Assessing student and faculty satisfaction in a master of counselling distance education paradigm

Abstract

This project proposal designs an empirical based study to assess student and faculty satisfaction in graduate distance education counselling programs. The proposed study includes two satisfaction surveys and associated administrative protocols. The surveys were developed based on the Sloan Consortium definition of satisfaction (Moore, 2002; 2005) and an extensive literature review. Student survey questions strived to uncover if links are present between student satisfaction with: (a) student enrolment, success, and retention; (b) faculty involvement in distance education; and (c) program development and quality. Subsequently, faculty survey questions endeavoured to explore any links between faculty satisfaction and: (a) faculty involvement and retention, (b) student success and satisfaction, and (c) program development and quality. This proposal also includes: (a) a methodology flow chart, (b) application for ethical review of human research, and (c) a project invitation letter and participant consent form. Finally, information from this proposal may be invaluable to administrators that create and host these programs; illuminating considerations for facilitating program policy, course design, and student and faculty selection and retention. Thus, this proposal has significant value for many educationally vested parties.