Southern Connecticut State University College Portrait
Southern Connecticut State University501 Crescent Street New Haven, CT 06515-1533
(203) 392-5644
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University provides exemplary graduate and undergraduate education in the liberal arts and professional disciplines. As an intentionally diverse and comprehensive university, Southern is committed to academic excellence, access, social justice, and service for the public good.
Southern Connecticut State University, a flourishing community of over 11,000 students, is located less than three miles from downtown New Haven, near the artsy and historic Westville Village section of the city. Founded as a teachers college in 1893, Southern has evolved into a comprehensive university offering 116 graduate and undergraduate programs. More than 700 faculty members lead students through a wide range of studies and research specialties. Southern is proud to be an institution of the Connecticut State University System. Southern is in the midst of the first phase of a $230 million master plan to transform the center of campus. We are doubling the square footage of the Hilton C. Buley Library and upgrading the technology research tools. Engleman Hall has been vastly expanded, with more space devoted to academics, and in January 2006 we opened our new Michael J. Adanti Student Center, the hub of a dynamic student community.
Living in the Fighting Owls Community
Southern is located in New Haven, a historic seaside city founded by English Puritans in 1637. A center of culture and learning, New Haven has roots that go deep into New England history and education.
Southern is located in New Haven, a historic seaside city founded by English Puritans in 1637. A center of culture and learning, New Haven has roots that go deep into New England history and education. After all, Noah Webster compiled his first dictionary while living in New Haven. A dramatic reminder of New Haven's past is its downtown design, laid out in nine symmetrical squares. The most prominent is the center Green with its three landmark churches: Center Church (1812-15), a Georgian masterpiece housing a Louis Tiffany stained glass window; Trinity Church (1813-14), in the Gothic style; and the United Church on the Green (1812-15), in the classic Federalist design. Still the focal point for life in New Haven, today's Green is surrounded by modern office structures, government buildings, and trendy restaurants, making it an exciting and colorful place to be. For rest and relaxation, you can take advantage of the area's wealth of attractions. Besides movies, restaurants, and concerts, students enjoy world-famous theaters like the Yale Repertory, the Shubert, and Long Wharf, museums of art and natural history, and a whole range of sporting and seaside activities, from cruises on Long Island Sound to picnics at Lighthouse Point. And New Haven's nightlife has really taken off, with a whole new generation of clubs, shops, theaters, and restaurants. On any given evening, traffic stops while the good times roll. Today, New Haven is a multicultural city of more than 130,000 people. Thanks to its close proximity to major urban areas--just 90 minutes from New York City and fewer than three hours from Boston--New Haven plays a crucial part in the Northeast's economic, cultural, and social life.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 11,964 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 8,776 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 5,375 | 61% |
| Men | 3,401 | 39% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 26 | <1% |
| Asian | 228 | 3% |
| African American / Black | 1,186 | 14% |
| Hispanic | 779 | 9% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 8 | <1% |
| White | 6,097 | 69% |
| Two or More Races | 170 | 2% |
| International | 52 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 230 | 3% |
| Where do SCSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | 95% |
| Other US States & Territories | 5% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are SCSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 16% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | SAT |
|---|---|
| Math | 420 - 530 |
| Critical Reading | 420 - 530 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 4% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 29% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 65% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 2.92 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 98% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $19,433
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend Southern Connecticut State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 45% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $5,784. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 46% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,332. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2008-2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
SCSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 16 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 79% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 98% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 407 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 49% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 16% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 86% |
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Campus-based Housing
68% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
32% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The mission of the SCSU Police Department is to provide a safe environment for our faculty/staff, students, and visitors through our commitment to respect, education, professionalism, and trust.
SCSU police personnel has increased to a present level of 27 police officers, which includes the chief of police, deputy chief of police, one lieutenant, four sergeants, one detective, and 19 patrol officers. There are also five dispatchers, one building and grounds officers, and 66 University Assistants. The university police also are responsible for the shuttle service.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Medium full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Arts & sciences plus professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate comprehensive
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at SCSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 92% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 43% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 16% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 83% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 15% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 49% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 50% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 4% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 96% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 92% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 63% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 61% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 94% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 44% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 73% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 95% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 71% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 64% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 86% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 59% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 69% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 77% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 78% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Southern Connecticut State University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 1,460 |
| Master's | 692 |
| Doctoral | 6 |
| Total | 2,158 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 13% |
| Psychology, General | 13% |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 9% |
| Nursing | 7% |
| Communication and Media Studies | 7% |
| Links to degree programs at Southern Connecticut State University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A four-year success and progress rate means that of students starting in Fall either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall entering class shown in the graph above.
- 1,396 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 750 Full-Time Transfer Students
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 78%
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Student Learning at Southern Connecticut State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Student success is the highest priority at SCSU. Thus, student learning assessment is a strong focus of the university. Learning is assessed in individual courses, at the program level in the major, in the Liberal Education Program, and institution-wide. A variety of methods are used by faculty and academic programs to assess student learning depending upon the discipline. These include not only traditional tests but successful completion of research projects and papers, licensing exams, portfolios of work over time, and performance in internships or practica. Results of student learning assessment are used by faculty and departments to make curricular or program changes if necessary. To assure the ongoing high quality of academic programs, each program undergoes a full review every five years.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2009-10 Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 977
Senior Score: 1166
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 950
Senior Score: 950
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1038
Senior Score: 1228
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 950
Senior Score: 950