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The 2014 OUSA Student Satisfaction Survey has revealed the general sentiment towards OUSA and the services they offer, as well as the general student impression regarding the importance and use of those services. With 1,271 student responses, the survey shows that OUSA continues to please students with 81 per cent of students either satisfied or very satisfied with OUSA.

Of the services OUSA offers, Events was the highest-rated service. Critic ranked second in the satisfaction stakes, with Student Job Search and the OUSA Recreation Centre only a tiny margin behind. The Student Support Centre and Campaigns by the Executive ranked behind them. All services experienced increases in satisfaction compared with 2013, bar Critic, which experienced no change. Radio One experienced the greatest increase in satisfaction compared to 2013’s results.

The increased use of OUSA’s Student Support Service may be explained through students getting better support, or alternatively may reflect a worsening situation for students, something that OUSA keeps a close eye on. Critic’s use reduced, although it still ranked second overall among services used. Critic responded to feedback suggesting there be fewer issues, saying, “we will put you in the ring with our defenders,” referring to equal numbers of similar comments asking for more. The increased use of Student Job Search may reflect the on-going struggle to find jobs, while the increased use of the Executive’s campaigns could reflect better alignment with broad student concerns. Radio One usage saw them rank fourth among the services, with Radio One rationalising to their opponents that they occupy a “unique space” within the media.

A growing importance for Radio One, Student Support and Events was also recorded. The importance of the OUSA Recreation Centre, Student Job Search, Critic and Campaigns by the Executive decreased slightly compared with last year’s results. Some feedback suggested Critic should have less sarcastic comments about student behaviour, and fewer misrepresentations of Otago culture as lad culture. Critic responded by encouraging students “to give Critic another try,” saying “[perpetuating and encouraging old cultural myths] is an area we have self-consciously avoided this year.” Radio One said it “will look to proactively promote other service areas through its broadcast to breed awareness of what the OUSA has to offer to its members.”

Looking at the variation between sub-populations, there wasn’t a great degree of change between 2013 and 2014. However, there was an increase in the satisfaction of second year students, perhaps due to the Hyde Street Party, and a reduction in the satisfaction of international students, which is harder to diagnose.