The Record sent its twice-annual survey to 500 randomly selected unixes last week to gauge whether students approve, disapprove, or feel neutral about College policies and institutions.

While approval ratings for the College and the faculty were similar to last spring’s, other figures fluctuated. Although approval for Campus Safety Services (CSS) (36 percent) remained consistent with last semester’s figure (30 percent), disapproval increased from 25 percent to 36 percent. Compared to the approval ratings survey from the spring 2021 semester, approval for Dining Services decreased from 56 percent to 35 percent, and approval of the dean’s office dropped from 40 percent to 29 percent. These findings are in line with concerns raised by students this semester; the Record has reported student frustration with CSS presence in dorms and long lines — especially early in the semester — at dining halls. Notably, only 13 percent of students said they disapproved of President Maud S. Mandel, a stark decrease from the 45 percent who disapproved of her in the spring.

Of the survey’s 150 respondents — a 30 percent response rate, with an 8 percent margin of error — slightly more than one third of the survey’s respondents were first-years, with sophomores, juniors, and seniors’ survey response rates clocking in at 23 percent, 15 percent, and 27 percent, respectively. Responses from students graduating in December 2022 were included in seniors’ responses, as were students graduating in December 2021. Students graduating in December 2023 and December 2024 were considered juniors and sophomores, respectively. 

Around 63 percent of respondents were white and 37 percent were students of color, meaning that white students are slightly overrepresented in the sample compared to the student population at large. The number of respondents who identified as men was not significantly different from the number who identified as women. Half of respondents said they receive financial aid, in line with the overall population of students at the College. 

Approval of the College was roughly the same as last spring, at 69 percent. Approval of the faculty decreased slightly, from 85 percent to 79 percent. 

But several institutions saw increases in disapproval. Disapproval of Dining Services jumped to 39 percent from 17 percent. Integrative Wellbeing Services and the Health Center each showed 18-point increases in disapproval, rising from 20 percent to 38 percent and from 17 percent to 35 percent, respectively.

Other significant changes compared to last semester included a 13-point decrease in approval of the Registrar’s Office (from 41 percent to 28 percent) and a 10-point decrease in approval of the Office of Financial Aid (from 46 percent to 36 percent). The survey also indicated a 9-point increase in approval of the Three Pillars — the Williams Student Union (WSU), Facilitators for Allocating Student Taxes (FAST), and The Advisory Board for Lobbying and Elections (TABLE) — from 18 percent to 27 percent.

The survey also asked questions about the College’s COVID-19 policies and initiatives this semester. Like last semester, about two thirds of respondents approved of the College’s overall COVID response this semester; 9 percent expressed disapproval. Sixty percent of respondents approved of the College’s public health guidelines and their implementation this semester, up from 52 percent last spring.

Out of the possible ratings “too strict,” “just right,” and “not strict enough,” the College’s COVID policies this semester received a rating of “just right” by 65 percent of respondents; 29 percent said they are too strict, and 5 percent said they are not strict enough. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said that they think the College should require a booster vaccine for the spring semester, with 15 percent disagreeing with a booster shot mandate and 16 percent saying they are unsure.

The following items were also surveyed:

• The entry system: 45 percent approval, 7 percent disapproval, 48 percent neutral;
• The ’68 Career Center for Career Exploration: 32 percent approval, 12 percent disapproval, 56 percent neutral;
• The athletics department: 35 percent approval, 16 percent disapproval, 49 percent neutral;
• The Office of Campus Life: 36 percent approval, 10 percent disapproval, 54 percent neutral;
• The Williams Record: 62 percent approval, 10 percent disapproval, 28 percent neutral;
• The Davis Center: 41 percent approval, 5 percent disapproval, 54 percent neutral;
• The Center for Academic Resources: 31 percent approval, 3 percent disapproval, 65 percent neutral.

Nigel Jaffe contributed reporting.