This report is a graphic representation of responses to

(1)

Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs

Membership Survey

T

his report is a graphic representation of responses to two separate surveys from 2009. A little over 50% of the member institutions responded to the surveys. Of 103 member institutions, 52 completed the first survey (Program and Student Profile) and 54 completed the second (Administrative and Operational Structure). There were 35 institutions that completed both surveys. The responses provide interesting snapshots of our programs, organizations and students. The survey sample includes programs from colleges and universities that are large and small, public and private and from all over North America. Copies of the surveys are located at the end of this report along with some sample survey data.

What we share is that we tend to be unique within our institutions and our students tend to be extraordinarily similar from institution to institution. Although we are alike in many ways we also have a number of differences illustrated most notably by our operational and reporting structures.

We thank all of you who responded to the surveys and hope you enjoy this report and find it informative.

(2)

Program and Student Profiles

Name of Degree

[

degrees offered by

member programs

[

year GLS programs began

at member institutions

Year Program Began

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

1950s

0

5

10

15

20

Number of Schools

50

%

of responding

schools started

after 1990

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies [19]

Master of Liberal Studies [9]

Master of Liberal Arts [7]

MA in Humanities [2] Masters in Liberal Studies [2]

Master of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies; Certificate of Advanced Study MALS with Archival Studies Concentration / Archival Studies Certificate

Master of Arts in Liberal Arts

Masters Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies Master of Philosophy in the Liberal Arts

Master of Science in Liberal Studies

(3)

[

number of online GLS courses offered

in the 2007–08 academic year

Number of Online Courses

18

schools offer online

classes

40

%

of public schools offer

online courses

9

%

of private schools offer

online courses

20

15

10

5

0

1-9

10-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

Number of GLS classes offered

Number of Schools

20

the average

number of GLS

courses offered

Number of Courses Offered

[

number of GLS courses offered in

the 2007–08 academic year

(4)

25 15 5

20

10

0

1-50 51-100 101-150 151-200 200+

Number of Enrolled Students

Number of schools

85

average

enrollment

per program

largest program

360 students

smallest program

7 students

Student Demographics

Interestingly, demographic data distribution remained consistent regardless of the size of the institution, public or private affiliation, or full vs. associate membership in AGLSP

[

number of students enrolled

in the 2008 fall term

Number of Students

61

%

female

39

%

male

[

distribution of students

enrolled in 2008 by gender

Gender Distribution

[

distribution of students

enrolled in 2008 by age

Age Distribution

(5)

percentage

of ethnic minority

students enrolled in 2008

percentage of

students enrolled in

2008 from other countries

Ethnic Minority

Distribution

International

Students

]

2

%

of students

are international

17

%

of students are

ethnic minorities

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Applicant

Volume

Number of Schools

Applicant

Quality

Student

Quality

Student

Writing

Student

Attrition

Ability

Thesis/

Capstone

Quality

71%

38%

69%

27%

40%

22%

Challenges

[

greatest challenges

(6)

Administrative Unit

Administrative and Operational Findings

administrative unit in which

your program is housed

]

Budgetary Control

[

person who controls

your program’s budget

Other responses: • Academic Affairs

• College of Visual and Performing Arts • Dean of the Faculty

• Humanities & Social Sciences

• Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences Program • New College (a separate

degree-granting school serving adults) • Provost

• School of Human Sciences & Humanities • School of Humanities and Social Sciences • Special Programs

Other responses:

• Dean who is also the Director • IAS Director

• Provost to whom Director reports

• The GLS director under the aegis of the Graduate School

Revenue Sources

[

sources of revenue

for programs

Other responses: • Private donations/

grants

• A program fee for each class taken • Enrichment

program revenue

39

%

College of

Arts and Sciences

Continuing

Studies

Graduate

School

Other

22

%

20

%

19

%

41

%

46

%

13

%

GLS Director or

Department Head

Other

Dean to whom

the director

reports

10% 0 20% 30% 40% 50%

3%

Grants

3%

Other

Tuition

from

Students

Financial

support

from the

Institution

State allocations based on enrollment

45

%

37

%

11

%

(7)

Director’s Time

[

percentage of the director’s

time that is devoted to GLS

Director’s GLS Responsibilities

[

percentage of Director’s time

devoted to GLS responsibilities

Faculty Compensation

[

average compensation

per course paid to faculty

100%

less

than

25%

greater

than

50%

25-50%

100% of time

17%

>50% of time

28%

25-50% of time

22%

less than 25%

33%

Administr ativ e Recruit Studen ts Recruit Faculty Curriculum Teaching Advising

Administrative

31%

Curriculum

12%

Advising

19%

Student Recuiting

12%

9%

17%

Faculty Recuiting

Teaching

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Other

Percentage of Programs

Regular Load

Greater than $7,000

$6,001-$7,000

$5,000-$6,000

Less than $5,000

6

%

7

%

9

%

9

%

35

%

33

%

(8)

]

total cost of tuition and fees for a GLS

degree in academic year 2009-2010

Course Compensation

Tuition Cost of GLS Degree

[

average compensation per course

paid to the Home Department by GLS

Staffing Levels

[

number of persons fulfilling

GLS administrative roles

Position

Assistant

Director

72%

11%

15%

2%

Student

Advisor

44%

13%

30%

13%

Academic

Support

54%

22%

11%

13%

Graduate

Assistant

83%

6%

9%

2%

Other Student

Worker

78%

15%

4%

Admin and

Clerical

Support

11%

54%

20%

15%

one more than one

less than 1 none

(9)

No Information on

student assistance

0-25% of students

receive assistance

26-50% of students

receive assistance

51-75% of students

receive assistance

Over 75% of students

receive assistance

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

73%

4%

9%

4%

11%

?

[

percentage of students receiving

financial assistance from your institution

Students Receiving Assistance

[

percentage of students

receiving student loans

Students Receiving Loans

73

%

of reporting schools say

that

25%

or less of their

students receive financial assistance

from their institutions, which means

that at least

75%

do not.

No Information

on student loans

0-25% of students

have loans

26-50% of students

have loans

51-75% of students

have loans

Over 75% of students

have loans

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

20%

15%

20%

15%

30%

?

Percentage of programs

Schools: Financial Assistance Data

(10)

• Abilene Christian University • Arizona State University/

Tempe

• Boston University

• College at Brockport, SUNY • College of Staten Island,

City University of New York • DePaul University

• Dominican University of California

• Dowling College • Duke University • East Tennessee State

University • Excelsior College • Fort Hays State University • Georgetown University • Hamline University

• Henderson State University • Hiram College

• Houston Baptist University • Indiana University Southeast • Johns Hopkins University • Kean University

• Lake Forest College • Lesley University • Lock Haven University • Los Angeles Nazareth

College

• Loyola University Maryland

• Madonna University

• Marshall University Graduate College

• Marylhurst University • Mount St. Mary’s College • N.C. State University • Nazareth college

• Northern Kentucky University • Oakland University

• Ramapo College of New Jersey

• Reed College • Regis University • Rice University • Rollins College

• Saint Mary’s College of California

• Simon Fraser University • Skidmore College • Southern Methodist

University

• Spring Hill College • St. Edward’s University • St. John’s College

—Annapolis, Maryland • Stanford University • Texas Christian University • University of Arkansas at

Little Rock

• University of Central Florida

• University of Delaware • University of Findlay • University of Houston — Clear Lake • University of Michigan —Dearborn • University of Minnesota —Twin Cities

• University of North Carolina at Asheville

• University of North Carolina at Greensboro • University of Oklahoma • University of Pennsylvania • University of Richmond • University of Southern California • University of Southern Indiana • University of St. Thomas • University of Washington, Tacoma • University of Wisconsin —Milwaukee • Ursuline College • Utica College • Vanderbilt University • Washington University • Wesleyan University • Widener University • Winthrop University

(11)

1. Indicate the name of your institution.

2. List the official name(s) of the degree(s) your program offers.

3. From the drop-down menu, select the year your program began.

4. What was the total number of GLS course offered during the academic year 2007/08?

5. Of the total number of GLS courses offered during the academic year 2007/08, what number

where online?

6. How many students were enrolled in the program during the fall term or fall quarter 2008?

7. Indicate the number of students by gender.

Male _________

Female _______

8. Indicate how many students were in each age bracket.

20-29 years ____

30-39 years ____

40-49 years ____

50-59 years ____

60 + years _____

9. How many of these students were ethnic minorities?

10. How many were international students?

11. Indicate challenges, if any, you are facing with students:

Applicant volume _____________________________

Applicant quality _____________________________

Student quality _______________________________

Quality of thesis or capstone project ___________

Student attrition _______________________________

(12)

Administrative and Operational Survey

1. Indicate the name of your institution.

2. Under what administrative unit is your program housed?

College of Arts & Sciences

Graduate School

Continuing Studies

Other: please specify _________________________

3. Who controls your program’s budget?

GLS director / Department head

Dean to whom the director reports

4. What are your program’s sources of revenue? Mark all that apply.

Tuition from students

Financial support from the institution

State allocations based on enrollment

Grants

5. What percentage of the director’s time is devoted to GLS?

100%

Greater than 50%

25% - 50%

Less than 25%

6. Indicate the percent of GLS time you devote to the following GLS responsibilities:

administrative management ______________________

curriculum development _________________________

student advising __________________________________

student recruiting _________________________________

faculty recruiting _________________________________

teaching _________________________________________

7. Indicate the number of persons fulfilling these roles: (Less than one implies part-time.)

Assistant director

none

less than one

one

more than one

Student advisor

none

less than one

one

more than one

Administrative assistant

none

less than one

one

more than one

Academic support (e.g. writing

)

none

less than one

one

more than one

Graduate assistant

none

less than one

one

more than one

(13)

8. Indicate the number of persons fulfilling this role for the GLS program:

Administrative and Clerical Support _______________

9. What is the average compensation per course paid to faculty?

Less than $5,000

$5,000 - $6,000

$6,001 - $7,000

Greater than $7,000

10. What amount of compensation average per course is paid to the home department by the GLS

program?

Less than $5,000

$5,000 - $6,000

$6,001 - $7,000

Greater than $7,000

No additional compensation

11. At today’s tuition, what is the cost of your GLS degree?

Less than $6,000

$6,000 - $10,000

$10,001 - $20,000

$20,001 - $30,000

Greater than $30,000

12. What percent of your students receive loans?

0 – 25%

26% – 50%

51% - 75%

Greater than 75%

Information unavailable

13. What percent of your students receive scholarships?

0 – 25%

26% – 50%

51% - 75%

Greater than 75%

(14)

Survey Results Data

ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATE LIBERAL STUDIES PROGRAMS

WAVE 1 SURVEY - 2009 PROGRAM AND STUDENT PROFILE

Ethnic Total

N Total* Male Female 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ Minorities Intl Courses Courses Programs

All respondents 52 4,451 1,483 2,339 770 874 722 527 191 508 62 1,072 201 18 By size of institution < 2000 students 9 265 75 119 71 38 38 22 15 26 5 109 8 2 > 2000 students 43 4,186 1,408 2,220 699 836 684 505 176 482 57 963 193 16 By public/private 8 2 3 1 9 2 3 3 2 2 7 1 2 7 6 0 2 7 4 3 0 7 4 0 9 3 8 0 0 , 1 4 6 5 2 0 6 , 1 9 1 c il b u p private 33 2,849 919 1,331 380 404 375 321 119 336 39 743 69 10

By AGLSP membership status

full member 42 3,913 1,354 2,023 667 778 648 438 147 414 51 969 197 16

associate member 10 538 129 316 103 96 74 89 44 94 11 103 4 2

* Details may not add to totals because some respondents reported totals only. Percentages shown in report are based on detail responses only. Age

Number of Enrolled Students (Fall 2008) GLS Courses Oﬀered 2007/08

Online

ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATE LIBERAL STUDIES PROGRAMS

WAVE 2 SURVEY - 2009

ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL PROFILE N = 54

Administrative organization Faculty compensation - average paid per course

College of Arts & Sciences 19 39% Less than $5,000 18 33%

Continuing Studies 8 22% $5,000 - $6,000 5 9%

Graduate School 11 20% $6,001 - $7,000 5 9%

Other 16 19% Greater than $7 000 3 6%

Other 16 19% Greater than $7,000 3 6%

Part of regular load 19 35%

Control of program budget Other 4 7%

Dean to whom the director reports 25 46%

GLS director/Department head 22 41% Home department compensation - average paid per course

s s e L % 3 1 7 r e h t O than $5,000 9 17% Greater than $7,000 1 2%

Source(s) of tuition No additional 39 72%

Tuition from students 40 45% Other 5 9%

Financial support from the institution 33 37%

State allocations based on enrollment 10 11% Cost of GLS degree, at 2009 tuition level

s s e L % 3 3 s t n a r G than $10,000 12 22% 0 0 0 , 0 1 $ % 3 3 r e h t O - $20,000 18 33% $20,001 - $30,000 15 28% f ' d d h $

Percent of Director's time devoted to GLS Greater than $30,000 9 17%

% 7 1 9 % 0 0 1

Greater than 50% 12 28% Percent students receiving ﬁnancial assistance

25% - 50% 15 22%

Less than 25% 18 33% 0 - 25% 11 20% 39 72%

26% - 50% 8 15% 2 4%

Percent of Director's GLS time devoted to 51% - 75% 11 20% 5 9%

loans scholarships r e t a e r G % 1 3 n o it a r t s i n i m d A than 75% 8 15% 2 4% Curriculum development 12% Unavaliable 16 30% 6 11% Student advising 19% Student recruiitng 12% Faculty recruiitng 9% % 7 1 g n i h c a e T Staﬃng >1 1 <1 none Assistant director 1 8 6 39 Student advisor 7 16 7 24 Academic support 7 6 12 29 Graduate assistant 1 5 3 45 Other student 2 2 8 42 FTE Other student 2 2 8 42 Administrative assistant 8 11 29 6

ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATE LIBERAL STUDIES PROGRAMS

WAVE 1 SURVEY - 2009 PROGRAM AND STUDENT PROFILE

Ethnic Total

N Total* Male Female 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ Minorities Intl Courses Courses Programs

All respondents 52 4,451 1,483 2,339 770 874 722 527 191 508 62 1,072 201 18 By size of institution < 2000 students 9 265 75 119 71 38 38 22 15 26 5 109 8 2 > 2000 students 43 4,186 1,408 2,220 699 836 684 505 176 482 57 963 193 16 By public/private 8 2 3 1 9 2 3 3 2 2 7 1 2 7 6 0 2 7 4 3 0 7 4 0 9 3 8 0 0 , 1 4 6 5 2 0 6 , 1 9 1 c il b u p private 33 2,849 919 1,331 380 404 375 321 119 336 39 743 69 10 By AGLSP membershipstatus

full member 42 3,913 1,354 2,023 667 778 648 438 147 414 51 969 197 16

associatemember 10 538 129 316 103 96 74 89 44 94 11 103 4 2 * Details may not add to totalsbecausesomerespondentsreportedtotals only. Percentagesshown in report are based on detailresponses only.

Age

Number of EnrolledStudents (Fall 2008) GLSCoursesOﬀered2007/08

Online

ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATE LIBERAL STUDIES PROGRAMS

WAVE 2 SURVEY - 2009

ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL PROFILE

N = 54

Administrativeorganization Faculty compensation - averagepaidpercourse

College of Arts & Sciences 19 39% Less than $5,000 18 33%

ContinuingStudies 8 22% $5,000 - $6,000 5 9%

GraduateSchool 11 20% $6,001 - $7,000 5 9% Other 16 19% Greater than $7 000 3 6% Other 16 19% Greater than $7,000 3 6% Part of regular load 19 35% Control of programbudget Other 4 7%

Dean to whom the directorreports 25 46%

GLS director/Departmenthead 22 41% Homedepartmentcompensation - averagepaidpercourse s s e L % 3 1 7 r e h t O than $5,000 9 17% Greater than $7,000 1 2%

Source(s)oftuition Noadditional 39 72% Source(s) of tuition No additional 39 72%

Tuition from students 40 45% Other 5 9% Financial support from the institution 33 37%

State allocationsbased on enrollment 10 11% Cost of GLS degree, at 2009 tuitionlevel s s e L % 3 3 s t n a r G than $10,000 12 22% 0 0 0 , 0 1 $ % 3 3 r e h t O - $20,000 18 33% $20,001 - $30,000 15 28% f ' d d h $

Percent of Director'stimedevoted to GLS Greater than $30,000 9 17% % 7 1 9 % 0 0 1

Greater than 50% 12 28% Percentstudentsreceivingﬁnancialassistance

25% - 50% 15 22%

Less than 25% 18 33% 0 - 25% 11 20% 39 72% 26% - 50% 8 15% 2 4% Percent of Director's GLS timedevotedto 51% - 75% 11 20% 5 9%

loans scholarships r e t a e r G % 1 3 n o it a r t s i n i m d A than 75% 8 15% 2 4% Curriculum development 12% Unavaliable 16 30% 6 11% Studentadvising 19% Studentrecruiitng 12% Faculty recruiitng 9% % 7 1 g n i h c a e T Staﬃng >1 1 <1 none Assistantdirector 1 8 6 39 Studentadvisor 7 16 7 24 Academicsupport 7 6 12 29 Graduateassistant 1 5 3 45 Otherstudent 2 2 8 42 FTE Other student 2 2 8 42