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Reclaiming Lutheran Students Project
Prepared for:
LECNA
Click mouse or use key to advancepress ESC key to stop or end
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?
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%.
We hope the Church will share this goal, because…
88%
48%
30%
21%
83%
56%
31%
42%
29%
17%
24%
21%
32% S
41% S
42% S
64% S
Church member
Do volunteer activities
Bible study
Committees
Teaching
Choir
Youth work
Church council
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
Lutheran College Graduates Are More Likely to Participate Actively in their Churches
Q.22 Are you involved in any of the following church activities?
S = Significant difference
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
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%
61%
54%
51%
51%
45%
41%
38%
36%
35%
34%
34%
34%
St. Olaf
Luther
Concordia College (Moorhead, MN)
Pacific Lutheran University
Gustavus Adolphus
Wartburg
Augustana (SD)
Augustana (IL)
Augsburg
California Lutheran
Valparaiso
Wittenberg
• National Awareness of Lutheran Colleges--ELCA
Q.8 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? (mentions above 50%)
85%
81%
75%
71%
67%
66%
62%
62%
59%
52%
48%
Concordia (IL)
Concordia (NE)
Concordia (WI)
Concordia (CA)
Concordia (St. Paul, MN)
Concordia (NY)
Concordia (MI)
Concordia (TX)
Valparaiso
Concordia (OR)
Concordia (AL)
Q.8 What Lutheran colleges are you aware of? (all LCMS colleges)
• National Awareness of Lutheran Colleges--LCMS
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%
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
97%
96%
96%
93%
89%
87%
86%
High quality, teaching oriented faculty
Reputation for excellence in student'sacademic area
Strong overall academic reputation
Professors who challenge, but help meetchallenges
Good academic facilities and equipment
Affordable cost
Employment opportunities aftergraduation
A Commitment to Good Teaching and a Personalized Learning Experience
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?
Where likely to find: no difference
30%
44%
45%
20%
38%
13%
55%
86%
86%
83%
82%
80%
Mentoring relationships withprofessors, others
Involvement in classroom discussions
Internships/other applied learning
All classes taught by professors
Conversations with professorsoutside of class
A Commitment to Good Teaching and a Personalized Learning Experience
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?
Where likely to find: no difference
15%
30%
56%
7%
16%
71%
70%
69%
46%
40%
Many small classes
Classes that include the perspectivesof women and minorities
Likelihood of graduating in four years
Faculty directed research orindependent study
International study
A Commitment to Good Teaching and a Personalized Learning Experience
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?
Where likely to find: no difference
5%
48%
55%
35%
48%
82%
75%
62%
55%
49%
Sense of community on campus
Balance between academics andsocial/personal development
Volunteering or other communityservice
Participating in intramural sports
Participating in music or theater
A Strong Sense of Community and the Value of Involvement Beyond the Classroom
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?
Where likely to find: no difference/Lutheran
10/89%
36/58%
42/54%
61/24%
34/57%
92%
88%
87%
85%
83%
75%
Emphasis on personal values andethics
Integration of values and ethicsin classroom discussions
Learning more about their faith
Meeting people on whom to modeltheir spiritual life
Participating in church orreligious activities
Interacting with students ofsimilar values
The Integration of Faith and Values Into the College Experience
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?
Where likely to find: Lutheran college
94%
93%
91%
89%
88%
59%
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
99%
98%
98%
97%
90%
Writing effectively
Thinkinganalytically
Solving problems
Ability to learn newskills
Speakingeffectively
Development of Job-Related Skills and Abilities
Q.20 How important do you believe it is for colleges to help students develop each of the following skills or traits?
Where likely to find: no difference
69%
74%
69%
79%
75%
97%
87%
82%
75%
Using best skillsand abilities
Being prepared forsuccessful career
Placing problems insocial andhistorical
perspective
Prepared for careerchange or
advancement
Development of Job-Related Skills and Abilities
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?
Where likely to find: no difference
66%
77%
71%
74
74%
78%
72%
71%
64%
Promoting racialequality or other
social issues
Being politically orsocially aware
Appreciating fine artssuch as music,
literature, theatre
Affiliating withorganizations that
help disadvantaged
Strong Sense of Involvement in Community
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?
Where likely to find: no difference
60%
61%
59%
50%
98%
96%
94%
93%
90%
81%
Having a sense of purpose in life
Being free to consider ethical andmoral sides of decisions
Developing moral principles that canguide actions
Being an active member of acongregation
Integrating faith with other aspectsof life
Raising a family
The Integration of Faith and Values Into Daily Life
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?
Where likely to find: Lutheran college
74%
74%
88%
89%
92%
50%
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
Undergraduate Experiences
Lutheran college graduates were more likely than their Lutheran peers who attended public universities to say that their undergraduate experience included….
89%
83%
85%
86%
86%
94% SHigh quality,teaching-
oriented faculty
Strong overallacademicreputation
Good academicfacilities andequipment
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
Strong Academic Reputation, Faculty and Facilities
S = Significant difference
Developin91%
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)
81%
33%
43%
54%
51%
36%
67% S
86% S
81% S
88% S
99% S
87% S
Majority of classes taught by professors
Many classes with less than 20 students
Faculty were interested in studentspersonally and academically **
Personal interaction with professors
Professors who challenged, but helpedyou meet challenge *
Professor was a mentor ***
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
Involvement With Faculty
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?
S = Significant difference
58%
75%
62%
58%
50%
74% S
78% S
90% S
87% S
92% SThere was a sense of community amongstudents *
Interaction with other students whoshare your interests **
Interaction with students with similarvalues ***
Balance between academics andsocial/personal development**
Friendships developed from classroomexperiences ***
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
Involvement With Peers
* 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)
S = Significant difference
Applied Learning Experiences
24%
36%
22%
39% S
41% S
51% S
No appliedlearning
experience
Off-campus orinternational
study
Internship
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
Q.5 While in college, did you participate in…?
S = Significant difference
Extracurricular Activities
47%
42%
17%
13%
44%
67% S
50% S
45% S
29% S
67% S
Volunteer/service activities
Academic clubs
Music/theater performances
Campus publications or studentgoverment
Had leadership role in anyextracurricular activity
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
Q.6a Were you involved in…? Q.6b Did you have a leadership role in…?
S = Significant difference
40%
21%
41%
12%
77% S
90% S
88% S
74% S
Emphasis on personal values andethics
Opportunities for spiritualdevelopment
Involved in church or religiousactivities*
College helped integrate faith intoother aspects of life**
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
The Integration of Faith and Values Into the College Experience
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)
S = Significant difference
Outcomes
Compared to Lutheran graduates of public flagship universities, Lutheran graduates of Lutheran colleges rate their colleges as...
More Effective in Career Preparation and Leadership
54%
67%
69%
54%
72%
72% S
78% S
69% S
Speakingeffectively
Writingeffectively
Teamwork
LeadershipLutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
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)
S = Significant difference
69%
64%
44%
42%
57% S
63% S
Relating to people ofdifferent backgrounds
Placing problems in socialand historical perspective
Being politically or sociallyaware
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
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)
63%
84% SHaving asense of
purpose inlife
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
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)
Compared to Lutheran graduates of public flagship universities, Lutheran college graduates...
Are Much More Likely to Graduate in Four Years or Less
58%
86% S
Lutheran college Lutherans Flagship public Lutherans
S = Significant difference
Q.18 How many years did it take for you to complete your undergraduate degree?
Are Equally Likely to Earn a Graduate or Professional Degree
Are Likely to Earn Equal Incomes
72%
10%
66%
55%
40%
65% S
74% S
19% S
Raise a family
Be free to considerthe moral and ethical
side of decisions
Integrate faith orspirituality in your
life
Be well-offfinancially
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
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)
35%
42%
30%
36%
15%
26% S
43% S
78% SAppreciating Fine Arts*
Promote racial equality or othersocial justice issues
Contribute to your community
Affiliate with organizations thathelp the disadvantaged
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
Place Higher Value on Community Concerns
* 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)
S = Significant difference
69%
56%
27%
52% S
62%
81% SInvolved with foundations or
non-profit organizations
Involved with elementary orsecondary school
Involved with yourundergraduate college or
university
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
Are More Likely to be Active, Contributing Members in Their Communities
Financial support
76%
66%
50%
49%
47%
27%
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. . . ?
88%
48%
30%
21%
83%
56%
31%
42%
29%
17%
24%
21%
32% S
41% S
42% S
64% S
Church member
Do volunteer activities
Bible study
Committees
Teaching
Choir
Youth work
Church council
LutherancollegeLutherans
FlagshippublicLutherans
Are More Likely to Participate Actively in their Churches
Q.22 Are you involved in any of the following church activities?
S = Significant difference
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%
Many Parents Don’t Have Strong Awareness or Impressions of Lutheran Colleges
17%
36%
23%
45%
No Impression of Lutheran colleges
Highest national awareness of anyLCMS college*
Highest national awareness of anyELCA college**
Mentioned a Lutheran college theywould consider for son/daughter
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?
Like church leaders, many parents don’t recognize important
educational differences…
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
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
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
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 messagesCollegevalue.com website expands on information in
brochureCD-Rom presentation used by colleges with funders
How Can the Church Help?
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 sessionsEncourage participation in Lutheran college
fairs – send a van!Publicize research findings in church mailings