LECNA Research
About LECNA Research
Over the last seven years, LECNA has completed several major research initiatives on behalf of our member colleges. Together, these have provided us with data that demonstrates the exceptional value our schools provide to their students and alumni.
The summaries below are intended to provide relevant data for students and parents as they progress through the college search process. It is also designed for our member institutions to use as they develop their own institution-specific communications. We believe they make a compelling case for the strength of Lutheran higher education.
LECNA was the first college consortium to conduct comparative alumni research of this type. The findings were so compelling that many others (Council of Independent Colleges, Great Lakes Private Colleges Association, Annapolis Group, National Catholic College Admissions Association, to name a few) engaged in similar research.
- Parent College Satisfaction Study
- Comparative Alumni Study, Decade Comparison
- Parents as Influencers
- Comparative Alumni Study, Lutheran Students
- Comparative Alumni Study, Overall
- What to Look for in Planning for College
- Church Connections
- Supporting Resources
- Research Archive
PARENT COLLEGE SATISFACTION STUDY
In October of 2006, 384 parents participated in a 10-minute telephone survey on topics regarding their satisfaction with their child’s college experience. Parent participant names were obtained from LECNA colleges and were divided into two groups:
- 236 parents of sophomores currently enrolled at LECNA colleges (ELCA and LCMS colleges represented)
- 148 parents of sophomores who were admitted to LECNA colleges, but enrolled instead at a public university (ELCA and LCMS colleges represented)
COMPARATIVE ALUMNI STUDY, DECADE COMPARISON
Decade Comparison: 1990s Graduates to Earlier Graduates
This presentation highlights differences between all graduates (Lutheran and non-Lutheran) of Lutheran colleges and Flagship public universities with significant differences noted between the decades.
This research demonstrates that there is significant progress being made at Lutheran colleges in terms of student experiences. While the charts also highlight progress at Flagship publics relative to Lutheran colleges, the statistical differences tested are between decades (not the type of institution).
PARENTS AS INFLUENCERS
Parents as Influencers in the Faith-based College Search Process. This is a presentation given at the National Association for Admission Counseling (NACAC) meeting in October of 2006 with the Catholic College Admission Association (CCAA).
The 44-slide presentation details the research into the faith-based college search process, what matters to parents and the comparative advantage alumni study. The presentation is 1.4 MB in file size.
COMPARATIVE ALUMNI STUDY, LUTHERAN STUDENTS
Lutheran Student Comparison:
Lutheran Students at Lutheran colleges and Flagship Publics
This presentation highlights differences between Lutheran students who graduated from Lutheran colleges and Lutheran students who graduated from Flagship public universities.
This research demonstrates that there are compelling differences in the Lutheran student experience at Lutheran colleges and Flagship public universities.
COMPARATIVE ALUMNI STUDY, OVERALL
Overall Comparison: Lutheran Colleges to Flagship Publics
This presentation highlights differences between all graduates (Lutheran and non-Lutheran) of Lutheran colleges and Flagship public universities with significant differences noted between the type of institution.
This research demonstrates that there are significant differences between the student experiences at Lutheran colleges and Flagship public universities. While the charts also highlight progress between decades, the statistical differences tested are between type of institution (not decades).
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN PLANNING FOR COLLEGE
An annotated PowerPoint presentation including comments by experts on higher education and employment, and the results of our extensive survey research.
Planning for College is designed to be shown using a personal or laptop computer attached to a small projector. You can also print out the slides, duplicate them as overheads, and use an overhead projector. It takes about half an hour to present, and each slide is completely annotated – all you have to do is read the notes. The presentation describes,
- What our research shows about what Lutheran parents want their children to get out of college
- What education experts say is important
- What employers look for in job candidates
- How the experiences of Lutheran college alumni compare to other college graduates’ experiences
- What financial aid packages look like
- When and how to visit colleges
CHURCH CONNECTIONS
This annotated PowerPoint presentation is intended for use with Lutheran clergy, youth directors and other church leaders. It uses the RLS research findings to persuade church leaders to help us in our efforts to "Reclaim Lutheran Students."
