Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Melissa Klein
The Sunshine State University 2015-2016 data report details: the school’s history, student
enrollment and persistence, student to faculty ratios, enrollment by racial and ethnic categories,
graduation rates, applicants and admission requirements and lastly, a strategic plan to accomplish
future goals of the school. This paper will discuss and critique the data provided.
The Sunshine State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and was founded in 1894. It
offers students over 100 majors and minors and over 300 programs offering students the
opportunity to study abroad. The submitted report states that the Sunshine State University
accepts 51 percent of applicants by using holistic admission practices. It also bases student
acceptance on submitted SAT or ACT scores, the student’s extracurricular activity involvement,
volunteer work, and writing capabilities. The Sunshine State University was rewarded a chapter
of Phi Beta Kappa for concentrations in liberal arts and sciences and competes athletically in the
NCAA Division I.
According to the submitted data, the institutes’ total student enrollment (including
undergraduate and graduate programs) was 12,292 students; 54 percent men, 46 percent women.
The majority of the enrolled first-year students were white, 68.9 percent of the enrolled
freshman. The total number of international (nonresident alien) enrolled students was 5 percent.
From July 1, 2014 to June 20, 2015 there were 2,128 bachelor’s degrees awarded, 991 master’s
degrees, 244 research/scholarship doctoral degrees, and 180 professional practice doctoral
degrees.
Graduation Rates
Data Analysis of the Sunshine State 3
in four years or less. 96 percent of the 2009 cohort completed their bachelor program in more
than four years but less than five. With a 97 percent graduation rate of the 2009 class in more
The total number of first-time, first year students including men and women who applied to
the Sunshine State University were 18,157 and 3,595 students were admitted. The total number
A high school diploma is required and GEDs are not accepted. A total number of 16
academic high school units are required including: English, mathematics, science, foreign
language, history, and academic electives. The Sunshine State University considers the student’s
rigor of secondary school record to be the most important aspect of the student’s application.
Other areas that admissions base their decisions on are: the student’s class rank, academic GPA,
importance considered in the admission process are: the student’s extracurricular activities,
talents and abilities, character and personal qualities, a school alumni relation, and the student’s
volunteer experience. The Sunshine State University requires a SAT or ACT score for
admission.
In 2015, there was a 10 to 1 student/faculty ratio at the Sunshine State University. 16 percent
of the faculty belong to minority groups, 5 percent are nonresident aliens (international) and 32
Data Analysis of the Sunshine State 4
percent are women. 60 percent of the undergraduate classes have 19 or less students in them.
There are no class subsections currently offered at the Sunshine State University.
Strategic Plan
The goal described in the strategic plan of the data report is to transform the student
experience by connecting curricular and co-curricular experiences. Success defined by the report
is a diverse student body that accesses the resources of the university and graduates with
personal, social, academic, spiritual, and cultural competencies and real-world skills. The
connections.
2) To ensure students are able to demonstrate the skills necessary to compete in a global
4) The physical campus will be expanded in order to provide a seamless living and learning
environment.
Table I
Evaluation of Data
The primary area of concern that is detailed in the report is that there appears to be no Dean
in place to lead the university. This is indicated by the first of the goals and strategies portion of
the report described in Table I. Without the leadership of a Dean there could potentially be
several issues that go unaddressed. Effective leadership is a key component to any successful
system. According to Snowden and Boone’s (2007) A Leader’s Framework for Decision
Making, effective leaders are required to identify the context of their system and make
appropriate decisions according to its unique circumstances. The most successful leaders adapt to
the circumstances of the system they are managing (Snowden and Boone, 2007). The most
effective leadership decisions are based on much more than just the goal at hand. The Dean of
the Sunshine State University should: ponder over all the provided data, identify areas that might
Data Analysis of the Sunshine State 6
negatively affect the achievement of the university goals, and consider the impact on all the
subsystems of the university. Without a Dean or leader in place, there would be absolutely no
The University of Kansas (2016) details an excellent article titled, Analyzing Problems and
Goals. It describes the processes effective leaders should use to set and reach goals. It lists the
process as follows:
4. Ask questions about the problem or goal to identify key behaviors, actors, and
consequences.
5. Analyze "root" causes of the problem to identify the environmental conditions and related
6. Identify restraining and driving forces that affect the problem or goal.
8. Identify personal factors that may contribute to the problem or goal. How do each of
10. Identify targets and agents of change for addressing the community problem or goal (The
With the above list in mind, the potential Dean must deliberate the remaining issues with the
provided data as he or she considers the goals of the university and how to achieve them.
Data Analysis of the Sunshine State 7
First, the data offered in the report demonstrates that the Sunshine State University lacks
ethnic and racial diversity. This is reflected in the ethnic and international student enrollment
percentages, as well as the small percentage of minority and international faculty. The root cause
of the lack in student diversity at the Sunshine State University could be a biased in the
admissions office, a disinterest of minority students because of the small percentage of relatable
faculty, or a deficiency in collaboration among the university and ethnic minorities in the
community.
Secondly, there is a discrepancy between the percentage of students the university claims to
admit and the percentile they actually admitted. According to the data, the percentage of overall
admittance for first year (freshman) students was only 19.7 percent of those that applied. This
contradicts the 51 percent admission rate the data report claims as the goal of the university. Of
the 19.7 percent of students admitted only 11 percent actually enrolled at the Sunshine State
University. An inadequacy of admitted students could potentially effect the financial stability of
the college and the goal of constructing the Wellness Center building and expanding the physical
campus.
Lastly, the report demonstrates that the university does not offer any subsection classes.
According to the report, a subsection class includes “any subsection of a course, such as
laboratory, recitation, and discussion subsections that are supplementary in nature and are
scheduled to meet separately from the lecture portion of the course” (Sunshine State University,
2016, p.6). Failing to offer subsection classes does not align with the goal of the university to
incorporate co-curricular opportunities for students and seamlessly integrate the student’s living
Conclusions
There are many apparent problems within the 2015-2016 common data report of the
Sunshine State University. The issue that requires immediate attention is the lack of leadership.
Without an established leader, there cannot be forward progress in addressing problems and
achieving the goals of the university. The additional described deficits within the data should be
investigated further by the established Dean. To successfully address problems, the Dean must
use the processes detailed by the University of Kansas’ (2018) article, Analyzing Problems and
Goals. Once there is an established leader, strategies can be formulated to resolve problems and
References
Snowden, D. J., & Boone, M. E. (2007). A leader’s framework for decision-making. Harvard
Business Review.
https://post.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-4237633-dt-content-rid-
31563884_1/courses/EDU515.301086045299/Rubrics%20%26%20Assignments/Sunshin
e%20State%20University%20Common%20Data%20Set%20for%20Strategic%20Plannin
g.pdf
Work Group for Community Health and Development, University of Kansas. (2018). Analyzing