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Reclaiming Lutheran Students Project

Click mouse or use key to advance press ESC key to stop or end. Reclaiming Lutheran Students Project. Prepared for: LECNA. AGENDA. Reclaiming Lutheran Students: background Research findings: Church leaders’ expectations for Lutheran education Alumni experiences and outcomes

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Reclaiming Lutheran Students Project

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  1. Click mouse or use key to advancepress ESC key to stop or end Reclaiming Lutheran Students Project Prepared for: LECNA

  2. AGENDA • Reclaiming Lutheran Students: background • Research findings: • Church leaders’ expectations for Lutheran education • Alumni experiences and outcomes • Greater church involvement by Lutheran college graduates • What parents don’t know about Lutheran education • RLS communication campaign • How can the Church help?

  3. RLS Background • Currently, only 5% of Lutheran students enroll in Lutheran colleges • Task force of college leaders was formed to investigate • Goals: increase awareness of Lutheran college value among Lutheran families; increase Lutheran enrollment by at least one percentage point – to 6%.

  4. We hope the Church will share this goal, because…

  5. Lutheran College Graduates Are More Likely to Participate Actively in their Churches S = Significant difference Q.22 Are you involved in any of the following church activities?

  6. Committee Recommendation: Three Interlocking Research Projects • Alumni research: undergraduate experiences and life outcomes • Parent research: expectations and perceptions of college education • Church leader research: expectations and perceptions of college education

  7. Church Leader Methodology • Mail surveys sent to the following ELCA and LCMS groups: • Bishops • District Presidents • Pastors of the 300 largest congregations in each synod • Lutheran high school teachers • Lutheran church youth directors • A total of 1900 surveys mailed • 630 returned for an overall response rate of 33%

  8. National Awareness of Lutheran Colleges--ELCA Q.8 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? (mentions above 50%)

  9. National Awareness of Lutheran Colleges--LCMS Q.8 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? (all LCMS colleges)

  10. According to Church pastors, teachers, youth directors:To what extent do you agree that the Church has done as much as it should to inform you of the value of Lutheran colleges? ELCA: 22% -- LCMS: 29%

  11. THE CHURCH’S EXPECTATIONS FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE • A commitment to good teaching and a personalized learning experience • A strong sense of community and the value of involvement beyond the classroom • The integration of faith and values into the college experience

  12. A Commitment to Good Teaching and a Personalized Learning Experience Where likely to find: no difference 30% 44% 45% 20% 38% 13% 55% Q.13 How important should each of the following be in selecting a college? Q.15 How important is it for students to have each of the following academic opportunities in college?

  13. A Commitment to Good Teaching and a Personalized Learning Experience Where likely to find: no difference 15% 30% 56% 7% 16% Q.13 How important should each of the following be in selecting a college? Q.15 How important is it for students to have each of the following academic opportunities in college?

  14. A Commitment to Good Teaching and a Personalized Learning Experience Where likely to find: no difference 5% 48% 55% 35% 48% Q.13 How important should each of the following be in selecting a college? Q.15 How important is it for students to have each of the following academic opportunities in college?

  15. A Strong Sense of Community and the Value of Involvement Beyond the Classroom Where likely to find: no difference/Lutheran 10/89% 36/58% 42/54% 61/24% 34/57% Q.13 How important should each of the following be in selecting a college? Q.15 How important is it for students to have each of the following academic opportunities in college?

  16. The Integration of Faith and Values Into the College Experience Where likely to find: Lutheran college 94% 93% 91% 89% 88% 59% Q.13 How important should each of the following be in selecting a college? Q.15 How important is it for students to have each of the following academic opportunities in college? Q.18 How important is it for students to have each of the following non-academic opportunities in college?

  17. THE CHURCH’S EXPECTATIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE OUTCOMES • Development of job-related skills and abilities • Strong sense of commitment to community • Integration of faith and values into daily life

  18. Development of Job-Related Skills and Abilities Where likely to find: no difference 69% 74% 69% 79% 75% Q.20 How important do you believe it is for colleges to help students develop each of the following skills or traits?

  19. Development of Job-Related Skills and Abilities Where likely to find: no difference 66% 77% 71% 74 74% Q.20 How important do you believe it is for colleges to help students develop each of the following skills or traits? Q.22 Think about the kind of people you hope students will become some day. How important do you hope the following things will be to them?

  20. Strong Sense of Involvement in Community Where likely to find: no difference 60% 61% 59% 50% Q.20 How important do you believe it is for colleges to help students develop each of the following skills or traits? Q.22 Think about the kind of people you hope students will become some day. How important do you hope the following things will be to them?

  21. The Integration of Faith and Values Into Daily Life Where likely to find: Lutheran college 74% 74% 88% 89% 92% 50% Q.20 How important do you believe it is for colleges to help students develop each of the following skills or traits? Q.22 Think about the kind of people you hope students will become some day. How important do you hope the following things will be to them?

  22. Comparative Alumni Research: Undergraduate Experiences and Outcomes • Telephone surveys with Lutheran and non-Lutheran graduates of the following institutions (600 each) • Lutheran colleges • Other private colleges • Flagship public universities • Other public colleges and universities • From the classes of 1958-1993 • 2400 surveys completed • Regional balance

  23. Undergraduate Experiences Lutheran college graduates were more likely than their Lutheran peers who attended public universities to say that their undergraduate experience included….

  24. Strong Academic Reputation, Faculty and Facilities S = Significant difference Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=did not benefit at all, and 5=benefited very much)

  25. Involvement With Faculty S = Significant difference Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . (top-two box) * Q.2 How often did your college experience include the following? (top-two box) ** Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box) *** Q. 4 Who, if anyone, did you meet in college who was a mentor or role model for you?

  26. Involvement With Peers S = Significant difference * Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box) ** Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . (top-two box) *** Q. 2 How much did your college experience include the following? (top-two box)

  27. Applied Learning Experiences S = Significant difference Q.5 While in college, did you participate in…?

  28. Extracurricular Activities S = Significant difference Q.6a Were you involved in…? Q.6b Did you have a leadership role in…?

  29. The Integration of Faith and Values Into the College Experience S = Significant difference Q.1A/1B Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . (top-two box) * Q.6a Were you involved in…? ** Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box)

  30. Outcomes Compared to Lutheran graduates of public flagship universities, Lutheran graduates of Lutheran colleges rate their colleges as...

  31. More Effective in Career Preparation and Leadership S = Significant difference Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

  32. More Effective in DevelopingInterpersonal Skills S = Significant difference Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

  33. More Effective in Helping Students Develop a Sense of Purpose S = Significant difference Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

  34. Compared to Lutheran graduates of public flagship universities, Lutheran college graduates...

  35. Are Much More Likely to Graduate in Four Years or Less S = Significant difference Q.18 How many years did it take for you to complete your undergraduate degree?

  36. Are Equally Likely to Earn a Graduate or Professional Degree Are Likely to Earn Equal Incomes

  37. Place Higher Value on Family, Ethical and Religious Concerns S = Significant difference Q.19 How important is it to you to. . .? (rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)

  38. Place Higher Value on Community Concerns S = Significant difference * Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (top-two box) Q.19 How important is it to you to. . .? (rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)

  39. Financial support 76% 66% 49% 47% 50% 27% Are More Likely to be Active, Contributing Members in Their Communities Recent Involvement in Volunteer Activities S = Significant difference Q.20 In the past five years, have you been involved in the volunteer activity . . . ? Have you financially supported. . . ?

  40. Are More Likely to Participate Actively in their Churches S = Significant difference Q.22 Are you involved in any of the following church activities?

  41. Lutheran Parent Survey Methodology • Surveys mailed to members of ELCA and LCMS churches: • Parents of 9th grade students • Parents of 10th grade students • A total of 3000 surveys mailed • Overall response rate of 30%

  42. Many Parents Don’t Have Strong Awareness or Impressions of Lutheran Colleges When asked about Lutheran Colleges they were aware of: * Among LCMS parents ** Among ELCA parents Q.9 Overall, what are your impressions of Lutheran colleges? Q.5 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? Q.6 What Lutheran colleges would you consider for your son or daughter?

  43. Like church leaders, many parents don’t recognize important educational differences…

  44. In College Experiences and Outcomes: • High-quality teaching oriented faculty • Mentoring relationships with professors • Most classes taught by professors • Professors who both challenge and help students • Opportunities for independent study, internships, international study • Extracurricular opportunities ************************************************* • Career preparation • Communication skills • Critical thinking skills • Interpersonal skills

  45. Parents’ Financial Concerns: • Affordable cost • Considered more likely at public university • Employment opportunities after graduation • Graduation in four years • Both considered equally likely at public and Lutheran colleges

  46. Lutheran colleges must: • document their academic rigor and practical value • educate parents about the importance of an involving educational experience • explain the availability of financial aid

  47. Reclaiming Lutheran Students Communication Campaign Direct mail campaign to Lutheran parents of high school students • Four-panel mailers offer a brochure featuring key messages about educational quality • Series of five messages, sent over three years Press kit prepared for colleges, distributed to nationwide media College Fair banners promote key messages Collegevalue.com website expands on information in brochure CD-Rom presentation used by colleges with funders

  48. How Can the Church Help?

  49. How Can the Church Help? Promote research findings and Lutheran college value throughout the Church Display & distribute brochures in individual churches Hold college planning information sessions Encourage participation in Lutheran college fairs – send a van! Publicize research findings in church mailings

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