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Compact with Texans 

Customer Service Report

May 2002

In response to the Customer Service Standards Act (SB 1563, 1999)

The goals and objectives of customer service at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi are to (1) treat all individuals with courtesy, decency and respect, (2) provide responsive, effective, and efficient services needed to support exemplary academic, research, and public service programs, and (3) interact effectively with local and regional constituencies and to provide public service responsive to local and regional needs.
 
Customer Service Contact:
  Dr. Eliot Chenaux
Vice President for Student Affairs
361-825-2612
echenaux@falcon.tamucc.edu

External Customer Inventory

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, like all universities, has many "customers." Our primary customers are our currently enrolled students. This is the category of "customer" described in this report.

What is measured?

Our customer satisfaction analysis measured the level of agreement with 20 statements about the quality of service delivered at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. These 20 statements respond to the seven dimensions enumerated in SB 1563. These dimensions are: facilities, staff, communications, Internet site, complaint handling process, ability to serve customers in a timely manner, and printed material.

Data source and data collection strategy

During spring term of 2001, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi participated in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). This survey was administered by mail to a total of 400 randomly selected first year and senior students and resulted 245 respondents. The NSSE permitted inclusion of 20 supplementary questions. These supplementary items were used to measure the seven dimensions of customer service mentioned above.

The University will continue using these 20 customer service items to measure customer satisfaction during spring terms of odd numbered years in conjunction with participation in the NSSE. In this way, the institution can develop a longitudinal database of customer service performance. By measuring customer satisfaction every other year, outcomes can be reassessed after intervention strategies have had a period of implementation.

The 20 customer service items were constructed using a 4-point agreement scale, from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." All items were written in the positive so that "agreement" (either "strongly agree" or "agree") equates to a positive response to the item. Combining "strongly agree" and "agree" into one evaluation point allows for more manageable analysis of the data. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi generally considers items with less than 75% "agreement" to be potential problem areas. Items that received less than 75% "agreement" are noted below, along with current quality improvement strategies.

Customer Service Evaluation

1. Facilities. Four items were included to measure customer satisfaction with the facilities at our campus.

a. The grounds are well kept.
57% strongly agree and 39% agree with this statement (combined agreement score of 96%).

b. Teaching facilities are adequate for their purpose.
32% strongly agree and 56% agree with this statement (combined agreement score of 88%)

c. Adequate computing resources are available.
40% strongly agree and 48% agree with this statement (combined agreement score of 88%)

d. The library has the resources I need.
30% strongly agree and 56% agree with this statement (combined agreement score of 86%)

2. Staff. Two items were included to evaluate TAMU-CC staff.

a. Library staff is helpful in finding the resources I need.
37% strongly agree and 54% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 91%)

b. Administrative staff I interact with are knowledgeable about their area.
27% strongly agree and 61% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 88%)

3. Communications. Three items were included to evaluate this dimension.

a. Admissions materials were easy to obtain.
41% strongly agree and 54% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 95%)

b. Information about student services is easy to obtain.
31% strongly agree and 56% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 87%)

c. Information about academic requirements is easy to obtain.
24% strongly agree and 59% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 83%)

4. Internet Site. Two items were included to evaluate our web site.

a. I use the university's website to find information I need.
34% strongly agree and 29% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 64%)

b. I can find the information I need on the university's website.
33% strongly agree and 34% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 67%)

The university's website has been re-evaluated and a new design was implemented during spring term 2002. In addition, a new university council (Web Council) was created in 2001 to address website issues. We will re-test these items in 2003 to see if the website changes improve the site's navigability.

5. Complaint Handling Process. Three items were included to evaluate this process.

a. I know how to make a complaint regarding student services.
8% strongly agree and 34% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 42%)

b. I know how to make a complaint regarding academic issues.
7% strongly agree and 42% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 49%)

c. I believe the institution will respond to my concerns.
12% strongly agree and 55% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 67%)

Although the agreement scores for these items are significantly lower than others, we have concerns about the usefulness of questions 5a. and 5b. What level of knowledge and awareness should we expect students to have of the complaint handling process if they have had no occasion to lodge a complaint? This could be compared to asking someone if they have knowledge of how to use the legal system if they have never done so. The complaint processes are outlined in the University Catalog and the Student Handbook, and both of these publications show high levels of agreement (question 7a. = 92% and 7b. = 89%). We plan to revisit these questions in the next iteration of the survey and see if we need to ask these questions in some other way. The fact that 67% agree that the institution will respond to their concerns is an area that TAMU-CC intends to work toward improving over the next two years.

6. Timeliness. Three items evaluate this dimension.

a. The time it takes me to register is reasonable.
31% strongly agree and 52% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 83%)

b. My academic advisor is accessible.
17% strongly agree and 57% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 74%)

In response to lower scores in the advising area on different instruments during 2000 and 2001, a new center for academic advising was created to assist students and faculty with advising issues. This center facilitates training for faculty in the area of advising and simplifies the process. In addition, the university is adding advising personnel. We will re-test this item in 2003 to see if there has been improvement.

c. Offices are open during convenient hours.
23% strongly agree and 63% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 86%).

7. Printed Information. Three items evaluate this dimension.

a. The university catalog clearly states academic requirements.
31% strongly agree and 61% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 92%)

b. The student handbook provides the information I need.
22% strongly agree and 67% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 89%)

c. The admissions material I received accurately portrays the institution.
24% strongly agree and 64% agree with this statement (combined agreement of 88%)

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