Student Affairs
Student Satisfaction Surveys

Your voice shaped this - here’s what we heard

In Spring 2026, 391 students shared feedback across five units in the UW Tacoma Division of Student Affairs. Using the buttons below, jump to unit-specific survey results, including what changes will be made based on the feedback received. Analysis was conducted by Albert Lehmon & Associates LLC.

Office of First Gen

147 First Gen students took the time to share honest feedback about their experience with the Office of First Gen. That's more responses than any other unit in the entire Division of Student Affairs and it made a real difference in what we’re able to learn. Thank you. Here’s what you told us, and what happens next.

147
students responded
4.2 / 5.0
overall satisfaction
79%
rated experience positively

What changes because of your feedback

  • The Office of First Gen will refocus the coming year (2026-2027) to facilitate more peer-to-peer networking in established programming.
  • Student Affairs will continue to seek out resources to be able to invest more in career readiness programming.
What's working well
  • 92% of students said the Office of First Gen creates a welcoming and inclusive environment. That’s the highest score of any question across all five units surveyed this year.
  • Nearly 9 in 10 students said staff are knowledgeable and helpful, and that services are easy to access. 
  • 82% said the Office meets their needs and that they feel more confident navigating university resources after engaging with the program.
Where you want to see growth
  • Connecting with other first-generation students is where students feel least supported. Only 63% rated this area positively. Many of you want more opportunities to meet and build real relationships with peers who share your experience. 
  • About 1 in 3 students didn’t feel well-prepared for life after graduation through the program. Career readiness and post-graduation support came through as a clear area for investment. 

Veteran & Military Resource Center

68 veteran and military-connected students responded to this survey. This is a strong turnout from a community that represents a small but vital part of UW Tacoma. Your feedback reflects real experiences navigating university life alongside military responsibilities, and it points to both genuine strengths and honest gaps. Here’s what you told us.

68
students responded
4.2 / 5.0
overall satisfaction
79%
said VMRC staff are helpful

What changes because of your feedback

  • VMRC will look at how to better support students in the transition from military to campus life, including peer mentoring, orientation resources, and connections to veteran-specific advising.
  • Peer community programming will be explored, more opportunities for veteran and military- connected students to find each other, share experiences, and build connections that extend beyond the VMRC space.
  • Service awareness will be addressed through clearer communication about what VMRC offers so every student who could benefit actually knows what’s there for them.
What's working well
  • VMRC staff scored highest of all, with 79% of students rating them as knowledgeable and helpful. The people at VMRC are clearly making a difference in how welcome and supported veteran students feel on campus. 
  • 81% said VMRC creates a welcoming and inclusive environment. This is a strong signal that when you walk through the door, you feel like you belong there.
  • 77% said they can easily access the services they need meaning the practical side of getting support is working for most students.
Where you want to see growth
  • Transition support was the lowest-scoring area: only 57% said VMRC has helped them transition to university life. Moving from military service to a civilian campus is a major shift, and many students feel that gap isn’t fully bridged yet.
  • Sense of belonging within the veteran and military-connected community scored lower than overall satisfaction. About 1 in 4 students rated this negatively. Finding community with others who understand your background is something students want more of.
  • About 1 in 3 students said they’re not fully aware of all the services VMRC offers. If students don’t know what’s available, they can’t use it.

Disability Resources for Students

70 DRS-registered students responded to this year’s survey, a meaningful sample from a defined population. Your feedback gave us a clear picture of where DRS is delivering and where the experience breaks down in practice. Here’s what you said, and what we’re committed to doing about it.

70
students responded
4.1 / 5.0
overall satisfaction
72%
rated experience positively

What changes because of your feedback

  • DRS will review its accommodation delivery timeline to identify where delays occur and what can be streamlined especially at the start of each quarter when the need is highest.
  • Faculty communication and training around accommodation letters will be elevated as a priority, in partnership with academic affairs.
  • Assistive technology availability and awareness will be assessed including whether students know what tools exist and how to access them.
What's working well
  • 80% of students said DRS creates a welcoming and inclusive environment. This is the strongest score in the survey and a clear reflection of the care DRS staff bring to their work.
  • 80% also said their accommodations allow them to fully participate in their courses. That’s the core mission of DRS, and it’s landing for most students.
  • 77% feel comfortable discussing their accommodation needs with DRS staff. This is a meaningful sign of trust in the student-staff relationship.
Where you want to see growth
  • Getting accommodations on time is the area of greatest concern. Only 63% of students said their accommodations were provided before they were needed in class meaning too many students are starting courses without the support they’re entitled to.
  • Faculty responsiveness to accommodation letters scored lower than most other areas, with about 1 in 7 students rating this negatively. This is a challenge DRS cannot solve alone. It requires engagement from instructors and academic leadership.
  • Access to assistive technology left nearly 1 in 5 students dissatisfied. For students who depend on these tools, that’s a significant barrier to equal participation. 

On-Campus Housing

65 residents shared their experiences with Housing & Residence Life. Your feedback painted a detailed picture of life on campus, what makes it feel like home, and what gets in the way. There’s a lot that’s working well, and at least one thing that clearly needs urgent attention. Here’s the full picture.

65
students responded
4.1 / 5.0
overall satisfaction
86%
said they feel safe in their hall

What changes because of your feedback

  • Maintenance response time will be reviewed as a priority. The goal is a faster, more transparent process so residents know their request was received and when to expect a resolution.
  • RAs and Housing staff will explore new approaches to community building, such as more intentional programming, lower-barrier social opportunities, and ways to help residents actually get to know their neighbors.
  • Residential programming will be revisited with student input, with an eye toward activities that are genuinely relevant to residents’ lives rather than one-size-fits-all events.
What's working well
  • 91% of residents said Housing staff are knowledgeable and helpful. This is the highest staff score of any unit in the pilot. Your RAs also scored extremely well, with 83% finding them approachable and supportive.
  • 86% said they feel safe in their residence hall. Safety is foundational to everything else, and it’s clearly being upheld.
  • 86% said living on campus has positively impacted their academic performance. This is a powerful reminder of why on-campus housing matters beyond just having a place to sleep.
Where you want to see growth
  • Maintenance responsiveness is the single most urgent issue in this survey. Only 40% of residents rated this positively, and more than 1 in 4 rated it negatively. When something breaks in your living space, waiting too long for a fix affects your comfort, your focus, and your sense of being valued as a resident.
  • Sense of community in the residence halls scored lower than most other areas, only 54% rated it positively. Students want to feel more connected to the people they live alongside.
  • Residential programming, events and activities in the halls, left about 4 in 10 students feeling neutral or unsatisfied. There’s an appetite for more engaging, relevant community- building. 

Student Employment Experience

45 student employees at UW Tacoma shared their experiences and what came back was remarkably positive across the board. With a 4.5 out of 5 satisfaction score, student employment is the highest-rated unit in the entire Division of Student Affairs pilot. Here’s what stood out, what still needs attention, and what’s next.

45
students responded
4.5 / 5.0
overall satisfaction
96%
would recommend student employment

What changes because of your feedback

  • Compensation equity across student employment roles will be reviewed, with attention to whether pay rates reflect the responsibilities and skills students are contributing.
  • Professional development access will be examined to understand why some departments offer more training than others and how to close that gap so all student employees have growth opportunities.
  • The consistently high scores across workplace culture, respect, and career preparation will be shared with supervisors and departments as a model to sustain and build on.
What's working well
  • 96% of student employees said their work schedule accommodates their academic responsibilities. That balance between work and school is one of the hardest things to get right and it’s clearly being respected here.
  • 93% said they feel respected by their supervisor and colleagues, that their department is inclusive, and that their employment has positively impacted their overall university experience.
  • 91% said working at UW Tacoma is preparing them for their career, a powerful outcome for a student job, and a strong sign that this work is genuinely developmental, not just transactional.
Where you want to see growth
  • Fair pay was the lowest-scoring item, with about 1 in 6 students rating it negatively. While no other area fell below 4.0, compensation is a real concern for students who depend on this income and it deserves direct attention.
  • About 1 in 3 students said their department doesn’t consistently offer workshops or trainings to help them build new skills. Professional development opportunities are valued, but not yet reaching everyone equally.