By Shannon Higgins
If phone calls to Ryerson asking for help leave you fuming, you are not alone.
Half of graduating students are dissatisfied with the concern Ryerson has for them as individuals and 67 per cent think Ryerson gives them “the run-around,” according to the Graduating Student Survey 2006.
The questionnaire is conducted through the Canadian Undergraduate Survey Consortium, a group of 20 universities across the country. They conduct surveys to learn more about undergraduate satisfaction with their school as well as career goals and personal backgrounds.
Paul Stenton, associate vice-president of University Planning, presented the results to the Board of Governors last week. He warns that the data only represents the feelings of people who completed the survey. Still, Stenton said that the high response rate is a good representation of what students are thinking.
Stenton said that 48.1 percent of the graduates queried, or 1,596 people, answered the mail-in survey.
This is the third time the graduates have been surveyed. Three years ago students “were not happy with the library,” Stenton said. “So we made significant investments.” Now, student response for library facilities is more positive. Stenton says this is an example of how student opinion can have direct results at Ryerson.
Other areas where Ryerson fell short included spirituality and second or third-language skills development. Sixty-seven per cent of those surveyed said Ryerson hasn’t contributed to their spiritual development.
Tashika Gomes, second-year diploma in arts student, agrees with the survey. She’s had trouble getting answers to simple questions, “Everyone told me something different,” she said. Gomes said all her administration queries have led her in circles.
Dr. Zouheir Fawaz, vice-provost of students, said this discontent is a large problem.
He sympathizes with students’ anger and said that part of the problem is the desire to uphold the high standards, but “that doesn’t mean denying students what’s rightly theirs.
“We don’t want to pay lip service to you. My office is going to be very active — expect to see changes.”
Detailed data from the report will be available at the library for students within the next two weeks.
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