Clare's vision for its eighth century

Questionnaire results

Q1. Values

Respondents were asked to select up to 3 values that they thought should define Clare.

 The most popular responses were:

• Excellence
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Openness and Fairness

 Q2. Current strengths

 Respondents were asked to select up to 3 areas for which Clare is currently known.

 There was a high level of agreement that Clare is currently best known for:

• Music & the Choir
• Its Historic Buildings & Gardens
• A Supportive & Nurturing Environment

Q3. Future priorities

Respondents were asked to select up to 3 areas for which they would like Clare to be known for in the future.

Again, there was a high level of agreement that Clare should be known for:

In summary, respondents wanted Clare to be known in future for:

• Academic Excellence
• A Supportive & Nurturing Environment
• The Student Experience

Q4. Impediments

Respondents were asked what they thought were the major impediments to Clare realising its full potential.

The three most popular responses were:

• Financial Constraints
• Staff Attraction and Retention
• Slow Decision-Making

Q5. Student Body

Respondents were asked, assuming that overall student numbers were maintained at current levels, if Clare should maintain the current balance between undergraduate and graduate students, increase the proportion of undergraduates, or increase the proportion of graduate students.

There was strong and unanimous support for maintaining the current balance.

Q6. Admissions

Respondents were asked which of the following statements they agreed with most:

1.       Clare should continue to admit undergraduates in all subjects taught by the University;

2.       Clare should continue to admit undergraduates in all subjects while developing areas of particular strength;

3.       Clare should develop areas of particular strength and discontinue admissions in certain subjects.

The current position (statement 1) attracted the most support.

Q7. Diversity

Respondents were asked to assess how diverse the College currently is.

Most respondents thought the College was currently somewhat diverse.

Q8. Supervisions

Respondents were asked which of the following statements they agreed with most:

1.       Clare should ensure, wherever possible, that its undergraduates are supervised by Clare Fellows;

2.       Clare should arrange supervisions with the most appropriate supervisor, irrespective of College.

There was strong support for statement 2.

Q9. Life Skills

Respondents were asked which of the following statement they agreed with most:

1.       Clare should provide diverse extra-curricular opportunities but students should take personal responsibility for acquiring leadership and life skills;

2.       Clare should actively encourage students to acquire leadership and life skills, by offering tailored programmes;

3.       Clare should offer the acquisition of leadership and life skills as a core part of the student experience.

There were markedly different views on this question. A large majority of Alumni and Fellows preferred option 1. Staff were broadly split between the three options, with a narrow majority favouring option 3. Students favoured option 2.

This question is being explored further in focus groups.

Q10. Preparation for life after graduation

Respondents were asked how well they thought Clare prepared its students for life after graduation.

(Current students were not asked this question.)

Most believed the College prepares its students ‘moderately well’ for life after graduation, but this perception declined markedly among more recent graduates (those with the most recent experience of entering the labour market). The College is therefore exploring how it can better prepare students for life after graduation.

Q11. Responsibility to society

Respondents were asked to rank the following statements in order of importance:

1. Clare has a responsibility to its own students, staff, Fellows and alumni
2. Clare has a responsibility to society in the local Cambridge area
3. Clare has a responsibility to society nationally
4. Clare has a responsibility to society internationally

There was strongest support for the first statement, with undergraduates and staff also favouring the College showing responsibility to the local Cambridge area while Fellows, alumni and graduate students favoured Clare exercising responsibility at the national level.

Q12. Societal challenges and College leadership

Respondents were asked to rank the following statements in order of importance:

1. Clare should show leadership in environmental sustainability
2. Clare should show leadership in ethical, social and cultural issues
3. Clare should leverage its knowledge, expertise and networks to address societal challenges

There was strongest support for statement 3.

Q13. College and University

Respondents were asked to rank the following statements in order of importance:

1. Clare should prioritise its own interests
2. Clare should be an active participant in the University as a whole
3. Clare should take a leadership role in the University as a whole

There was strongest support for statement 2.

Q14. Communications

Respondents were asked to describe the current level of College communications.

All four constituencies thought that the current level of communications was ‘About right’. Alumni were most satisfied with the current level of communications. Staff were least satisfied. The College has recently appointed a College Communications Manager with an initial focus on improving internal communications.

Q15. More information about…

Respondents were asked which areas they would like Clare to provide more information about in its regular communications.

Fellows chose:
1.       Academic achievements
2.       Access and outreach
3.       Challenges facing the Higher Education sector.

 Staff chose:
1.      Academic achievements
2.       Fellows’ research
3.       Environmental sustainability

Students chose:
1.       Fellows’ research
2.       Student health & wellbeing
3.       Access & outreach

Alumni chose:
1.       Fellows’ research
2.       Academic achievements
3.       Alumni news

While there is some overlap, the responses demonstrate the need for tailored communications to different constituencies.

 Q16. Priorities for expenditure

 Respondents were asked to rank areas of current expenditure in order of priority, given an era of financial pressures.

 The most popular priorities for expenditure were:

1.       Bursaries and hardship
2.       Increasing the pay of the lowest paid staff
3.       The supervision system