University Student Satisfaction: Implications for Departmental Planning

Abstract

The purposes of this study were: (a) to investigate factors that might influence students' satisfaction with their majors/departments; (b) to examine attitudinal differences among groups of undergraduate students majoring in four home eco nomics areas; and (c) to derive implications for departmental planning based on students' expectations of and current satisfaction with their majors/departments. Data (N = 718) were collected from textiles and clothing departments at 16 major universities across the nation, including majors in merchandising, apparel design, interior design, and/or consumer science. Perceptions of one's courses, overall satisfaction with one's university, attitude toward one's major, and occupational orientation were the most frequently significant multiple‐regression predictor variables of students'satisfaction with their majors/departments. Students did not differ significantly in their expectations of career opportunitieslservices or pro gram enrichment and differed only slightly in their expectations of attributes related to program quality/status. However, there were significant differences in current satisfaction with the department among the four groups of students. Students also differed across majors in the areas of attitude toward one's major, academic/career influences, social and self influences, overall satisfaction with one's university, and occupational orientation. The authors discuss these attitu dinal differences, possible reasons for them, and implications for departmental planning, recruiting, and retaining students in each of the four program areas.