement in research or other creative projects under the guidance of a faculty member/instructor 

Ancillary Services: 

• Billing and payment process* 
• Financial aid services (not the amount of financial aid received) 
• Usefulness of information on college website 
• Communication of college news/information to students* 
• Communications of student conduct rules and regulations 
• College bookstore services 
• Ease of finding what is needed on the college website
• Transfer planning services 
• Career planning services 

Information Technology Services: 

• Computing support services  
• College computing network 

Campus Climate: 

• Freedom from harassment or bullying at this college 
• Faculty/instructor respect for students 
• Student respect for other students 
• Non-teaching staff respect for students 
• Racial harmony at this college 
• Your sense of personal safety/security at this college 
• Your sense of belonging at this college 
• Acceptance of individual differences 
• Openness to the opinion of others 

Growth and Learning: 

• Writing clearly and effectively 
• Acquiring knowledge and skills for further academic study 
• Acquiring knowledge and skills needed for a career 
• Developing problem solving skills 
• Understanding your personal ethics and values
• Developing an openness to the opinion of others 
• Working well with others 
• Using computer and information technology effectively 
• Expanding your global awareness 

* Indicates instances where SUNY Empire ranked first relative to all participating SUNYs in addition to ranking first in sector