HOW ARE WE DOING?
Miami University takes leadership development seriously and offers a wide variety of opportunities for leadership development. But just how successful are we? We have assessed the leadership development in our students across the university and in various leadership programs.
University-Wide Assessment
- HERI Surveys:
- Miami University participates in the Higher Education Research Institute’s “First-Year Survey” and “College Student Survey” to assess its culture of leadership. These two instruments provide the opportunity to compare students’ characteristics, perceptions, and attitudes from first to senior year, documenting the changes that result from their exposure to comprehensive leadership learning throughout their collegiate experience. Each year an assessment report is created based upon data from these surveys. Key findings from the latest report include:
- The number of Miami students reporting involvement in leadership training is 38.5% which is 14.5% higher than the national norm.
- Satisfaction with leadership opportunities at Miami has risen for the past four years. Over 80% of Miami students report being “very satisfied” with leadership opportunities on campus.
- Over 90% of entering Miami students expect to engage in volunteer work while in college.
- National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
- Miami participates in this national annual survey which is designed to obtain information about student participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development. Miami has been cited as an institution with higher-then-predicted graduate rates and higher-than-predicted scores on the following areas:
- Level of academic challenge
- Active and collaborative learning
- Student interaction with faculty members
- Enriching educational experiences
- Supportive campus environment
- 2006 Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership
- Miami University participated in a study conducted by a research team that investigated leadership at 54 US colleges and universities. This study analyzes students’ perceptions of leadership, their leadership identity, and the degree to which they are engaged in social change leadership. Some interesting findings include: Students benefit from understanding the importance of enacting change as it relates to leadership. Involvement in any group, activity or organization aids in leadership development. Discussion on diversity can greatly influence leadership development.