Strategic Planning, Continued: Results of Start, Stop, Continue Student Surveys

The results provided here attempt to present a comprehensive overview of the perspectives expressed by Bryn Mawr College's undergraduate students in the "Stop, Start, Continue" survey conducted from February 13, 2025, to March 2, 2025. Before proceeding to the details, some context may help with understanding the approach taken to the analysis.

The survey consisted of five questions, four of which were open ended and one Net Promoter Score (NPS) question (see attached survey instrument). The four open-ended questions were intentionally broad in scope and answered by 227 students. An additional 35 students only responded to the NPS question.

There are a few observations about the nature of the responses and how they impacted the analysis.

1. While each of the four open-ended questions resulted in responses specific to that question, the bulk of the themes spanned across all four questions. As a result, this analysis discusses themes without regard for the question which produced the idea. The specific questions are brought into the analysis when they are needed to contextualize the theme but are otherwise ignored.
2. There is a much higher number of themes coming out of the data than usual. Across the four questions, more than 150 themes emerged that were mentioned by more than one person and more than 80 mentioned by at least five people (2% of respondents). There are many other ideas expressed by individuals which did not rise to the level of a theme because only one person expressed them. Even within the context of the 80+ themes identified by at least 2% of respondents, there are too many to discuss in detail. Therefore, the discussion of themes which appears below is limited to parent themes including brief mentions of their child themes exceeding 2% response, and an in-depth look at specific themes mentioned by at least 10% of the respondents. At the end of the analysis section there is a “Detailed Thematic Breakdown” section which identifies the 80+ themes mentioned by 2% or more, along with their counts and percentages, and parent-child structure.
3. The broad nature of the questions meant there are few themes mentioned by a sizable minority of respondents and no theme was expressed by a majority. Two parent themes, Student Support Services and Dining – Food, were mentioned by a little less than half of the students. No specific theme was mentioned by as much as one-fifth of the respondents. The overwhelming majority of themes were expressed by a relatively small percentage of respondents (<10%).
4. The large amount of thematic material means the data could be organized in many ways, all of which would be reasonable. The analysis below organizes the results reflecting the nested nature of many of the ideas expressed. As a result, parent-child theme structures appear frequently throughout the analysis.
5. It is worth noting what is not presented here. Typically, thematic analysis is accompanied by selected quotes from the data which represent the themes. The large number of themes in this data makes it impractical to provide quotes for all the themes. Representative quotes are provided for themes mentioned by at least 10% of respondents.

The entire undergraduate student population was invited to participate in the survey. Of the 1351 students contacted, 890 clicked on the survey link. Of these, 227 provided answers to at least one of the questions in the survey for a 19.4% overall response rate. Below is a breakdown of the response rates by racial/ethnic identity and class year.

Breakdown by Racial/Ethnic Identity:

• African American/Black: 16/64 responded (25.0%)
• Asian: 21/155 responded (13.5%)
• Hispanic/Latino: 20/118 responded (16.9%)
• Multiracial: 9/94 responded (9.6%)
• International: 42/169 responded (24.9%)
• White: 143/715 responded (20.0%)
• Others: 11/36 responded (30.6%)

Total: 262/1,351 responded (19.4%)

Breakdown by Class Year:

• 2025: 63/359 responded (17.5%)
• 2026: 51/288 responded (17.7%)
• 2027: 69/333 responded (20.7%)
• 2028: 79/371 responded (21.3%)

Total: 262/1,351 responded (19.4%)

Cautionary Note:

Studies have found that nonresponse bias usually does not impact results significantly in surveys with low response rates, despite their susceptibility. Unfortunately, there are reasons to be concerned in this study. The conversion rate—the percentage of students who completed at least part of the survey after clicking on the survey link—is extremely low. To provide some context, below is a table comparing the students in the Start/Stop/Continue survey to those of the last two Belongingness surveys.

Click Rate

• 2025 Start/Stop/Continue: 65.9%
• 2023 Belongingness: 59.8%
• 2022 Belongingness: 60.6%

Conversion Rate

• 2025 Start/Stop/Continue: 29.4%
• 2023 Belongingness: 92.7%
• 2022 Belongingness: 94.1%

Response Rate

• 2025 Start/Stop/Continue: 19.4%
• 2023 Belongingness: 55.4%
• 2022 Belongingness: 57.1%

The ability to motivate students to click on the survey link was somewhat higher for the Start/Stop/Continue survey, but the conversion rate and response rate are dramatically different.

This in and of itself does not mean the results suffer from nonresponse bias. For nonresponse bias to be present, those who chose to respond would need to hold significantly different perspectives. The only practical means we have for testing this is by looking to other surveys asking the same questions. The NPS question is the one common question between the Start/Stop/Continue survey and the Belongingness surveys. The table below compares the results of the NPS question in the surveys.

Net Promoter Score

• 2025 Start/Stop/Continue: 25.1
• 2023 Belongingness: -7.4
• 2022 Belongingness: -3.0

The differences are quite large. I looked at NPS results going back to 2016. The highest was 9.2 in 2017.

There are two plausible explanations for the significantly higher NPS in the Start/Stop/Continue survey. First, students are much happier with Bryn Mawr now than they have been for the last decade. This is certainly reasonable given the new administration, coupled with the optimism change can sometimes bring.

The second plausible explanation is that the students who chose to answer the Start/Stop/Continue survey are happier with Bryn Mawr than those who chose not to respond, i.e., nonresponse bias. This explanation creates concern about the results. If the non-respondents are meaningfully different then this data and analysis doesn’t fully represent Bryn Mawr’s students. If, for example, the true NPS among all students is 0 instead of 25.1, then the non-respondents would have an NPS of -11. The difference of this size is meaningful and would likely have an impact on the results.

The biggest impact of nonresponse bias would be in what is missing from the data – the thoughts of those who chose not to share them in the survey. Nonresponse bias would not invalidate what is in the data. The students who participated expressed what they felt, and those responses remain valid. However, when reading this report it should be kept in mind it is possible that meaningful themes are missing from the data.

Net Promoter Score (NPS)

The NPS question asked respondents how likely they are to recommend attending Bryn Mawr College to a high school senior who resembles them when they were a high school senior. The scale ranged from 0 to 10. The Net Promoter Score is calculated by breaking the respondents into three groups: Promoters (9 and 10), Passives (7 and 8), and Detractors (0 to 6), then subtracting the percentage of Detractors from the percentage of Promoters and multiplying the resultant number by 100. These categories are industry standards.

The Net Promoter Score for undergraduate student respondents is a good 25.1 with the following breakdown:

• • Promoters – 42.4%
  • Passives – 40.4%
  • Detractors – 17.3%

Strong Detractors is a non-industry standard category which I have created. These are individuals reporting a value of 3 or less. I hypothesize that they are individuals highly dissatisfied and would likely leave the institution if they had a reasonable option. 3.9% of student respondents fall into this category.

Breakdown by Racial/Ethnic Identity:

• African American/Black: 13.3
• Asian: 0.0
• Hispanic/Latino: 26.3
• Multiracial: 22.2
• International: 12.2
• White: 33.6
• Others: 18.2

Total: 25.1

Breakdown by Class Year:

• 2025: 14.8
• 2026: 21.7
• 2027: 14.5
• 2028: 44.2

Total: 25.1

Breaking down NPS by racial/ethnic identity and class year, reveals meaningful differences by group. White and First-Year students are happier with the college than students of color and sophomores, juniors, and seniors. It is worth noting that despite differences between groups, the scores are much higher across all groups compared to data collected over the past ten years.

• Student Support Services (48.9%): This is the most frequently mentioned collection of themes in the data with just short of half the students mentioning something related to Student Support Services. This covered a wide range of services, including Wellness (17.2%), Career Counseling (9.3%), Academic Advising/Deans (7.5%), LITS (4.8%), Support Services Generally (4.4%), Desire for More Co-Curricular Opportunities (3.1%), and the Writing Center (2.2%). Most of the responses to these areas are positive in nature with many suggestions for improvements and a few bad experiences.
• Dining – Food (44.5%): Mentioned by almost half of the respondents, dining and food was a significant theme in the data. Many of the responses in this grouping were either negative or suggesting ways to improve dining on campus. The specific themes include the Need for More Menu Options (18.1%), Extended Hours for the Dining Halls (14.1%), Greater Flexibility with the Meal Plan (13.7%), and a call for Improved Quality of the food (8.4%). On the positive side, several said the dining halls serve Good Food (4.4%), and several like the Special Meals quite a bit (3.5%).
• Spaces on Campus (30.8%): A little less than a third of students mentioned campus spaces. The responses were evenly split between wanting More Availability/More Spaces (9.3%) and, specifically, the need for Study Spaces (9.3%). Other specific themes include Renovation Requests (7.0%), various comments on Spaces in General (5.7%), and improvements to the Dance Studios (2.2%).
• Academics (28.2%): More than one in four students wrote about something related to Academics. Like Student Support Services, this parent theme captures a wide range of ideas, including the desire to have More Courses and/or Majors and Oversubscription issues (8.4%), mostly positive comments about Professors (7.0%), positive and negative comments about specific Departments and Courses (5.3%), negative comments about Grading (3.5%) and P.E. Requirements (2.6%), appreciation for Research Opportunities (2.6%) and Small Class Sizes (2.6%), and mixed comments about THRIVE (2.6%).
• Campus Community (22.9%): Close to a quarter of respondents commented on the College and the Community, the majority in positive tones. These included praise for the People at the College (10.6%), having a Positive View of the College in general (5.3%) and the College Mission (2.6%), and a mixed view of the Political Atmosphere of the College (2.6%).
• Housing & Residential Experience 22.5%): Close to a quarter of students discussed some aspects of housing or dorms, nearly all in the form of wanting improvements or changes. These included a desire for more access to Kitchens (10.6%), the need for Affinity Housing (3.5%), better Toilet Paper (2.6%), more Living Options (2.6%), or identified specific Dorm Issues (2.6%).
• Traditions & Honor Code (21.6%): A little over a fifth of students highlighted the school’s Traditions (15.9%), and Honor Code (4.4%), and Self-Scheduled Exams (4.4%) in their comments, all in a positive light.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (20.3%): One in five students mentioned ideas that could broadly be categorized as DEIA, although few specifically mentioned it in those terms. This included requests for greater Accessibility (6.6%), more services for or specific attention paid to International Students (5.7%), Support for Cultural & Religious Groups (4.4%), Financial Aid (3.3%), and calls to end Racism or Antisemitism (2.2%).
• Clubs & SGA (18.1%): One out of six students mentioned Clubs and/or SGA. The overwhelming majority of these comments were related to displeasure with the level of Funding (15.0%). The Other Club & SGA Comments (4.4%) were positive statements about particular clubs, SGA, or clubs in general.
• Communication (16.7%): About 17% of students highlight some aspects of communication as being important to them. This included a desire for Clearer Communications (11.5%), or expressing a Positive View of Communication and/or Wendy’s efforts to communicate (4.8%), or specifically saying they like the Daily Digest (3.1%).
• Events and Community Building (16.7%): About 17% wrote about events and community building opportunities on campus. The majority of these responses expressed either that they like or want More Events (6.6%). Close to 5% of all respondents expressed concern or displeasure about Administrative Presence at Student Events (4.8%). A smaller group asked for more Student Input into Events (2.2%).
• SEPTA (11.9%): This is a stand-alone theme which is detailed below. About 12% of respondents said they like/love the free SEPTA passes.
• Student Empowerment & Leadership Opportunities (10.6%): One in ten students brought up topics that can be generally grouped as student empowerment and leadership opportunities. The responses were mixed. Close to half of the responses want the College to Allow More Student Feedback (4.8%), while almost the same number say they are Pleased the College Listens to students (4.0%). The remaining responses are happy about the Range of Leadership Roles available to students (2.2%).
• Technology (10.1%); This catch-all category related to technology is wide ranging in its responses. Despite nearly 10% of respondents mentioning technology in one form or another, only More Printers (2.2%) had enough mentions to make it above 2%. The other comments were scattered across many areas include AI, Duo, Bionic and more.
• Logistics (9.3%): Close to a tenth of students mentioned some aspects of campus logistics. These were split fairly evenly between more Blue Bus times (3.5%), additional Shuttle Services (3.5%), and additional Parking (2.6%).
• Campus Grounds (7.0%): Seven percent mentioned the campus grounds in some form. Most were positive including the Trees and Green Spaces (3.1%) and its Beauty (2.6%), with the few other comments about ideas for improvement.
• Student Employment (6.2%): A little more than 5% mention student employment as a stand-alone theme. There was little consistency within this theme with ideas expressed about more money, job opportunities, dining jobs, job postings, etc.
• Middle East (2.2%): A handful of students mention Israel or Gaza, four of the five students calling for divestment.
• Disciplinary Process (2.2%): A handful of students commented on disciplinary processes at the College, with four of the five wanting more transparency or administration removal from the process and the fifth wanting stronger disciplinary action against protestors.
• Survey (2.2%): Five students mention the survey specifically, three positively and two negatively.

• Dining - Food: Need for More Menu Options (18.1%): One out of every six student respondents (n=45) specifically mention the need for more menu options in the food offered across campus. This included more variety in general, vegan/vegetarian options, food for those with dietary restrictions (religious and allergy), and fresh food offerings. Quotes:
  • “I think the dining halls should have a few more vegetarian/vegan options.”
  • “Fresher food in the dining hall- more like Swarthmore”
  • “incorporation of kosher/halal meats in dining menus and overall more nutritious foods.”
  • “Improve variety of food options at the dining halls to better accommodate people with dietary restrictions”
• Dining - Food: Extended Hours (14.1%): 32 students asked for extended hours of service for the dining options on campus. This is the second of three dining/food specific themes in the top six. The bulk of these comments were asking for the dining halls to be open longer and/or for more hours on the weekends. Some specifically mention how the hours do not align with other campus commitments, such as athletics. A few acknowledge that it wouldn’t be easy to implement this. Quotes:
  • “Longer dining hall hours in the evening and earlier on weekend mornings,”
  • “While I understand the dining hall and gym are student run, they close very late on weekends. As someone involved in several activities, I would really like it if they could be open even an hour later.”
  • “Not being able to cook for yourself, being limited by small dining hall hours is kind of terrible.”
• Dining - Food: Meal Plan Flexibility (13.7%): This is the third of three Dining/Food themes in the top six. It is worth noting that while there was some overlap between the three, the overwhelming majority of students only commented on one of the three themes. In this case, 31 students asked for more flexibility in the meal plans. Many say they would like the ability to use their dining plan at more locations on and off campus, specifically at UnCommon Grounds and local restaurants. Others asked for more free food options which do not get charged against the meal plan. A few requested more options when buying meal plans, saying they don’t use their swipes. Quotes:
  • “Uncommon Grounds + Lusty Cup taking meal swipes, campus cash that can be used at places in town”
  • “It would be a major improvement for the well-being and health of students if we had systems such as dining dollars (whether for Uncommon Grounds and outside/off-campus restaurants).”
  • “Stop limiting the amount of food we can get at the dining halls”
• Student Support Services: Wellness (16.3%): Wellness support services were mentioned by 37 students. The responses were a mix of suggestions for improvement (17), positive views (15), and a few negative views (5). The suggestions for improvement mostly included greater access or expansion of services (more therapists, expanded hours, ability to make online appointments, greater access generally). The positive comments tended to be less specific, instead offering an appreciation for the services in general. The negative comments also tended to be less specific. Quotes:
  • “ If there were more therapists or counselors that not only deal with struggling people but are also there to listen even if you don't have a problem or mental illness.”
  • “it would be great if there would be some way to schedule health center appointments online”
  • “I love the amount of accessibility to free therapy, medical services, tutoring, writing tutors and office hours”
  • “I love how Bryn Mawr has such a large emphasis on mental health and should continue to prioritize student's health and happiness”
  • “The counseling services on campus are really challenging and need to be better.”
• Traditions (15.9%): Perhaps the simplest theme to emerge from the responses, 36 students expressed the importance of student traditions at the College. Most of these responses came from the Continue question often with a two-word answer: “The traditions!” Quotes:
  • “The traditions!”
  • “Keep doing all the school traditions. They really make this place feel like a home.”
  • “The emphasis on traditions is great.”
• Clubs & SGA Funding (15.0%): Fifteen percent (n=34) specifically mentioned issues with clubs being underfunded. Some wrote of it as SGA being underfunded and unable to provide resources to clubs. Many said this was an issue this year specifically. Quotes:
  • “More funding for student-run clubs from non-SGA funds”
  • “Students are extremely frustrated with SGA's handling of the budget this year. Extremely popular clubs and important clubs (such as Mawrters for Immigrant Justice) have been given offensively small amounts of money, meanwhile the fencing team is eating up thousands of dollars.”
  • “As you probably know, the SGA club budget was cut significantly this semester. I hope that in future semesters we could have more money especially for AMOs. However, I do not have a solution to offer.”
  • “Stop taking money away from all the clubs,”
• SEPTA (11.9%): The Jawnt Pass is very popular among many students. One in eight wrote about it often in very positive terms. Quotes:
  • “Free SEPTA is a game changer.”
  • “The free SEPTA has been amazing. As someone who has partnerships because of my major, the free SEPTA has really helped me save a lot of money.”
  • “CONTINUE THE FREE SEPTA!!!!”
  • “I love that we have free access to SEPTA; I don't think I would ever go into Philly otherwise, but every time I go I realize what incredible organizations, museums, and culture exist there.”
• Clearer Communications (11.5%): 26 students asked for clearer communications covering a wide range of subjects. Most of the comments are specific about which communications need clarity, but there is no consistency across these areas. Taken collectively, this theme is about clearer communications in general. Quotes:
  • “Better communications with clubs.”
  • “When a student applies for something like an accommodation or is applying for certain classes or just wants to join some sort of organization, more transparency would be nice. I also think some events are not advertised as well as they should be, there can be better ways to do so.”
  • “I feel like sometimes I dont know what happening and I end up missing events that I would have liked to go to.”
  • “Bryn Mawr should have more accessible information. Although the website is somewhat helpful, step by steps on topics such as how to start a club, how to use ErezLife, etc. should be easy to find.”
• Campus Community: The People (10.6%): A little over one in ten respondents (n=24) wrote about how much they appreciate the people at the College. This included faculty, students, and staff. Quotes:
  • “I love the atmosphere and the spirits of students, faculty, and other staff workers, it really feels like a family. one thing: keep admitting the right peole.”
  • “The staff and classes are excellent”
  • “Professors genuinely care about their students' success, taking the time to offer guidance and encouragement. Staff members are approachable and always willing to help, making daily life on campus feel warm and supportive. Additionally, the student body cultivates a culture of mutual respect and understanding, creating a space where people feel comfortable being themselves. This strong sense of community is one of Bryn Mawr's greatest strengths and should absolutely continue.”
• Housing & Residential Experience: Kitchens (10.6%): About ten percent (n=24) of respondents asked for more access to kitchens on campus, both in terms of number of kitchens and accessibility to the current offerings. Some students connected this theme with their desire for extended hours at the dining halls. Quotes:
  • “ Have a kitchen where students can cook something. There is only one accessible kitchen on campus”
  • “More kitchens accessible to students”
  • “KITCHENS the fact that the only place the entire student body is able to cook/bake is the well is crazy. it doesn't have to be in dorms but more accessible communal kitchens (with actual pots and spoons and stuff in them) would be AMAZING.”

Student Support Services (111 respondents - 48.9%)*

• Wellness (37 respondents - 16.3%)
• Career Counseling (21 respondents - 9.3%)
• Academic Advising - Deans (17 respondents - 7.5%)
• LITS (11 respondents - 4.8%)
• Support Services Generally (10 respondents - 4.4%)
• Want More Co-Curricular Opportunities (7 respondents - 3.1%)
• Writing Center (5 respondents - 2.2%)

Dining - Food (101 respondents - 44.5%)*

• Need for More Menu Options (41 respondents - 18.1%)
• Extended Hours for Dining Halls (32 respondents - 14.1%)
• Meal Plan Flexibility (31 respondents - 13.7%)
• Quality: Needs Improvement (19 respondents - 8.4%)
• Quality: Good (10 respondents - 4.4%)
• Special Meals (8 respondents - 3.5%)

Spaces (70 respondents - 30.8%)*

• More Availability or More Spaces (21 respondents - 9.3%)
• Study Spaces (21 respondents - 9.3%)
• Renovation Requests (16 respondents - 7.0%)
• Spaces in General (13 respondents - 5.7%)
• Dance Studios (5 respondents - 2.2%)

Academics (64 respondents - 28.2%)*

• Additional Courses & Majors - Oversubscription (19 respondents - 8.4%)
• Professors (16 respondents - 7.0%)
• Departments and Courses (12 respondents - 5.3%)
• Grading (8 respondents - 3.5%)
• PE Requirement (6 respondents - 2.6%)
• Research Opportunities (6 respondents - 2.6%)
• Small Class Sizes (6 respondents - 2.6%)
• THRIVE (6 respondents - 2.6%)

Campus Community (52 respondents - 22.9%)*

• The People (24 respondents - 10.6%)
• Positive View of the College (12 respondents - 5.3%)
• Negative View of the College (3 respondents - 1.3%)
• College Mission (6 respondents - 2.6%)
• Political Atmosphere (6 respondents - 2.6%)

Housing & Residential Experience (51 respondents - 22.5%)*

• Kitchens (24 respondents - 10.6%)
• Affinity Housing (8 respondents - 3.5%)
• Toilet Paper (6 respondents - 2.6%)
• Living Options (6 respondents - 2.6%)
• Dorm Issues (6 respondents - 2.6%)

Traditions & Honor Code (49 respondents - 21.6%)*

• Traditions (36 respondents - 15.9%)
• Honor Code (10 respondents - 4.4%)
• Self-Scheduled Exams (10 respondents - 4.4%)

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (46 respondents - 20.3%)*

• Accessibility (15 respondents - 6.6%)
• International Students (13 respondents - 5.7%)
• Support for Cultural & Religious Groups (10 respondents - 4.4%)
• Financial Aid (7 respondents - 3.1%)
• Racism - Antisemitism (5 respondents - 2.2%)

Clubs & SGA (41 respondents - 18.1%)*

• Funding (34 respondents - 15.0%)
• Other Clubs and SGA Comments (10 respondents - 4.4%)

Communication (38 respondents - 16.7%)*

• Clearer Communication (26 respondents - 11.5%)
• Positive View of Communication & Wendy (11 respondents - 4.8%)
• Daily Digest (7 respondents - 3.1%)

Event & Community Building (29 respondents - 12.8%)*

• More Events (15 respondents - 6.6%)
• Administrative Presence at Events (11 respondents - 4.8%)
• Student Input into Events (5 respondents - 2.2%)

SEPTA  (27 respondents - 11.9%)^

Student Empowerment & Leadership Opportunities (24 respondents - 10.1%)*

• Allow More Student Feedback (11 respondents - 4.8%)
• Please College Listens (9 respondents - 4.0%)
• Range of Leadership Roles (5 respondents - 2.2%)

Technology (23 respondents - 10.1%)*

• More Printers (5 respondents - 2.2%)

Logistics (21 respondents - 9.3%)*

• Blue Bus (8 respondents - 3.5%)
• Shuttle Services (8 respondents - 3.5%)
• Parking (6 respondents - 2.6%)

Campus Grounds (16 respondents - 7.0%)*

• Trees & Green Spaces (7 respondents - 3.1%)
• Beauty (6 respondents - 2.6%)

Student Employment (14 respondents - 6.2%)^

Middle East (5 respondents - 2.2%)^

Disciplinary Process (5 respondents - 2.2%)^

Survey (5 respondents - 2.2%)^

*Parent Themes
^Stand-alone Themes

• What should Bryn Mawr introduce that would improve your student experience?
• What should Bryn Mawr change or stop doing that would make your student experience better?
• What is Bryn Mawr doing well that should definitely continue?
• How likely would you be to recommend attending Bryn Mawr College to a high school senior who resembles you when you were a high school senior (same background, ability, interests, and temperament)?
  • Not likely at all (1) - Extremely likely (10)
• What else should the College know?

The results provided here attempt to present a comprehensive overview of the perspectives expressed by Bryn Mawr College's graduate students in the "Stop, Start, Continue" survey conducted February 13, 2025, to March 2, 2025. Before proceeding to the details, some context may help with understanding the approach taken to the analysis.

The survey consisted of five questions, four of which were open ended and one Net Promoter Score (NPS) question (see attached survey instrument). The four open-ended questions were intentionally broad in scope and answered by 72 graduate students.

There are a few observations about the nature of the responses and how they impacted the analysis.

1. While each of the four open-ended questions resulted in responses specific to that question, the bulk of the themes spanned across all four questions. As a result, this analysis discusses themes without regard for the question which produced the idea. Specific questions are referenced in the analysis only when necessary to contextualize the theme but are otherwise omitted.
2. There is a high number of themes emerging from the data relative to the number of respondents. Across the four questions, 70 themes emerged that were mentioned by more than one person and 40 mentioned by at least 5% of people (four or more respondents). There are many other ideas expressed by individuals which did not rise to the level of a theme because only one person expressed them. The discussion of themes which appears below is limited to parent themes including brief mentions of their child themes exceeding 5% response, and an in-depth look at specific themes mentioned by at least 10% of the respondents. At the end of the analysis section there is a “Detailed Thematic Breakdown” section which identifies the 80 themes mentioned by 2% or more, along with their counts and percentages, and parent-child structure.
3. The broad nature of the questions meant there are few themes mentioned by a sizable minority of respondents and no individual theme was expressed by a majority. Two parent themes, Academics and Community, were mentioned more than half of the graduate students. The overwhelming majority of themes were expressed by a relatively small percentage of respondents (<10%).
4. The large volume of thematic material means the data could be reasonably organized in multiple ways. The analysis below organizes the results reflecting the nested nature of many of the ideas expressed. As a result, parent-child theme structures proliferate throughout the analysis. However, the Detailed Thematic Breakdown section has the themes organized by question.

It is worth noting what is not presented here. Typically, thematic analysis is accompanied by selected quotes from the data which represent the themes. The large number of themes in this data makes it impractical to provide quotes for all the themes. Representative quotes are provided for the stand-alone and child themes mentioned by at least 10% of the respondents.

The analysis is based on responses from 72 of the 244 Bryn Mawr graduate students invited to participate, representing a 29.5% response rate.

The NPS question asked respondents how likely they are to recommend Bryn Mawr College's graduate school or post baccalaureate program to a friend or colleague. The scale ranged from 0 to 10. The Net Promoter Score is calculated by breaking the respondents into three groups: Promoters (9 and 10), Passives (7 and 8), and Detractors (0 to 6), then subtracting the percentage of Detractors from the percentage of Promoters and multiplying the resultant number by 100. These categories are industry standards.

The Net Promoter Score for undergraduate student respondents is a good 25.1 with the following breakdown:

• • Promoters – 48.6%
  • Passives – 31.9%
  • Detractors – 19.4%

“Strong Detractors” is a non-industry standard category which I have created. These are individuals reporting a value of 3 or less. I hypothesize that they are individuals highly dissatisfied and would likely leave the institution if they had a reasonable option. 5.6% of graduate student respondents fall into this category.

Academics (63.9%): Academics is the most frequently mentioned collection of themes with nearly two-thirds of graduate students mentioning something related. The responses were a mix of praise (for faculty) and suggestions for enhancement. Within this parent theme, several child themes were mentioned by at least 10% of respondents.

• Faculty (23.6%): Nearly a quarter of graduate students praised the faculty in their disciplines, either as a group or by specifically naming individual faculty members for excellence.
  • "I've been impressed with all of the professors I've had so far at the GSSWSR."
  • "I feel honored to be taught by such amazing professors."
  • “In my direct experience GSSWSR employs teachers who are extremely knowledgeable and personally/emotionally invested in the social work/mental health field including growth of their students.”
• Advising & Mentoring (20.8%): One in five graduate students expressed the need for more advising and mentoring.
  • “Grad students are kept in the dark about what graduates go on to do."
  • "[M]ore resources to support mentorship are desperately needed."
  • “More support, scaffolding, or general advising for grad students on the structure of the program. I know BMC is unique in its flexibility, and I appreciate that, however knowledge of the program and its quirks is traditionally passed down from grad student to grad student; since covid, there are fewer senior grad students on campus to explain the process and faculty cannot answer all the questions, so it feels like limbo for the current new grad students. I would appreciate some general guidance or a timeline to better know what I should be doing and when.”
• More Classes (11.1%): A little over ten percent cited frustration over a limited diversity of course opportunities or scheduled times of courses.
  • “More elective class options and more weekend / evening classes.”
  • “Whenever possible, more interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-disciplinary coursework opportunities are appreciated”

Community (56.9%): The Bryn Mawr Community was mentioned by more than half of respondents. Many of the responses in this grouping praised the supportive environment and campus events but also asked for greater integration of the graduate programs with the larger BMC Community.

• Events & Community Building (33.3%): A third of all graduate student respondents praised the College's events and community building opportunities with some asking for more specifically geared toward graduate students.
  • “We love all the wonderful events and school traditions that take place here at bryn mawr! These make it such a special place to get my doctorate.”
  • "Sponsored events like mixers or field trips would be great opportunities for graduate students to bond with their peers in a non classroom setting”
  • “[M]ore opportunities to connect with other PhD students. There are some students within our cohort who are arranging these times, but it would be nice to have faculty do this too.”
• Supportive Environment (19.4%): Nearly one in five wrote that they appreciate the supportive environment within the College and their departments.
  • “Bryn Mawr (at least what I see at the GSSWSR) is doing an amazing job of creating a supportive learning environment”
  • “the school is great with the level of support for students in a narrative way just to help students keep motivated and working to graduate.”
• Staff and Administrative Support (18.1%): A sizable number of graduate students also expressed gratitude for the support staff with a few asking for more.
  • “[T]he support from the college itself, such as Dean May's support, has made all the difference.”
  • “The GSSWSR staff and structure are all great and seem to evolve with the changing times and events.”
• Greater Integration with the Rest of the College (15.3%): One in seven graduate students asked for greater integration of the graduate programs with the rest of Bryn Mawr
  • “The GSSWSR students are somewhat isolated from the rest of the students and campus. more integration to create a larger sense of community would be helpful.”
  • “More social events that are undergraduate and graduate student friendly. It seems like most well attended events are either just for grad students or just for undergrads. If there are plenty, I don't know about it so its not well communicated.”

Pay, Financial Aid, Benefits (29.2%): Pay, Financial Aid, and Benefits were mentioned by nearly one-third of graduate students with most saying they want improved aid or pay for work.

• Financial Aid (23.6%): Nearly a quarter of graduate students said they need better financial aid and/or pay, often noting that it falls below their expenses or the levels provided by comparable institutions.
  • “I know the college has made strides, but BMC grad stipends are still below other schools in the area (Penn $36k, Princeton $50k) and a higher stipend would not only help attract more applicants, but more importantly help the students already here afford rent, food, books, and travel/conferences."
  • "More funding and financial support for graduate students is always welcome, especially for those attending conferences or exhibitions as participants rather than presenters."
  • “While I acknowledge the commendable financial and academic support provided to graduate students, I believe it is imperative to enhance these to expand the reputation of the college even further.”
• SEPTA (11.1%) : One in ten graduate students praised the Jawnt program
  • “I love the septa program, it's been very helpful in allowing me to travel into Philly especially to go to all the museums around the city. I hope it continues next year since I'm planning to take classes at Penn in the future"
  • “The SEPTA pass is an incredibly valuable resource for graduate students. It is so expensive to live in Bryn Mawr proper and being able to freely commute has made so many of our lives easier.”

• Communication (12.5%): One in eight graduate students indicated a need for improved communication at both the college and departmental levels.

  • “I like BMC more overall but improving communication would be great.”

  • “clearer instructions on what is expected from students in the PhD program - timelines specifically are not super clear.”

  • “Better, more open communication--currently it's hard to figure out what's happening in a given department at any time.”

• Gratitude - Love of Bryn Mawr (12.5%): An equal number of individuals expressed gratitude or love of the College in their comments.

  • “I love Bryn Mawr College. I love the GSSWSR and appreciate their progressive mission, ability to evolve with the community and world at large.”

  • “I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received from faculty and staff. Apart from the issues I noted, I feel strongly that I am fortunate to have the opportunity to study as Bryn Mawr. Thank you.”

  • “I love Bryn Mawr. I feel grateful to be a part of this institution”

• Food and Dining (12.5%): One in eight graduate students identified food and dining options as being in need of some improvement, primarily related to accessibility and options.

  • “Additional and healthier food options (beyond dining halls)”

  • “More on campus coffee options. If lusty cup was a coffee and tea only cafe open all the time that would be helpful. When I want to grab a coffee at the library I often don't want to walk all the way to common grounds.”

  • “This may sound like an insignificant thing, but my time spent on campus would be greatly improved if there were more dining options available.”

• Technology (12.5%): One-eighth of respondents mentioned technology-related issues, though there was no consistent theme across the specific technologies identified.

  • “Too many emails. Too many that aren't all that relevant to GSSWSR students, in part because we're off campus.”

  • “Stop using so much technology and security codes.”

  • “The Bionic, Moodle, and Sonia systems are not user friendly and Bryn Mawr would benefit from updating/changing these systems."

START

• Academics (11 respondents - 15.3%)
  • More Classes (8 respondents - 11.1%)
  • Internship Opportunities (3 respondents - 4.2%)
  • Modes of Classes (2 respondents - 2.8%)
• Campus and Spaces (11 respondents - 15.3%)
  • Private Spaces (6 respondents - 8.3%)
• Greater Integration with the Rest of College (11 - 15.3%)
• Food and Dining (9 respondents - 12.5%)
  • Food Options (6 respondents - 8.3%)
  • Meal Plans (3 respondents - 4.2%)
  • Coffee (1 respondent - 1.4%)
• Events - Opportunities to Connect (9 respondents - 12.5%)
• Pay - Financial Aid - Benefits (9 respondents - 12.5%)
• Advising - Mentoring (8 respondents - 11.1%)
• Logistics - Housing, Parking, Travel (7 respondents - 9.7%)
• Graduate Student Teaching Opportunities (6 respondents - 8.3%)
• Communications (5 respondents - 6.9%)
  • Program (3 respondents - 4.2%)
  • College (2 respondents - 2.8%)
• Library (3 respondents - 4.2%)
• Mental Health Service (3 respondents - 4.2%)
• DEI (3 respondents - 4.2%)
• Accessibility (2 respondents - 2.8%)

STOP

• Academics (15 respondents - 20.8%)
  • Flexible Program Requirements (6 respondents - 8.3%)
  • Too Demanding (4 respondents - 5.6%)
  • Flexible Course Schedules (3 respondents - 4.2%)
  • More Electives (3 respondents - 4.2%)
  • Not Rigorous Enough (1 respondents - 1.4%)
• Advising - Mentoring (10 respondents - 13.9%)
• Technology (9 respondents - 12.5%)
• Communication (6 respondents - 8.3%)
• Pay - Stipends (5 respondents - 6.9%)
• Better Appreciation - Promotion of Program (5 respondents - 6.9%)
  • External (3 respondents - 4.2%)
  • Internal (2 respondents - 2.8%)
• Events - Opportunities to Connect (4 respondents - 5.6%)
• Parking (3 respondents - 4.2%)
• Stop Being Woke (3 respondents - 4.2%)
• Campus and Spaces (2 respondents - 2.8%)
• More Staff (2 respondents - 2.8%)
• Accessibility (2 respondents - 2.8%)
• Library (1 respondents - 1.4%)

CONTINUE

• Academics (25 respondents - 34.7%)
  • Faculty (17 respondents - 23.6%)
  • Professional Development & Field Work (7 respondents - 9.7%)
  • Curriculum (3 respondents - 4.2%)
  • Rigor and Scholarship (3 respondents - 4.2%)
  • Interdisciplinary Work (2 respondents - 2.8%)
• Community and Support (23 respondents - 31.9%)
  • Staff & Administrative Support (11 respondents - 15.3%)
  • Supportive Environment (11 respondents - 15.3%)
  • Peers (4 respondents - 5.6%)
  • College Support of Grad Programs (2 respondents - 2.8%)
• Events and Community Building (15 respondents - 20.8%)
• Financial Support (12 respondents - 16.7%)
  • SEPTA (8 respondents - 11.1%)
  • Financial Aid and Travel Funds (5 respondents - 6.9%)
• Tradition and History (10 respondents - 13.9%)
  • Historic Program (4 respondents - 5.6%)
  • Traditions (4 respondents - 5.6%)
  • Women's Education (3 respondents - 4.2%)
• Support Services (8 respondents - 11.1%)
  • Campus Services (4 respondents - 5.6%)
  • Mental Health (4 respondents - 5.6%)
• Spaces (3 respondents - 4.2%)
• DEI (3 respondents - 4.2%)
  • International (1 respondents - 1.4%)

• What should Bryn Mawr introduce that would improve your student experience?
• What should Bryn Mawr change or stop doing that would make your student experience better?
• What is Bryn Mawr doing well that should definitely continue?
• How likely are you to recommend Bryn Mawr College's graduate school or post baccalaureate program to a friend or colleague?
  • Not likely at all (1) - Extremely likely (10)
• What else should the College know?

• All graduate and undergraduate students were invited to share what they think the College should start doing, stop doing, and continue doing.
• The community is frequently asked to share opinions on specific subjects but rarely asked about the College as a whole.​
• I wanted to hear as much as possible about the College from as many members of the community as possible. I read every response and learned a lot!

• Survey opened on February 13 and closed on March 2, 2025​​

• Response rates – all students 21%, undergrads 19%, grads 30% (These are lower than the faculty response rate of 45% or staff response rate of 41% in their fall survey)​

Analysis process: ​

• Dave identified “themes” within the responses; organized the themes based on their relationship to each other and; observed how frequently themes occur​

• I read all the responses, plus Dave’s report, and put together this presentation. 

Undergraduate Students

• Many, many themes were raised – more than 150 unique themes were mentioned by more than one person​

• More than 80 themes were mentioned by at least five people (2% of respondents)​​

• There are few themes mentioned by a sizable minority of respondents and no theme expressed by a majority.​​

• Net Promoter Score (NPS) questions show how likely respondents were to recommend Bryn Mawr College to a high school senior. NPS = 25.1 (Favorable) ​

• From the fall survey, Faculty NPS = 14.7 (Moderately good); staff NPS = 27.1 (Favorable) 

Graduate Students

• More than 70 unique themes were mentioned by more than one person (2% of respondents)​​

• 40 unique themes were mentioned at least 4 graduate students (5% of respondents)​​

• There are few themes mentioned by a sizable minority of respondents and no theme expressed by a majority.​​

• Net Promoter Score (NPS) questions show how likely respondents were to recommend Bryn Mawr College to a high school senior. NPS = 29.2 (Favorable) 

1. Student Support Services is the most frequently mentioned collection of themes with just short of half of the students mentioning something related. Most of the responses are positive with many suggestions for improvement and a few bad experiences.​​

2. Dining – Food was mentioned by almost half of respondents. Many of the responses in this grouping were either negative or suggesting ways to improve dining on campus.​​

3. Other important themes included Student Spaces, Academics, Campus Community, Housing & Residential Experiences, Traditions & Honor Code, and DEIA.

• Wellness: 1 in 6 students (16%) mentioned wellness support services with responses split between improvement suggestions (8%), positive feedback (7%), and a few negative experiences (2%)​​

• Clubs and SGA Funding (15%): Concern about Club and SGA funding was expressed by 15% of student respondents, many of whom framed it as a particular problem this academic year.​​

• Career Counseling (9%) and Academic Advising/Deans (8%): were mentioned by at least 5% of students, with mostly positive responses or offering suggestions for improvements.

Data from the Survey

• “it would be great if there would be some way to schedule health center appointments online”​​

• “I love the amount of accessibility to free therapy, medical services”​​

• “As you probably know, the SGA club budget was cut significantly this semester. I hope that in future semesters we could have more money especially for AMOs.”​​

• “More funding for student-run clubs from non-SGA funds”​​

• “[Continue] career and civic engagement (!!) so awesome there”​​

• “[Start] More deans and more opportunities to connect with the deans”​

• More Menu Options (18%): More menu options were mentioned frequently. This included more variety in general, vegan/vegetarian options, food for those with dietary restrictions (religious and allergy), and fresh food offerings. ​​

• Extended Hours at Dining Halls (14%): Extending dining hours was requested by many respondents. This included evening and weekend hours. ​​

• Meal Plan Flexibility (14%):  Nearly as many students as in the other dining themes want more flexibility with the meal plan. Many expressed a desire to use their dining plan at more locations on campus (UnCommon Grounds) and off campus (local restaurants).

Data from the Survey

• “incorporation of kosher/halal meats in dining menus and overall more nutritious foods.”​​

• “I think the dining halls should have a few more vegetarian/vegan options.”​​

• “Longer dining hall hours in the evening and earlier on weekend mornings”​​

• As someone involved in several activities, I would really like it if they could be open even an hour later.”​​

• “[Start] Uncommon Grounds + Lusty Cup taking meal swipes, campus cash that can be used at places in town”​​

• “It would be a major improvement for the well-being and health of students if we had systems such as dining dollars (whether for Uncommon Grounds and outside/off-campus restaurants).”​

• Additional Study Spaces (10%): A desire for additional study spaces was mentioned by roughly 10% of respondents. Most appreciate the current study spaces but wished for more.​​

• More Dedicated Spaces (10%) : Roughly 1 in 10 respondents requested spaces for a dedicated purpose. The purposes covered a wide range of topics.​​

• Renovation Requests (8%): Some students asked for specific spaces to be renovated. There were no specific spaces or buildings mentioned by more than a handful of students.​

Data from the Survey​

• “More study spaces. The libraries, the Well, and Campus Center fill up FAST.”​​

• “We have a beautiful campus, and it would be great to have more resources put into common spaces!”​​

• “[M]ore student lounges and common spaces”​​

• “[N]ew furniture in the campus center would be nice”​​

• “Bryn Mawr should invest in better furniture in dorms, classrooms, and academic buildings.”​

• Campus Community (23%): Close to a quarter of students commented on the campus community, the vast majority of which were positive. This included praise for the people (11%), the College in general (5%), and Bryn Mawr’s mission (3%)​​

• Traditions & Honor Code (22%): A little over a fifth of students highlighted the Bryn Mawr’s traditions (16%), Honor Code (4%), and Self-Scheduled Exams (4%) in their comments, all in a positive light.

Data from the Survey

• “Traditions are always fun!”​

• “Hell week is amazing and should definitely continue.”​​

• “[Continue] Honor code and take home/self scheduled exams”​​

• “I love the people who work at Bryn Mawr”​​

• “[S]tudents and professors are really caring and friendly.”​​

• “Bryn Mawr is a special place but I feel like sometimes this is not emphasized enough.“​​

• “I'm graduating this spring and I definitely will miss bmc”

• SEPTA (12%): The Jawnt Pass is very popular among many students. One in eight wrote about it often in very positive terms. ​​

• Clearer Communications (12%): A sizeable number of respondents asked for clearer communications covering a wide range of subjects, but there is no consistency across which subjects.​​

• Kitchens (11%): About one in ten of students asked for more access to kitchens on campus, both in terms of number of kitchens and accessibility to the current offerings.

Data from the Survey

• “The free SEPTA has been amazing. As someone who has partnerships because of my major, the free SEPTA has really helped me save a lot of money.”​​

• “I love that we have free access to SEPTA; I don't think I would ever go into Philly otherwise”​​

• “I feel like sometimes I don't know what's happening and I end up missing events that I would have liked to go to.”​​

• “Although the website is somewhat helpful, step by steps on topics such as how to start a club, how to use ErezLife, etc. should be easy to find.”​​

• “KITCHENS the fact that the only place the entire student body is able to cook/bake is the Well is crazy. it doesn't have to be in dorms but more accessible communal kitchens (with actual pots and spoons and stuff in them) would be AMAZING.”

1. Academics is the most frequently mentioned collection of themes with nearly two-thirds of graduate students mentioning something related. The responses were a mix of praise (for faculty) and suggestions for enhancement.​

2. Bryn Mawr Community was mentioned by more than half of respondents. Many of the responses in this grouping praised the supportive environment and campus events but also asked for greater integration of the graduate programs with larger BMC Community.​​

3. Pay, Financial Aid, and Benefits were mentioned by nearly a third of graduate students with most saying they want improved aid or pay for work.

• Faculty (24%): Nearly a quarter of graduate students praised the faculty in their disciplines, either as a group or by specifically naming individual faculty members for excellence. ​​

• Advising & Mentoring (21%): One in five graduate students expressed the need for more advising and mentoring.​​

• More Classes (11%): A little over ten percent cited frustration over a limited diversity of course opportunities or scheduled times of courses.

Data from the Survey

• "I've been impressed with all of the professors I've had so far at the GSSWSR."​​

• "I feel honored to be taught by such amazing professors."​

• "Grad students are kept in the dark about what graduates go on to do."​​

• "[M]ore resources to support mentorship are desperately needed."​​

• "More elective class options and more weekend / evening classes."

• Events & Community Building (33%): A third of all graduate student respondents praised the College's events and community building opportunities with some asking for more specifically geared towards graduate students. ​​

• Supportive Environment (19%): Nearly one in five wrote that they appreciate the supportive environment within the College and their departments. ​​

• Staff and Administrative Support (18%):  A sizable number of students also expressed gratitude for the support staff with a few asking for more.​​

• Greater Integration with the Rest of the College (15%):  One in seven graduate students asked for greater integration of the graduate programs with the rest of Bryn Mawr

Data from the Survey

• “We love all the wonderful events and school traditions that take place here at bryn mawr! These make it such a special place to get my doctorate."​​

• "Sponsored events like mixers or field trips would be great opportunities for graduate students to bond with their peers in a non classroom setting"​​

• "Bryn Mawr (at least what I see at the GSSWSR) is doing an amazing job of creating a supportive learning environment"​​

• "[T]he support from the college itself, such as Dean May's support, has made all the difference."​​

• "The GSSWSR students are somewhat isolated from the rest of the students and campus. more integration to create a larger sense of community would be helpful."

• Financial Aid (24%): Nearly a quarter of graduate students said they need better financial aid and/or pay, often citing it falls below their expenses or that which is provided at comparable institutions.​​

• Septa (11%) : One in ten graduate students praised the Jawnt program.

Data from the Survey

• "I know the college has made strides, but BMC grad stipends are still below other schools in the area (Penn $36k, Princeton $50k) and a higher stipend would not only help attract more applicants, but more importantly help the students already here afford rent, food, books, and travel/conferences."​

• "More funding and financial support for graduate students is always welcome, especially for those attending conferences or exhibitions as participants rather than presenters."​​

• "I love the septa program, it's been very helpful in allowing me to travel into Philly especially to go to all the museums around the city. I hope it continues next year since I'm planning to take classes at Penn in the future"

• Highlight positives in the academic and community parts of their experiences​

• Are grateful for their Septa passes​​

• See areas for practical improvement (i.e. food, shared spaces, pay and benefits)​​

• See ways the community could be more integrated and stronger (by integrating graduate students more and having more resources for clubs and events)​

• There is consistency in the intertwined centrality of academic and community experiences​​

• Student experiences are central to all​​

• Faculty and staff emphasize silos more than students and all seem to value events for the whole community​​

• Faculty, staff and graduate students have more to say about pay, benefits, and professional support (not surprisingly)​​

• Suggestions about physical and operational infrastructures are made by all groups​

• Short, high-level reports and this slide deck are (or will be) available on the president’s website alongside the graphic facilitation being done as I speak.​​

• Second draft reflections on my first year will be offered in early September in the Great Hall. This presentation will be a rough draft of a strategic plan / the next chapter and will directly reflect themes in both start/stop/continue surveys​

• Many things are or will soon be in process: student space project, faculty and staff compensation study, comprehensive campus master plan, initial dining study, strategic thinking about the graduate student experience, etc. ​​

• Will share themes with unit leaders for their review and thought.​

• To all of you for being here​​

• To the students for completing the survey​​

• To Dave Consiglio for data analysis and our fabulous dining staff for helping with response rates​​

• To Rachel Kunz for helping with these slides​​

• To the President's Office and the entire Bryn Mawr community for supporting one another (and me!) this year.