An Evaluation of SLIS Student Satisfaction and its Global Impacts

Abstract

This is a juried paper presentation (of 24 slides) in Session 6.4, Reports of Current Research (Juried Papers) on Thursday, Jan. 13 at the 2005 ALISE Conference. Graduate library and information science (LIS) programs continue to evaluate their curriculums, goals and objectives, as trends in education shift toward a global environment focused on information science, technology, and distance learning. For the past four years, the School of Library and Information Sciences at the University of North Texas (SLIS) conducted an End of Program Questionnaire of graduating masterâ s students. This study focuses on student evaluation and satisfaction with the SLIS masterâ s program and the ways of preparing them for the changing paradigm of the global library and information science profession. Student satisfaction is measured in five key areas: 1) Program background information, 2) Masterâ s program goals and objectives, 3) Curriculum, 4) Physical resources and facilities, and 5) Faculty and advising. The studentsâ comments and answers reflect high satisfaction and confirm the schoolâ s effort to meet the objectives and goals of the program. Interesting and positive results in studentsâ answers along with discrepancies among studentsâ comments are carefully analyzed and discussed by the school faculty and staff. The results are compared to issues identified in the global environment and appropriate suggestions are made for meeting flexible curricula evaluations.