Since 1998, all students completing degrees at UTSA, whether graduate or undergraduate, have been required to complete the Graduating Student Survey. The survey was developed over a year's time by students, faculty, and staff from across the campus. Student groups were used to test the early drafts and their suggestions were incorporated to make improvements to the instrument. Most of the items ask the respondents to rate their agreement with statements about their educational outcomes, employment plans, satisfaction with faculty, staff, services and facilities.
Students also provide demographic indicators and written comments as well.
The limitations with this measure are the lack of national comparisons and the students' limitations of time to answer all the items on the survey. However, for more immediate accountability purposes like the SACS visit, the most critical items from the four forms were chosen to comprise a shortened version. Only two or three items were in the high average ratings 3.3 or 3.4 while the average rating ranged from 3.8 to 4.2. Students' ratings on the relevant survey items are included in the table below. The second measure, the Student Satisfaction Inventory is a national test that provides the advantage of national comparison means.