AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENT SATISFACTION WITH EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AT UNIVERSITAS TERBUKA: A STUDY ON DISTANCELEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES AT UPBJJ UT MAKASSAR

Abstract

Learning assistance is of utmost importance to distance-education systems in higher education institutions. At
Universitas Terbuka, learning assistance schemes are provided by Learning Assistance Center at the head office of
Universitas Terbuka and are further administered by the sub-units of learning assistance at UPBJJ (Distance Learning
Program Unit, which serves as Universitas Terbuka’s unit on regional levels). One of the core functions of the subunits is to provide distance-learning support compulsory for new students. The compulsory support includes NewStudent Orientation, Distance-Learning Training, Assignment Workshop, and Exam Clinic. The present study delves
into student satisfaction with the learning support particularly Distance-Learning Training, Assignment Workshop
and Exam Clinic. The study is designed in an ex post facto research with a descriptive quantitative approach. Data is
collected using a modified Likert-scale questionnaire. The assessment of student satisfaction looks into the
instructors, the lesson materials, and the facilitators. Respondents comprise the entire students who attend DistanceLearning Support Service across the regions within which UPBJJ UT Makassar holds administration. Data collection
is carried out in the last session of each of the learning support programs and is distributed both online and offline. In
average, the results of descriptive statistical analysis on student satisfaction with the learning support programs based
on the three aspects of assessment are greater than 3,5, culminating to a very good category. This current finding
indicates that UPBJJ UT Makassar has thrived a successful distance-learning trajectory in terms of its learning support
schemes. In the long run, the study suggests that UPBJJ UT Makassar ensures appropriate control and evaluation to
maintain and improve its benchmarks of quality and excellence in distance-education landscapes.