10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 1 RU-Camden? Ashli Williams

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 2 RU -Camden Academics Academics Campus Life Campus Life Finances Finances

Academics Are required courses available for night students? “Yes, I am a night student. I will not graduate in Spring, 2008, because the required courses for my Business Management degree are not offered at night. I work for Burlington County and can only attend school at night. Why offer a degree, if you're not going to provide the courses needed to complete the degree. Offering required courses once a year is not acceptable. Not offering enough courses at night for night students that work is not acceptable”. – RutgersSurvey.cvs

Academics Subject: Any semesters where courses were unavailable? Subject: Any semesters where courses were unavailable? “Yes, this has happened to me on a few occasions and I must say that it is rather frustrating. I would hate to be a senior waiting on one class they don't offer every semester. I have noticed that there are some courses that they only offer in the spring and some that they only offer in the fall. I have noticed that they do try and offer all general ed. courses that everyone needs both semesters”. – Sakai discussion list 10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 4

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 5 Academics What do students think of their advisors? What do students think of their advisors? “I think the advisors need to be advised…My advisor suggested that I take a class b/c it fit into my schedule w/o telling me that there was a mandatory trip that was about $3000 extra. I found all of this out on the first day of class”. – RutgersSurvey.csv “I think the advisors need to be advised…My advisor suggested that I take a class b/c it fit into my schedule w/o telling me that there was a mandatory trip that was about $3000 extra. I found all of this out on the first day of class”. – RutgersSurvey.csv

Academics Are the advisors helpful? Are the advisors helpful? “I have been lucky with the availability of courses to complete my major, which can be attributed to my academic advisor. Not having someone (an advisor) to help you navigate is sometimes confusing and scheduling courses can be detrimental”. – Sakai discussion list “I have been lucky with the availability of courses to complete my major, which can be attributed to my academic advisor. Not having someone (an advisor) to help you navigate is sometimes confusing and scheduling courses can be detrimental”. – Sakai discussion list 10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 6

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 7 Academics How is the teaching quality? How is the teaching quality? “ I think that too many professors rely too heavily on the text book and don't deviate from it- its discouraging when a professor tells a student to read the text for homework and then reiterates it during class hours, it's a waste. When a professor can add their own personal experiences to a lesson plan, you can take so much more away from it.. Overall, the caliber/quality of teaching at Rutgers is excellent”. – Sakai discussion list “ I think that too many professors rely too heavily on the text book and don't deviate from it- its discouraging when a professor tells a student to read the text for homework and then reiterates it during class hours, it's a waste. When a professor can add their own personal experiences to a lesson plan, you can take so much more away from it.. Overall, the caliber/quality of teaching at Rutgers is excellent”. – Sakai discussion list

Academics “I think that the Professors here are very helpful and very informative. You do come across some that you do not like or their method of teaching but you just learn to try not taking any of their classes again”. – Sakai discussion list “I think that the Professors here are very helpful and very informative. You do come across some that you do not like or their method of teaching but you just learn to try not taking any of their classes again”. – Sakai discussion list 10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 8

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 9 Academics What do think of the Career Center? What do think of the Career Center? “I think that the services were great and everyone is really nice, except the Career Center secretary”. RutgersSurvey.csv “I think that the services were great and everyone is really nice, except the Career Center secretary”. RutgersSurvey.csv

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 10 Campus Life Do students feel connected to Rutgers-Camden? Do students feel connected to Rutgers-Camden? One student said, “No. Its too much of a commuter college. Most people come and go and don’t spend extra time on campus”. RutgersSurvey.rsv One student said, “No. Its too much of a commuter college. Most people come and go and don’t spend extra time on campus”. RutgersSurvey.rsv

Campus Life What about campus life? What about campus life? A student claims that, “There appears to be no campus life. Outside of the campus center, there are very few options for food within walking distance. And being a sub campus of New Brunswick makes any major Rutgers event feel foreign since it is usually referring to the NB campus”. RutgersSurvey.rsv A student claims that, “There appears to be no campus life. Outside of the campus center, there are very few options for food within walking distance. And being a sub campus of New Brunswick makes any major Rutgers event feel foreign since it is usually referring to the NB campus”. RutgersSurvey.rsv 10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 11

Campus Life Do students know about the student services available? “No. I am not sure what services are available to me”.- RutgersSurvey.rsv “No. I am not sure what services are available to me”.- RutgersSurvey.rsv

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 13 Campus Life What do students think of the students services? What do students think of the students services? “The degree navigator function on the website is a great tool I find most students utilize when planning future classes”. Rutgerssurvey.rsv “The degree navigator function on the website is a great tool I find most students utilize when planning future classes”. Rutgerssurvey.rsv

Campus Life Have you used any of the student services? What do you think of them? Have you used any of the student services? What do you think of them? “ As a resident there are a lot of services I have utilized and feel like they are a secret. Career Services, Health Services, Library Research help and Student Life activities (which no one EVER goes too)”. Rutgerssurvey.rsv “ As a resident there are a lot of services I have utilized and feel like they are a secret. Career Services, Health Services, Library Research help and Student Life activities (which no one EVER goes too)”. Rutgerssurvey.rsv 10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 14

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 15 Finances What do students think of the Financial Aid department ? What do students think of the Financial Aid department ? “I recently had a struggle with the Financial Aid Office. My financial situation changed from last year to this year, resulting in me reporting a lower income, yet my aid decreased. Apparently they believe that a student's aid should decrease when his reported income decreases. So I wrote an appeal, and followed up with daily phone calls explaining my situation and my logic why I should receive more money. Eventually I did get more money, but still not as much aid as when I was reporting more income...weird, right?”- Sakai discussion list “I recently had a struggle with the Financial Aid Office. My financial situation changed from last year to this year, resulting in me reporting a lower income, yet my aid decreased. Apparently they believe that a student's aid should decrease when his reported income decreases. So I wrote an appeal, and followed up with daily phone calls explaining my situation and my logic why I should receive more money. Eventually I did get more money, but still not as much aid as when I was reporting more income...weird, right?”- Sakai discussion list

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 16 Finances Does the scholarship help towards paying tuition? Does the scholarship help towards paying tuition? “My scholarship is over after this coming spring semester and I will still probably need to take 1-2 more semesters of classes. Which means that I will have to find a way to pay for it. I am hoping that I will be able to find scholarship money, because that is what I did at community college. It seems to be a little more difficult to find scholarship money here than at community college. So I seem to have my work cut out for me but I should have enough time to get the funds together”. Sakai discussion list “My scholarship is over after this coming spring semester and I will still probably need to take 1-2 more semesters of classes. Which means that I will have to find a way to pay for it. I am hoping that I will be able to find scholarship money, because that is what I did at community college. It seems to be a little more difficult to find scholarship money here than at community college. So I seem to have my work cut out for me but I should have enough time to get the funds together”. Sakai discussion list

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 17 Finances What about the working students? How is it hard to do both? What about the working students? How is it hard to do both? “I work two jobs and I am a full time student… sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming. But the bills don't pay themselves!” :) -Sakai discussion list “I work two jobs and I am a full time student… sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming. But the bills don't pay themselves!” :) -Sakai discussion list

Finances Working Students Working Students More than half of Rutgers (Camden Campus) students work while attending school. More than half of Rutgers (Camden Campus) students work while attending school. The cost of everyday living and school expenses (books) are just too much. The cost of everyday living and school expenses (books) are just too much. Rutgers could help students by giving them credit for work experience or providing more programs and classes at night. Rutgers could help students by giving them credit for work experience or providing more programs and classes at night. 10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 18

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 19 What This Means Academics, Campus Life, and Finances are a big factor for students. These three points are the basis of college. Academics, Campus Life, and Finances are a big factor for students. These three points are the basis of college. Therefore, to keep students at Rutgers- Camden and making their college experience pleasant there needs to be: more student involvement, awareness of student services, and an increase of programs and classes at night. Therefore, to keep students at Rutgers- Camden and making their college experience pleasant there needs to be: more student involvement, awareness of student services, and an increase of programs and classes at night.

10/27/2015 Sociology of Communications 20 Next Steps Student organizations need to start setting up activities on campus to encourage an active student life. Student organizations need to start setting up activities on campus to encourage an active student life. Staff of student services need to start setting up booths/tables on campus encouraging student involvement. Staff of student services need to start setting up booths/tables on campus encouraging student involvement. Next semester there should be an increase in availability of required courses, during the night, for those students who work. Next semester there should be an increase in availability of required courses, during the night, for those students who work.