Gallup's Survey on MOOC's and Higher Education Generally

GALLUP’S COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS’ PANEL – INAUGURAL SURVEY FINDINGS

PRESIDENTS BULLISH ON THEIR INSTITUTION’S FUTURE, BUT NOT ON MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES AND HIGHER EDUCATION GENERALLY

MAY 2, 2013

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Gallup has launched a panel focused on U.S. college and university presidents to track and understand their opinions on important topics and issues facing higher education. Gallup surveys these leaders every quarter on an annual basis. The key findings from the inaugural study include:

THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Despite not being excited about the future of higher education in general, the majority of university presidents are excited about the future of their institution, many suggest enrollment will increase in the near future and that graduation rates will increase in the distant future.

•   A large number of college and university presidents — 62% — say they are excited about the future of their institution. In contrast, only two in 10 (20%) are excited about the future of higher education.

MOOCs (MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES)

Even with the growth of online universities, presidents are not strong supporters of MOOCs when it comes to improving learning, solving financial challenges that colleges face, or reducing the cost of education for students.

•   Three percent (3%) of presidents strongly agree when asked if they consider MOOCs to be a solution to the following: Improving the learning of all students.

•   Only 2% of presidents strongly agree when asked if they consider MOOCs to be a solution to the following: Solving the financial challenges that colleges now face.

•   Eight percent (8%) of presidents strongly agree when asked if they consider MOOCs to be a solution to the following: Reducing the cost of education for students.

COST AND PREPARATION

Few presidents (5%) believe that higher education institutions are not adequately preparing students for success in a global economy. This finding suggests that the presidents believe strongly in the importance of graduating from college and the ability to obtain a good job.

•   Only 8% of presidents believe higher education is affordable to everyone who needs it.

•    When asked what percentage of students graduate from high school prepared to enter college, nearly five in 10 (47%)

say 25 to less than 50 percent are prepared to enter college.

•   Nearly seven in 10 (68%) say not being academically prepared is the biggest barrier for high school students in pursuing higher education.

METHODOLOGY

The sample consists of more than 4,500 colleges and universities across the United States. Using email and mail addresses, Gallup recruited leaders and built the sample. The sample is not nationally representative of U.S. colleges and universities.

Gallup conducted 889 Web surveys from March 8 to March 29, 2013. Gallup surveyed college and university presidents

— representing public, private, two-year, four-year, community colleges, and for-profit institutions. The degree offerings include associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate level.

For results based on this sample size of 889 total respondents, with about 95% confidence, the margin of error attributable to sampling error is ±3.3 percentage points. For the subgroups within this population, the margin of error may be greater due to small sample sizes.

DETAILED FINDINGS

THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

A large number of college and university presidents — 62% — say they are excited about the future of their institution. In contrast, only two in 10 (20%) are excited about the future of higher education.

On a five-point scale, where 5 means strongly agree and 1 means strongly disagree, please indicate your level  of agreement with each of the following statements.
	%1 Strongly Disagree	%2	%3	%4	%5 Strongly Agree	Don’t Know
I am excited about the future of my institution.	1%	2%	7%	29%	62%	0%
I am excited about the future of higher education.	1%	8%	30%	42%	20%	0%

Nearly three in 10 (27%) college and university presidents believe that enrollment at their institution will increase in the

fall of 2013. More than four in 10 (45%) of college and university presidents say that graduation rates will increase by 2020. While only 23% believe they will continue to lead their college or university as president five years from today.

On a five-point scale, where 5 means strongly agree and 1 means strongly disagree, please indicate your level  of agreement with each of the following statements.
	%1 Strongly Disagree	%2	%3	%4	%5 Strongly Agree	Don’t Know
Enrollment at my institution will increase in the fall of 2013.	7%	13%	22%	29%	27%	1%
Graduation rates at my institution will increase by 2020.	1%	1%	13%	38%	45%	3%
I will still be president of my college/university five years from now.	24%	11%	15%	21%	23%	6%

Two in 10 (20%) of college and university presidents say that if they had to select a successor, they are extremely confident

they have the necessary talent to fill the presidential role at their institution. And another 27% are confident they have the talent to fill the role.

If you had to select one  current member as  your successor, how  confident are you that you have  the talent necessary to fill the presidential role at your institution?
Not at all confident	2	3	4	Extremely Confident	Don’t Know
15%	18%	18%	27%	20%	2%

MOOCs (MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES)

MOOCs are a growing trend and part of the evolution within higher education. Only 3% of college and university presidents say MOOCs are improving the learning of all students. Two percent (2%) of college and university presidents say MOOCs are solving the financial challenges that colleges now face.

In addition, only 7% believe that MOOCs are getting superior teachers in front of more students. More than one in 10 (11%) say MOOCs are fostering creative pedagogical strategies. Eight percent (8%) of college and university presidents think that MOOCs are increasing collaboration among colleges. Likewise, a small number (8%) say MOOCs are reducing the cost of education for students.

I consider Massive Open  Online  Courses (MOOCs) to be a solution to the following:
	%1 Strongly Disagree	%2	%3	%4	%5 Strongly Agree	Don’t Know
Improving the learning of all students	28%	31%	24%	10%	3%	4%
Solving the financial challenges colleges now face	31%	33%	21%	9%	2%	4%
Getting superior teachers in front of more students	18%	22%	28%	22%	7%	3%
Fostering creative pedagogical strategies	10%	17%	27%	32%	11%	3%
Increasing collaboration among colleges	10%	19%	30%	29%	8%	5%
Reducing the cost of education for students	15%	23%	31%	20%	8%	4%

COST AND PREPARATION

A little more than two in 10 (22%) strongly agree that costs at their institution have risen partly because they must provide programs for students who are not adequately prepared for success in college.

Costs at my institution have  risen  partly because we must  provide  programs for students who  are not adequately prepared for success in college.
%1 Strongly Disagree	%2	%3	%4	%5 Strongly Agree	Don’t Know
10%	16%	19%	30%	22%	2%

When asked if shared governance is no longer respected by their Board of Trustees/Regents/Directors as it was in the past,

18% agree or strongly agree.

Shared governance is no longer respected by my Board  of Trustees/Regents/Directors as  it was  in the past.
%1 Strongly Disagree	%2	%3	%4	%5 Strongly Agree	Don’t Know
34%	27%	15%	14%	4%	6%

Only 4% say a college/university degree is becoming a privilege for the rich. A small fraction (5%) of college and university

presidents say higher education institutions are not adequately preparing students for success in a global economy. One in five (20%) strongly agree and 47% agree that the faculty at their institution continues to adopt better pedagogical strategies in their teaching.

On a five-point scale, where 5 means strongly agree and 1 means strongly disagree, please indicate your level  of agreement with each of the following statements.
	%1 Strongly Disagree	%2	%3	%4	%5 Strongly Agree	Don’t Know
A college/university degree is becoming a privilege for the rich.	22%	32%	22%	19%	4%	0%
Higher education institutions are not adequately preparing students for success in a global economy.	13%	31%	29%	22%	5%	1%
The faculty at my institution continues to adopt better pedagogical strategies in their teaching.	1%	7%	24%	47%	20%	0%

Nearly all (97%) of college and university presidents believe that the percentage of graduates who are able to get a good job

is somewhat important or very important. The majority (95%) of college and university presidents say that the percentage of students who graduate from the college or university is somewhat important or very important. More than 75% of respondents say the price of the college or university degree is somewhat important or very important.

Please rate each of the following factors as  very important, somewhat  important, not very important, or not at all important to the overall  QUALITY of a college or university.
	Not at all important	Not very important	Somewhat important	Very important	Don’t Know
The percentage of graduates who are able to get a good job	0%	2%	32%	65%	1%
The percentage of students who graduate from the college or university	1%	4%	37%	58%	0%
The price of the college or university degree	5%	18%	37%	39%	1%

Ten in 10 college and university presidents say that it is somewhat important or very important for high schools to prepare

students for education beyond high school.

In your opinion, is it very important, somewhat  important, not very important, or not at all important that high schools prepare students for education beyond high school?
Not at all important	Not very important	Somewhat  important	Very important	Don’t Know
0%	0%	5%	95%	0%

About seven in 10 (68%) presidents say that not being academically prepared is the biggest barrier that high school students

face in pursuing higher education. Few respondents (14%) say that lack of social support is the biggest barrier.

In your opinion, other  than the cost, which  ONE of the following is the biggest barrier that high school students face in pursuing higher  education?
Not being academically prepared	68%
Lack of social support	14%
Lack of information	9%
Another barrier	6%
Don't know/Does not apply	3%

About five in 10 presidents believe that 25 to less than 50 percent of students graduate from high school prepared to

enter college.

In your opinion, what  percentage of students graduate from high school prepared to enter  college?
No high school graduates are prepared to enter college	0%
Less than 25 percent	11%
25 to less than 50 percent	47%
50 to less than 75 percent	33%
75 to less than 100 percent	4%
All high school graduates are prepared to enter college	1%
Don't know	5%

When asked if higher education is affordable for everyone who needs it, only 8% of presidents strongly agree.

Higher education is affordable for everyone who  needs it.
%1 Strongly Disagree	%2	%3	%4	%5 Strongly Agree	Don’t Know
16%	25%	26%	24%	8%	0%

Nearly five in 10 (49%) presidents say their institution forms partnerships with businesses to create internship opportunities

for their students.

My institution forms  partnerships with businesses to create internship opportunities for our students.
%1 Strongly Disagree	%2	%3	%4	%5 Strongly Agree	Don’t Know
1%	4%	12%	31%	49%	3%

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