Perception is not always reality when it comes to the study habits of college students. In fact, NDSU students consistently underestimate how much time and effort their peers are putting into being academically successful. A cross-disciplinary group of staff, along with a faculty liaison, have formed the STEPS to Success initiative to address these misperceptions.
Using the social norms approach, the STEPS to Success campaign highlights the actual attitudes and behaviors held by the majority of NDSU students and gives tips on how to achieve success in college. The STEPS to Success team gathered information from a large sample of NDSU undergraduates in spring 2015, asking both about their own academic behaviors and attitudes and their perceptions about other students’ academic behaviors and attitudes. The initiative’s goal is to reduce misperception, which is important because when students know what the actual norm is, many of them adjust what they do to be more in line with what their peers are doing.
“For some, this campaign will hopefully be an encouragement to more fully engage in positive academic behaviors students hadn’t considered before,” said Mark Hanson, research analyst with NDSU’s Office of Institutional Research and Analysis. “For others, it may be an encouragement to keep up the good work and go even further.”
A follow-up survey will be sent to undergraduate students during the spring 2016 semester to see whether an informational campaign promoting actual normative messages has reduced the level of misperception. The informational campaign uses a variety of methods to communicate to the campus community including posters, table tents, napkin displays in the dining centers, digital displays, pamphlets, presentation and LISTSERV emails.
Messages that the team are promoting include:
· Nine of 10 NDSU students are committed to earning their degree at NDSU.
· Four of five students attend class at least 90 percent of the time.
· NDSU students spend an average of 13 to 16 hours per week preparing for class.
“The messages not only tell statistics, but also tell why that attitude or behavior is important for academic success and then how students can begin to incorporate that behavior into their routine,” said Betsy Carter, Student Success Programs Learning Services coordinator.
The STEPS to Success initiative will run through at least 2016.
The STEPS to Success team includes:
· Betsy Carter, Learning Services Coordinator, Student Success Programs
· Linda Fricker, Director of Advising/Student Support, College of AHSS
· Mark Hanson, Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Research and Analysis
· Sami Johnson, New Student Program Coordinator, Student Success Programs
· Janine Kuntz, Reference Associate, NDSU Libraries
· Casey Peterson, Director of Student Success Programs
· Clayton Hilmert (Faculty Liaison), Psychology
Visit the Student Success Programs website for more messages and information on the campaign.