Improving Teaching-Learning Process and Experience Based on Students, Faculty, and Staff Perspectives

Abstract

I n order to make strategic decisions, the new leadership team at the College of Agriculture at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona conducted a series of focus group interviews with its students, faculty, and staff members. The purpose of this qualitative study was to poll the opinions of these important stakeholders to improve the teaching-learning process in the college, to promote job satisfaction among the employees, to better fulfill the college’s mission of advancing learning and knowledge, and to prepare students for lifelong learning and leadership in agricultural careers. Six themes emerged from student groups and four from faculty/staff groups, with lack of resources emerging as a common theme from both groups. The leadership team deliberated on the findings, and the results of this study provided the leadership team with specific items to solve needs.

Keywords

• teaching-learning process
• job satisfaction
• learning experience
• strategic decisions