It is not just students who like to boast about improved grades on report cards. Thompson Rivers University is pleased to report that it has improved grades in 44 of 61 categories in the Canadian University Report 2013 published this week by The Globe and Mail.
The university’s biggest reasons to celebrate are the high marks its students have given for quality of education. Since 2005, TRU’s grade for the quality of teaching and learning has increased from a B to an A-. And the quality of teaching does not stop when classes end each day. TRU has consistently received an A- for availability of faculty to students outside of classroom hours.
“Our focus has been on ensuring that every student has a quality learning experience, and that commitment is reflected in our Academic Plan,” said Uli Scheck, TRU Provost and Vice-President academic. “Grades such as these confirm that we have a strong foundation upon which to build even better opportunities for our students to thrive in and out of their classrooms.”
TRU’s grades for career-related supports indicate that students are well prepared for the world of work after they finish their studies. TRU finds itself in the top tier among small universities in Canada when it comes to student grades for career counseling and placement services, as well as co-op and internship opportunities. Student grades for TRU’s reputation with potential employers have steadily risen from a C+ in 2006/2007 to a B+ in this year’s report.
Since being granted university status in 2006, TRU has enhanced services for students outside the classroom, and those improvements are evidenced in its continually improving grades in many key areas. Campus medical services, recreational and athletic programs, and international student services all saw bumps in their grades. And, compared to other universities of a similar size in Canada, TRU can brag about the A- grade its students assign to the quality and availability of technology on campus.
“We have recently expanded our learning support resources by creating the Centre for Student Engagement and Learning Innovation, the first such centre I believe in the country, with the goal of continuing to improve the educational experience for all students,” said Alan Shaver, TRU President and Vice-Chancellor. “I believe our increasing student satisfaction is due to the dedication to students by the faculty and staff of TRU, both in and outside of the classroom.”
And TRU students agree. When it comes to recommending their university, 95 percent of students responded that they would recommend TRU to others, up 2 percent from last year.
The Canadian University Report 2013 is based on surveys of undergraduate students at universities of all sizes across Canada. In the spring of 2012, 613 undergraduate TRU students responded to the survey, the highest number since the university began participating six years ago.
For more information please contact:
Dr. Ulrich (Uli) Scheck, TRU Provost and Vice-President Academic
(p) 250-377-6126
(e) uscheck@tru.ca
I think these positive reviews are because of the reasonably sized classes we have at TRU. Rumours of classes going from 40 to 100 students in a class will definitely impact the quality of student engagement, relationships with instructors and the student-centred learning.
Why are we trying to compete with UBC, SFU and UVIC, when we have are own special niche market. If you try to be like these other universities, you will take away all the marketing and selling features that we have at TRU.