The effectiveness of student services perceived by students attending a multi-institutional teaching center as compared with students attending a main campus

Purpose. The purpose of my case study was to examine and compare the perceptions of undergraduate and graduate students of a selected state university in Texas attending the Multi Institutional Teaching Center (MITC)/The University Center (TUC) or the main campus regarding the effectiveness of student services. As universities face limited resources and fierce competition, administrators are forced to respond to the changing environment by expanding their campus borders. As they expand, these institutions of higher education are expected to sustain their effectiveness in providing student services to survive the threats. This reality made my study significant and timely. The study examined five research questions which compared the perceptions of students attending the MITC/TUC to the perceptions of students on the main campus. The student services under study were admissions, advising, financial aid, and registration. The two underlying theories for my study included the consumer perception theory (CPT) and the theory of formal organization regarding effectiveness.; Methods. A survey was used to collect a mix of quantitative and qualitative data from a total of 117 classes generating 1,561 participants through purposive sampling. Data analysis consisted of both quantitative and qualitative processes.; Findings. Quantitative data results indicated that of the four student services which included admissions, advising, financial aid, and registration, there was no statistically significant difference between the perceptions of the two groups of students attending the two campuses of the selected state university in Texas. On the other hand, the qualitative data results indicated that financial aid services appeared to be the only student service which was not effective based on the perceptions of students attending the selected state university in Texas at the main campus.; The methodology, findings, and implications of my study can help to increase the knowledge of campus administrators and can assist them in making data-driven decisions where institutions of higher education look to expand their borders beyond their campuses.; Key words: Admissions, Advising, Effectiveness, Financial Aid, Multi Institutional Teaching Centers, Registration, Student/Customer, Student Perceptions, Student Services, The University Center...