November 2025 Community Survey Results

Thanks to all members of the campus community who replied to our November 2025 Community Survey.  Your input helps us to understand what our campus community is thinking about issues, programs and services, the environment and need for some changes.  We analyze the results from many different perspectives and we discuss changes in our Senior Executive Staff weekly meetings.  Our Campus Conversations also address different issues raised in these surveys.

Below is a high-level overview of key issues from the November 2025 survey.  This synopsis focuses on the questions concerning campus services.  We are continuing the analysis and will provide more details by updating this blog in the next week, and the update will include some of the questions not listed below.

Q2  In general, in terms of my classes or work at Trinity, I feel the Fall 2025 semester has gone (pick one:  better than expected, about the same as expected, worse than expected)

We have asked this question in every survey for the last five years.  The chart below shows the November 2025 replies (full color) for students, faculty and staff, with columns (faded color) comparing Fall 2024 and Fall 2023.  In Fall 2025, 19% of students reported “worse than expected” which is a significant variance from prior years.  Many comments noted the harsh effect of the political situation, government shutdown and immigration crisis.

Select comments associated with this question:

Student:  “As an incoming transfer student and my first time attending a University, I expected the environment to be overwhelming and stuffy. I am thankful is wasn’t. The environment is calm
and friendly, and I feel supported. I am finishing off this year better than I have at any other
institution. My grades are better than high school and while I always knew I was capable,
Trinity Washington University reignited the light in me that had dimmed.”

Student: “Stress about the state of the world and scared to even leave campus because of ICE. This has affected my concentration and focus on classes and assignments.”

Faculty:  “I expected a certain level of stress and uncertainty given all that’s going on in the
government/country/etc. I’m finding that students and faculty, while experiencing the impact of
such stress, are incredibly resilient and willing to buckle down and do what needs to be done
during the semester. I’m still feeling a bit more tired and burnt out than other semesters.”

Staff:  “The effects of the current political climate and the ongoing uncertainty and strife in DC are particularly impactful this semester, compounded by the shutdown and the loss of benefits
(SNAP, etc.) for many. Regular operations and engagement are taking a toll, almost like a sort
of battle fatigue. It’s clear we’re all trying to remain strong and do what we need to do while
providing flexibility and empathy to each other and ourselves, but it feels tough.”

Student:  “I wanted to express some concern about the turnaround time for both email responses and assignment feedback. I completely understand that schedules can get very busy; however, the
delays have made it challenging to stay on top of upcoming tasks and make timely
improvements based on prior feedback. Timely communication and grading are essential for
maintaining academic progress, and I would really appreciate more consistency or clarity about
expected response times and grading timelines moving forward.”

Faculty:  “Hearing about the treatment of individuals and about families affected by ICE breaks my heart. I am scared for my students and former students. In the classroom, I feel like I am
encountering and am unprepared for students who do not have the mathematical and writing
skill background that I would expect. Also in the classroom, students produce answers for
homework but appear not to be able to execute them on exams or during in person discussion.
I strongly suspect AI is being used in a not-helpful way by a large number of students. Student
attendance is low. Student tardiness is off-the-charts high.”

Student: “I have tried to change some aspects of my life and sharing my thoughts with the faculty and received assistance and support from them have been a highlight in my present life.”

Staff:  “The chaos in the world around us continues and students, faculty and staff continue to feel it.”

Faculty: “Many students are having difficulty meeting the challenges of life, especially in the current political climate. Also, many of experiencing mental health issues.”

Staff:  “I just started working at Trinity on September 2….BEST decision I have made in a long time. The work environment has been one of the most welcoming I have experienced (that includes working in and with several area schools, colleges, and universities) and I love the campus life. Coming most recently from a (rural) community college, it’s so nice to see so many students on campus. I feel like, based on physical presence alone, I have been better able to create a rapport with my advisees, colleagues, and supervisors.”

Faculty:  “As a new adjunct faculty member, I have appreciated the help and support I have received to be successful.”

Faculty:  “This was a stressful time in the country and I feel the university has done a great deal to abate the fears of the student body.”

Student:  “I wanted to express some concerns I’ve been experiencing this semester. Many of my professors have been very delayed in grading assignments.”

Faculty:  “I am thoroughly enjoying being a part of the Trinity community! I feel well supported by my department and that I have agency and trust to choose supplemental texts that will enhance
the curriculum. I am also incredibly honored to be a part of an institution that doesn’t just have
social justice written in their mission but also lives this as a living breathing part of the
curriculum. I love being able to support students who deal with injustice especially at this time
in our country’s history and to make direct ties between what we learn in class and their
individual empowerment as young women.”

Q6: Please rate your experience with the quality of these campus services:

We are in the process of comparing these results to those on surveys from the last two years, and also by cohort group (students, faculty and staff).  We will have more of that detailed analysis next week.

Below is a snapshot of the “top ten” services that received ratings of 50% or higher

Q7: If you have reached out for help or advice from staff or faculty, how responsive were they to your request? Please rate your experiences with responsiveness by departments listed below:

Q8: What do you recommend to improve your experience at Trinity?

Student comments:

• If the shuttle ran more often and in better alignment with Trinity Schedules. Every 30 mins is along time. The interactive map should also be updated to show real time locations.
• More parking space, better food options, vending machines with different options, not just the same energy drinks but healthier juices and snacks, especially since we’re all women, our health is important. And add more items to the deli menu since we do not have restaurants on campus.
• Improve responsiveness of staff.  Current issue: Calls often go unanswered or returned slowly,creating frustration and confusion for students and families. Recommendation: Ensure that phone calls and emails are answered promptly. This could include setting up a system where staff acknowledge receipt of calls or messages within 24 hours and provide a timeline for a full response. Impact: Students and families feel heard, supported, and confident that their concerns are being addressed efficiently.  2. Clear communication about financial aid. Current issue: Financial aid changes can be confusing and not fully explained, leaving students uncertain about tuition obligations, payment plans, or eligibility. Recommendation: When financial aid awards change, provide a clear breakdown of the differences—showing exactly how grants, scholarships, loans, and other components have been adjusted. Ideally, offer one-on-one consultations or written explanations for clarity. • Impact: Students understand their financial responsibilities, reducing stress and the likelihood of missed payments or surprises.
• I would say more study and relax spaces for in between classes and to study with a group.The library is cool to a certain extent but seating isn’t always accommodating or comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. But I think that more study/ relax spaces and rooms would be a good addition to Trinity for everyone and even commuters who don’t have vehicles to go to in between classes.
• More access to on campus food / coffee for graduate students
• More career and internship exploration
• I would say if there’s a workshop or an event happening I would recommend post about it a week in advance, so students and staff too if they would like to be part of it they can plan ahead and schedule.
• I would suggest that Trinity gets reports from students into considerations. Many complaints have been made known regarding the Dining services, and what happened? Nothing. Nothing changed at all. And all the money that we pay goes to waste because we end up buying food outside, paying extra.

Faculty comments:

• It is hard to see students demanding so much of themselves — home life, full time work, full time course load. Ultimately it is their decision. But somewhere they need to understand that there just isn’t enough time in the day to do well and learn. The demands also take away joy in learning and the spirit of academic honesty — doing assignments to learn instead of getting them done quickly.
• Let’s find a way to employ more of our students on campus in meaningful work that lessens their need to travel around the DC area to earn extra money AND provides them responsible and stable work mentorship.
• Better access to mental health services for students.
•  Overall, I enjoy my time and space at Trinity. I think some more efficient and streamlined processes for things would be beneficial, such as Business Office processes and procedures. Sometimes it does not feel as though things are put in place with all stakeholders in mind or even at the table to lend insight. Additionally, I do believe our professional advisors are working tirelessly to make sure students are on track, but I think the current model maybe causing more exhaustion for staff, students and faculty. It may be worth investigating models that give students agency, voice and accountability when it comes to their academic plans.

Staff comments:

• Additional resources to support English proficiency. Closer attention paid to students at Admissions level to identify what resources and supports they may need and whether Trinity has it to offer as they look to start their journey here.
• More campus life and community events. Winter dance and Spring social for faculty and staff as well as a separate one for the students. Allow the opportunity for the community to dress up, have a catered meal and enjoy music/dance.
• It may be nice to have the counselors hold weekly decompression sessions to discuss what they are seeing and experiencing navigating these trying times.
• Software/Technology for Degree Plans compilation/audit instead of the manual method currently used which is labor intensive, prone to human error, causes delays in responsiveness to students and occupies staff’s time in data entry type of work instead of academic advisors utilizing their time to connect with students.

Notes from President McGuire:  responding to several of the issues listed above:

Dining Complaints:  We are launching a complete renovation of Alumnae Hall, the main dining hall, and this will entail a number of initiatives about food and dining services.  The renovation will also provide new lounge spaces for all students in Alumnae Hall.  I will be communicating more about this in our Campus Conversations and upcoming blogs.

Parking:  We are always assessing campus traffic and parking volumes.  We cannot promise spaces next to buildings.  Note that we do not charge for parking, unlike most area universities where the distance from parking lots to buildings is often very far.  We do have the campus shuttle looping the campus so that anyone who wants to catch a ride from a parking lot (Cuvilly) to class can do so.

Campus Shuttle:  We spend $275,000 on the shuttle service annually.  Adding a second shuttle would be cost prohibitive.  We assess the ridership volumes and wait times and make adjustments when necessary.  We will look into the accuracy of the online tracker system.  We will also include specific questions about the shuttle and parking and other transportation issues in our next survey.

Metro Passes:  Some comments also note the Metro passes that other universities give their students.  These passes are not “free” at all.  The program requires the universities to subsidize the program, and most impose a fee on ALL students so that some students (those who ride Metro) can enjoy the benefit.  We investigated the program and concluded that it is not fair to those who do not ride Metro to impose a fee on everyone.

Response Times for Email and Phone Calls:  We expect all staff and faculty to be responsive to student requests in a timely way, and certainly within 24 hours of an inquiry.  Please let President McGuire or Provost Ocampo know if you have a specific issue about an inquiry not getting a timely answer.

We asked some other questions about how current issues affect members of the Trinity community.  The image below depicts the impact of the presence of military personnel and ICE activity in Washington:

We called out CAS student responses on the question above since we have a large cohort of Dreamer Scholars in CAS, and as the answers reflect, CAS students have higher levels of concern as a result.  Yet, it is also important to note that among all responses (students, faculty, staff in all units), 48% overall expressed concern about being stopped and detained even if they are American citizens.  45% expressed concern that family members might be stopped and detained.  We cannot underestimate the amount of stress that everyone is feeling in the current situation.