About 75 students gathered to discuss the results of the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) survey in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom Wednesday night.
The survey was conducted in the spring of 2009 and asked all UF undergraduate students about their campus experiences at the university.
The survey was distributed at six universities across the country, and UF ranked first in social experience and value of education, according to the Office of Institutional Planning and Research Web site.
Participants talked about results and about their classroom and academic experiences.
About two-thirds of UF undergraduates said they were satisfied or very satisfied with instruction.
UF junior Ismail ibn Ali said he noticed a decrease in his class sizes from his freshman to junior year.
He said the quality of education gets better as class sizes get smaller and believes the smaller class sizes contribute to student satisfaction with the quality of their professors.
Students also talked about the impact of socioeconomic status on student academic experiences.
The survey showed 82 percent of those who considered themselves of higher socio-economic status feel respected, compared to 37 percent of the lower socio-economic status.
The groups discussed how the way students dress could affect people’s perceptions of them.
Anthony Crenshaw, assistant director of multicultural and diversity affairs, said the event went well.
“It’s good for people to be able to hear experiences from different students,” Crenshaw said.
