Faculty members at TCU said relationships between students and professors remain the university’s strongest asset, according to data discussed during a recent Faculty Senate meeting, where survey results showed the highest satisfaction in those connections.

Faculty Senate presents student survey competency results. (TCU 360/Sophia Scialabba)

These skills were developed through professors providing discussion-based courses and mentorship. The survey recorded a response rate of more than 80%.

“Students are incredibly happy,” said Angela D. Taylor, the founding director of the student affairs office of student life analytics. “Their feedback is overwhelmingly positive.”

The emphasis on connection aligns with the university’s smaller class structure.

According to TCU’s information page, the university maintains a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average undergraduate class size of 27 students. This structure helps support personalized learning.

Abriana Terrell, a social work adjunct professor at TCU, said building relationships with students is central to her role.

“I love both my job and my students,” Terrell said. “They are always welcome to come talk to me, and I try to create a space where they feel comfortable speaking their minds.”

Layne Spiekerman, a senior kinesiology movement science major, said he feels comfortable communicating with his chemistry professor, Heidi Conrad, even about personal concerns.

“The reason I picked TCU was because of the smaller class sizes, where I wasn’t just a number but an actual person,” Spiekerman said.

At larger universities, that level of interaction can be harder to maintain. San Diego State University’s overview page reported an undergraduate enrollment of 34,637 students as of fall 2024.

Faculty Senate presents student survey data. (TCU 360/Sophia Scialabba)

“Unless I make a really intentional effort to go to office hours or talk to the professor after class, they usually won’t know who I am for the entire semester,” said Bella Catullo, a junior double majoring in criminal justice and neuroscience at SDSU. “I wish I ended up transferring to a smaller school because I value close relationships with not only my peers, but also faculty members to contribute to my success in class.”

TCU faculty members said maintaining personal connection remains essential as the university continues evaluating how students develop the skills needed beyond graduation.

This priority, they say, is what distinguishes the campus experience.