Thompson Rivers University is moving up the charts. This is the third year that TRU has been included in the Globe and Mail’s annual University Report Card, published today.
TRU scores improved at least a letter grade in 42 out of 90 measures. The university’s specific strengths identified by the survey of 497 students included small class sizes, student interaction with faculty, the availability of faculty outside of classroom hours, service by library staff and up-to-date technology in classrooms.
Ninety-one per cent of the respondents expressed satisfaction when asked to rate their instructor’s knowledge of subjects and 87 per cent valued the quality of teaching. This is supported by a significant number of respondents’ comments indicating that the best part of their university experience was the knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject matter shown by the faculty.
“We’re very pleased to be improving our standing in the University Report Card,” said Dr. Mark Evered, TRU Vice-President Academic and Provost. “It is rewarding to see we have been recognized for our learner-centred environment while growing our research mandate. Our faculty and staff create this positive learning environment. Their commitment to teaching and engagement with students really sets Thompson Rivers University apart.”
“The report card also highlights some areas for improvement, such as the availability of financial aid,” Evered added. “We are working on that, along with on-campus employment opportunities ‘our students’ financial support is important to their academic success.”
The University Report Card, published this year as a glossy 64-page insert in the Globe and Mail as well as on line, surveyed 43,400 current full- or part-time undergraduate students from across Canada. The 55 universities graded are grouped into four sizes: large, (<22,000); medium-large, (12,000 – 22,000); small, (4,000 – 12,000); and very small (>4,000). TRU is considered to be in the small university category, as students in the Open Learning Division were not included.
Contact: Christopher Seguin, VP Advancement, (p) 250.852.6357, (c) 250.574.0474
