University of Nottingham Students’ Union
Sarah Melville and Fiona Morrison – Insight Department, June 2015
Volunteering ‘Did You Know’ Document
Report by Sarah Melville, July 2015
Contents
Introduction to ‘Did You Know’ Documents
What is a ‘Did You Know’ Document?
Why is this document useful?
Main Sources consulted
Student networks
KPIs:
Student perception of service
Engagement Frequency
Knowledge of the services that the SU provides
Student satisfaction with the SU:
Campus life – Cross-campus comparison
International students request
Post graduates
Four Feelings
What do students want, need and desire from the Students’ Union?
What do students want to feel as a result of a successful Students’ Union?
Greatest achievements
Communication with students
Learning styles.
Social Media
Who should send the message?
Online forum comments (outcome of the ‘innovation station’)
Question 1: If the SU was a person what would they be like?
Question 2: Fresher’s Week – What needs to change?
Question 3: What is the University of Nottingham Known for?
Question 4: The 3 why’s of volunteering
Volunteering interests
Latent demand motivations
Current volunteer motives
Barriers to volunteering
Volunteering activities of greatest interest
Volunteer interests per networks
Recommendations
Promote drivers
Reduce barriers
Begin to further understand the true motivations and barriers to volunteering
Raising awareness and marketing
Offer opportunities that appeal
Overcome union wide problems or dispel myths
Postgraduates
Networks
Introduction to ‘Did You Know’ Documents
What is a ‘Did You Know’ Document?
The insight in the following report draws on sources of data collection that have been collected throughout the 2014/15 academic year that have some significance to the Student Volunteer Centre
Why is this document useful?
The Did You Know document is designed to:
- Summarise student feedback over the 2014/2015 academic year.
- Highlight areas of success and concern.
- Link the findings to student behaviour (and the segmentation principle).
- Support teams in setting their 2015/2016 objectives.
- Provide a clear picture from which a marketing mix plan can be developed. This marketing mix will consider:
- Promotional methods (and media channels) – how to deliver a message effectively.
- People and process – how best to deliver a service efficiently and effectively in the eyes of students and staff.
- Product – determine whether the service delivered matches the needs of students.
- Place – identify where it is best to allocate effort and resources.
Main Sources consulted
- ‘Welcome’ survey (Oct 2014)*.
- International student survey (December 2014).
- ‘How Can We Help’ survey (January 2015)*.
- Portland building and commercial survey (January 2015).
- ‘How Did We Do’ survey (May 2015)*.
- PRES comments (2015).
- Student Leader Election email statistics (Mar 2015).
- Crowdicity online student forum comments(aka ‘the innovation station’) (May 2015)
* = All student survey
Student networks
Throughout the document, there will be reference to the new UoNSUNetworks. Toolkits to provide greater understanding of how the Networks differ are currently being developed, but to support the interpretation of these throughout the report, please find below brief descriptions of each Network respectively in the format of a ‘horoscope’.
Network 1
You tend to be determined and motivated when it comes to university. Although you still know how to have a good time and enjoy the social aspects of life that Uni life brings you, your main aim whilst studying is to make your way towards achieving a fulfilling career in your field. You are also likely to want to learn independent life skills, to pursue your interests and hobbies, and to gain additional skills. Perhaps you have even looked into opportunities to study abroad as you study. You are passionate from the get-go at Uni, and you want to get involved in things that could help to shape your future career. /Network 2
Some of your friends might know you as being an ‘all-rounder’, such that you tend to be sociable, successful on your course, and are perhaps even involved in a few clubs and societies that are specific to your interests. Your group of friends tends to be fairly close-knit, but those friends that you have tend to be very close, and might just be friends for life. Unlike many, you came to university not just to party, and not just to get a degree, but to do both of these things, and everything in-between – from gaining extra skills, form good friendships and relationships, to play sport or become more involved in a hobby, to gain independent life skills, and perhaps even to volunteer or study abroad.Network 3
Your course and your degree are important to you, but you came to university for more than just studying, as the idea of making friends and getting involved in some extra-curricular activities has appealed to you. You tend to have a small group of close-knit friends, and whilst you are not the most domineering of people, when people get to know you, they are able to see the real you. You may feel that the more social aspects of university can be difficult to get involved in, as many people seem to have already formed their friendships, and lots of groups are headed by some very extroverted characters. But don’t worry, there are lots of clubs, societies, volunteering projects, and hobbies that you can join in on! /Network 4
You are likely to see friends and being sociable as quite central to your university life, and whilst you could occasionally spend a little more time on your coursework, you find that your close friends help to get you through lots of course-work stressors. You are likely to enjoy getting involved with lots of different activities, which can be both fun and can help you to develop skills. You have a wide range of reasons for wanting to come to university, ranging from gaining skills, to developing close friendships, playing sports/ being involved with activities, and to develop independent life skills. However, because you have so much extra-curricular activity on your plate, you often find it difficult to balance all of this with your coursework, and you could occasionally do with some help keeping on track with all of this.Network 5
You are a hard-worker and are likely to be very motivated by learning more about your subject area in order to get the best possible results. You set yourself high goals, and although you might stress about assignments on the way to achieving these goals, you tend to get there in the end. Finding and maintaining good friendships is still something that you consider to be important, but you sometimes find it difficult allowing yourself to have time away from study, as you feel that there is constantly something for you to be working on. It is important to remember that there are a lot of opportunities for you to look at which will allow you to both socialise, and give you experience which could help your future careers. For example, you could become involved with volunteering projects or in sporting activities. /Network 6
You are passionate about your area of study, which was likely a contributing factor to your decision to study here at Nottingham. Although you are interested in getting a degree, entering into your career and learning lots around your study area, developing independent life skills is also important to you, and perhaps studying abroad might be something that you are interested in pursuing. You might look into opportunities for engaging with that which makes you passionate even beyond your scheduled coursework. Despite this focus on your subject and your future career, you still manage to maintain friendships, whether they be from university or from your home town. Socialising is an important part of your life, however what some other students consider to be fun might not necessarily be your idea of a great time. Not to worry though, there is such a range of activities to get involved in at Nottingham that you are bound to find one that suits you.Network 7
People who know you might think of you as a natural leader. You tend to come across as confident, good at communicating, and often quite extroverted. You are keen to excel at everything that you do, which can be a challenge, as you often take on a lot of activities! Both your academic life and your social life are important to you, and you feel that you balance this quite well. Whilst you might only see the more social aspects of the Students’ Union, you might be interested in getting involved in other sides of the university life, such as volunteering, campaigning, or perhaps even studying abroad. Being consulted on opportunities that will influence you are likely to be affected by is important, as being recognised for your involvement is important to you. /Network 8
Whilst you are at university you want to experience as much as you possibly can, and in order to balance all of this, you have to be very self-driven and motivated. You tend to know quite a bit about the Students’ Union, and therefore you want to be involved in decisions that affect you. You are likely to be involved in lots of different clubs and societies, and you might also hold the belief that developing personal skills, experience and Networking will help you just as much as getting a top grade will. You are likely looking for more opportunities to get involved and make a difference at university.1
University of Nottingham Students’ Union
Sarah Melville and Fiona Morrison – Insight Department, June 2015
KPIs:
KPI / Oct 2014 / Jan 2015 / May 2015 / Comments / recommendationsfor future focus emerging through all-student surveys27,000 (~80%) students annually are actively involved in Union activities / 19,620 / 68% of students take part in Students’ Unionevents, volunteering, fundraising, Students’ Unionwork, SRS, clubs or societies at least once a term. This equates to 23,120 students. / This question was not directly asked, but 76% of students (25,840) say that they volunteer through SVC and/or attend a club or society at least once a year. Thisfigure would rise if we were to addStudents’ Unionrun events, fairs and campaigns/ elections. / Networks currently engaged with volunteering: 1, 2, and 7
Networks with highest potential to engage more with volunteering: 2, 3, 5, and 6.
Promote more volunteering opportunities to ‘help others, gain experience to help student careers, meet new people, and make a difference’. In order to targetNetworks 2, 3, 5, and 6,emphasis should be placed on the following:
- Meeting new people.
- Gaining experience and new skills to help their careerand CV.
- Making a difference and helping people.
- Increasing confidence.
- Opportunities to pursuean interest or passion.
- Clarifying how to get involved.
- Offering opportunities that are seen as a productive use of time.
- Offering opportunities that do not require long term commitment.
- Community events.
- Supporting people with an illness.
- Supporting school education.
- Supporting vulnerable children.
- Working with animals.
- Volunteering abroad.
- Conserving the environment.
90% of students say that the Union has had a positive impact on their time at UoN / New measure / 75% of students reported apositive impact.
2% reportedthat the SU has had a negative impact on their time. / 67% of students reported apositive impact.
Additonally, 88% of PG students stated that the Students’ Unionhas met or exceeded their expectations.
5% reporttheStudents’ Union ashaving had a negative impact on their time. / Perceived impact of the Students’ Unionon Universityexperience appears to have declined between January and May 2015.
5% of students reportthe Students’ Unionas having had a negative impact on their University experience. Of these students, the following characteristics are more common:
- Over 25 years old.
- Male.
- From the UK, and outside of the EU.
- Based at UP and.healthcare sites, as well as distance learners.
- White, and mixed ethnicity.
- More likely to have a disability.
- Part-time students.
- Living at home, living with landlord, or in privately organised accommodation.
- Placement students.
- Studying: American and Canadian studies, Archaeology, Architecture, art History, Chemical Engineering, chemistry, Classics, Education, Electrical Engineering, Film and TV, Health Science, History, Medicine, Philosophy, Physics, and Sociology.
- Have studiedat University for more than threeyears.
- undergraduate finalists.
- Students inNetworks 3, 6, 5, 2, and 8.
90% of students say that they understand what the Union does / 65% of students have a good understanding of the Students’ Unionremit.
1.3% of students got all questions wrong. / 70% of students have a good understanding of the Students’ Unionremit.
2% of students got all questions wrong. / 69% of students have a good understanding of the Students’ Unionremit.
1.9% of students got all questions wrong. / Understanding of the SU’s remit amongst students has remained consistent between January and May 2015.
Students with poor understanding tend to be:
- Over 22 years old.
- From outside of the UK.
- Based at all campuses other than UP.
- Postgraduate Taughtstudents.
- Students in Networks 2 and 6, and students who have low engagement frequency with the Students’ Union.
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University of Nottingham Students’ Union
Sarah Melville and Fiona Morrison – Insight Department, June 2015
Student perception of service
In May 2015, we asked students to report on whether they had experienced a change in Students’ Union service during the 2014/15 academic year.81.3% of students reported noticing no change, 16.2% experienced a positive change, and 2.5% reported a negative change.
Comments (both positive and negative) were voluntarily provided with this question, and have beensummarised and quoted below. Comments that would not prove useful to the SVC have been removed.
Positive change
- ‘I’ve noticed that events have been changed to suit students’.
- ‘Puppy room!’
- Students say involvement in societies has increased their understanding of the Students’ Union.
- ‘The Union has been conscious to engage with students and help them achieve their goals’.
- ‘SVC continue to get better and better’.
- ‘I can see how the SU is trying to engage nursing students, but it’s too late for me’.
- ‘It’s great that the SU are changing the lad culture associated with the old week one’.
No change
- There is a lack of awareness of what the Students’ Union does (and a demand for this to be clearer).
- ‘I’m sure the SU does change, but I can’t tell you how – don’t notice’.
- ‘I have heard of some projects that the SU were working on, but not sure of the outcome’.
- ‘I don’t use the SUmuch, but when I need it, it’s there for me’.
- ‘I don’t hear much over at QMC’.
Negative change
- ‘SU engagement is noticeable during elections, but not at other times’.
- ‘There were lots of events at the start of the year, these have since dwindled’.
- ‘SU service is delivered to those in its inner circle club’.
- ‘SU departments don’t quickly or sometimes ever reply to emails’.
- Students explain that as they have got older, they have engaged with the Students’ Unionless frequently.
Engagement Frequency
8% of students say that they volunteer or fundraise through the SU at least once a month. This figure is increased to 23% when we also consider fundraising or volunteering outside the remit of the SVC.
5 in 10 students never volunteer/fundraise, and 7 in 10 students never volunteer/fundraise through the SU
6% of students do not engage with the SU at all, they do not visit SU space, browse SU media, volunteer, fundraise or take part in clubs or societies. Of these students, the following characteristics are more common than they are amongst the general student population:
- Network 6.
- From the UK or the EU.
- Over 22 years old.
- Living at home.
- Based at Jubilee, QMC, Derby, Nottingham City, or is a distance learner.
- Studies Art History, Computer Science, Education, Health Sciences, Medicine, Midwifery, Nursing, Psychology(NB: Many of these are the courses with the most occupied timetables).
- On a placement/.
- Part-time student.
- Postgraudate student.
- Has been studying at University for more than 5 years.
In summary, as portrayed by the graph below, student engagement with the Students’ Union has declined throughout the year. This resonates with qualitative comments provided by students who explain that they feel their involvement with the Students’ Union (and the subsequent opportunities presented to them) has reduced each term.
Knowledge of the services that the SU provides
A new question, unfortunately, on average, only 41% of student correctly identify when a service is provided by the SU (and not the University). One of the larger misconceptions is that the SVC is provided by both the University and Students’ Union (27% believe this). 40% of students are clear that the SU provides the SVC, 13% unfortunately have never heard of it.
Clarity of the SVC is lowest amongst networks 3 and 6, and highest with networks 2, 5 and 7.