College of DuPage Ranks High with Community

GLEN ELLYN, Ill., Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A quantitative telephone study conducted this month among residents of Community College of DuPage District 502 residents shows respondents strongly support the College and have favorable opinions regarding the institute's academic reputation.

The Community "Pulse" Survey was conducted by Comiskey Research, Inc., a marketing and data research firm out of Elmhurst, Ill. Based on the sample size, the survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.  

Among the survey's findings, 82 percent of respondents indicated the College's tuition was a good value and 73 percent perceived the institution's image as "very good." On the academic side, 70 percent said they felt COD maintains a strong academic reputation and 58 percent indicated that the College's appearance mirrors that of a major four-year institution.

"These survey results reaffirm our hard work and these figures are in line with student responses gathered through the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory, in which cost (86 percent) and academic reputation (69 percent) played major roles in students' decisions to enroll at College of DuPage," said COD Board Chair Erin Birt. "We pride ourselves on meeting the needs of our constituents, and these survey results affirm our efforts toward becoming the primary choice for higher education in District 502 and beyond."

When comparing similar questions concerning value and reputation, ratings were significantly higher since the last community survey in March 2013, said Jim Benté, Vice President for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness.

Respondents also favorably ranked the College's finances. Sixty-six percent said the portion of their property tax bills paid to COD is very reasonable, while 25 percent were indifferent and only 9 percent disagreed. Likewise, 64 percent indicated they expected the College to maintain nine to 18 months of operating expenses in reserve.

"All of this supports the efforts we've made over the last several years to improve the academic reputation, image and financial health of the College," said COD President Dr. Robert L. Breuder. "Continued dialogue with our community members will further assist us as we plan for the future. In particular, with 76 percent of respondents indicating they felt it is very important to offer baccalaureate degrees in select fields where job opportunities already exist, we will continue to pursue this important initiative."

For more information, please contact Joe Moore, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, at (630) 942-2371 or [email protected].

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SOURCE College of DuPage