Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College was rated above the national norms on eight student satisfaction scales on the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI). The test, conducted by MGCCC’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research, showed that 78.9 percent of students were very satisfied, satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their experience at MGCCC, a 2.9 percent increase over last year’s survey, and overall, the students rated the campus climate a 5.83 on a seven-point scale, which is 0.11 higher than national norms.

Students in online classes were also surveyed and rated the college even higher, with 95 percent of them expressing their overall satisfaction with MGCCC as very satisfied, satisfied or somewhat satisfied. Those students were surveyed using the Noel-Levitz Priorities Survey for Online Learners (PSOL).

MGCCC’s strengths, based on student perceptions, included excellent quality of instruction; well-maintained campuses; adequate and accessible computer labs; communication ease with faculty; staff and administrators; online access to services; welcoming atmosphere for both traditional and nontraditional students; availability of instructors outside class; website usability; and learning center services.

Students surveyed in the SSI and PSOL said tuition paid is a worthwhile investment (95.8 percent) and that faculty are responsive to student needs (91.7 percent). Eighty-eight percent say they are satisfied with the quality of instruction they received and 84.9 percent say students are made to feel welcome at the college. The results showed that current MGCCC students are very likely to take classes at the college again.

The SSI and PSOL tests are used each year by the college for strategic initiatives and to identify areas that should be incorporated annual planning and budgeting.