University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus College Portrait

The University of Pittsburgh offers students a wide variety of educational opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences.  The University of Pittsburgh measures the effectiveness of these opportunities by utilizing a variety of survey methods to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.  The University of Pittsburgh annually participates in The Student Experience in The Research University (SERU) survey.  Information about this survey is available at: http://cshe.berkeley.edu/research/seru/.  Given the manner in which these SERU survey data are collected, that is, they are based on student responses - with each question's response based only on those students who chose to respond to that particular survey question - these SERU results may differ from other official University-published data.

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 University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES). 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

• 54% of seniors worked outside of class on class projects or studied with classmates
• 21% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in student organizations or clubs
• 9% of seniors reported serving as an officer or leader in a campus organization or club
• 48% of seniors helped a classmate better understand course material

Active Learning Experiences

• 53% of seniors reported making class presentations
• 86% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week studying and other academic activities outside of class
• 13% of seniors enrolled in at least one service learning course
• 30% of seniors participated in a study abroad program
• 60% of seniors participated in an internship
• 28% of seniors assisted faculty with research

Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success

• 83% of seniors were at least somewhat satisfied with advising by faculty on academic matters
• 79% of seniors were at least somewhat satisfied with advising by college staff on academic matters
• 84% of seniors were at least somewhat satisfied with the availability of courses needed for graduation
• 53% of seniors reported raising their standards for acceptable effort due to the high standards of a faculty member

Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff

• 33% of seniors sought academic help from an instructor or tutor
• 36% of seniors talked with an instructor outside of class about course material
• 20% of seniors worked with a faculty member on a campus activity other than coursework

Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas

• 96% of seniors rated their ability to appreciate, tolerate, or understand racial and ethnic diversity as good or better
• 94% of seniors rated their ability to appreciate cultural and global diversity as good or better
• 44% of seniors gained a deeper understanding of other perspectives through conversations with students of a different nationality
• 50% of seniors gained a deeper understanding of other perspectives through conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity

Student Satisfaction

• 81% of seniors were at least somewhat satisfied with the value of their education for the price they paid
• 90% of seniors were at least somewhat satisfied with their overall academic experience
• 88% of seniors would choose to attend this institution again
• 93% of seniors reported that their campus had a strong commitment to undergraduate education

Evaluation of Experiences

Survey Administration Process

Survey Information