A Communication Audit among Daystar University Students

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to perform a communications audit among the students of Daystar University. The audit was to determine the effectiveness of current comunications networks, the students' knowledge of the institution and their attitudes towards it so that such knowledge would form the basis for recommendations in developing and maintaining effective communication with stu- dents. The approach of the study was a multi-stage descriptive survey to explore. 1. How students get their information about Daystar and its goals, programs and its activities. 2. The quality and accuracy of that information. 3. Their opinion and attitudes about the organization. 4. Their suggestions for improvements in communication in Daystar. To carry out the communication audit, the researcher gathered data in two phases: Phase 1-the researcher distributed self-administered questionnaires to as many students as possible. Phase II-once the results of the survey had been tallied and analyzed for major trends, issues and concerns, interviews were scheduled with a random selection of respondents to corroborate, explain and amplify survey results. The results of the study revealed that the students felt that Daystar had many positive features including: Daystar being a Christian university, the cultural mix, the stability of the university (lack of riots), good interpersonal relationships among students. The areas that need improving include: poor communication with the administration, upward communication, downward communication, knowledge of Daystar and its programmes, the media in the college, the physical environment and satisfaction as students in the university.