North Carolina State University
Fall 1998 Survey of Baccalaureate Alumni:
Year Graduated Comparisons
(Undergraduate Educational Goal Assessment)

 

This document reports survey data on differences by graduation year in the responses of alumni to questions regarding Undergraduate Educational Goals. Survey results for all respondents are provided in Fall 1998 Survey of Baccalaureate Alumni: All Respondents. For information about the survey and analysis methods see Fall 1998 Survey of Baccalaureate Alumni and Employer Surveys: Introduction, Methods, and Student Demographic Profile.

You can use the index below to link to web tables of department comparisons by topic, or directly download an excel file of results by year graduated for all survey items.

Importance and Satisfaction with Fulfillment of Undergraduate Educational Goals

Mean Comparisons Only

Means and Accompanying Frequencies

Mean Comparisons Only

Importance

Goal

Importance Mean Rating
[5: "very important", 4: "important", 3: "mod. important",
2: "of limited imp.", 1: "not important"]

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Imp. Preparing for Career

4.72

4.69

4.73

4.72

Imp. Viewing Learning as Lifelong

4.53

4.48

4.55

4.56

Imp. Understanding own Abilities/Interests

4.49

4.46

4.50

4.51

Imp. Ability to Analyze Events/Information/Ideas

4.46

4.42

4.50

4.47

Imp. Recognizing and Acting on Ethical Principles

4.38

4.35

4.39

4.41

Imp. Having Tolerance for Different Views

4.34

4.28

4.37

4.39

Imp. Ability to Understand Current Literature

4.26

4.24

4.24

4.29

Imp. Acquiring a Broad General Education

4.20

4.15

4.23

4.21

Imp. Valuing Gender Equity

4.04

3.95

4.05

4.13

Imp. Valuing Racial Equity

4.02

3.95

4.03

4.10

Imp. Developing Commitment to Personal Health

3.96

3.94

3.94

4.01

Imp. Understanding how Science and Technology Influence Life

3.91

3.83

3.91

4.01

Imp. Understanding Issues Facing World

3.90

3.83

3.90

3.98

Imp. Awareness of New Scientific Knowledge and Discoveries.

3.82

3.76

3.80

3.90

Imp. Being Involved in Community Affairs

3.64

3.60

3.65

3.69

Imp. Understanding Present as it Relates to the Past

3.60

3.56

3.60

3.65

Imp. Advancing Appreciation of Arts/Music/Literature

3.44

3.35

3.44

3.52

Survey items (exact wording)
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Satifaction

Goal

Satisfaction Mean Rating
[5: "very satisfied", 4: "somewhat satisf.",
3: "neither S nor D", 2: "somewhat dissat.", 1: "very dissatisf."]

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Sat. Acquiring a Broad General Education

4.29

4.30

4.29

4.29

Sat. Ability to Analyze Events/Information/Ideas

4.19

4.14

4.23

4.21

Sat. Viewing Learning as Lifelong

4.13

4.09

4.17

4.15

Sat. Having Tolerance for Different Views

4.04

4.03

4.07

4.01

Sat. Ability to Understand Current Literature

3.99

3.97

4.00

4.01

Sat. Understanding how Science and Technology Influence Life

3.96

3.92

3.98

3.97

Sat. Recognizing and Acting on Ethical Principles

3.95

3.93

3.96

3.98

Sat. Developing Commitment to Personal Health

3.92

3.90

3.96

3.91

Sat. Preparing for Career

3.86

3.87

3.87

3.84

Sat. Understanding own Abilities/Interests

3.85

3.84

3.85

3.86

Sat. Valuing Gender Equity

3.81

3.79

3.83

3.82

Sat. Valuing Racial Equity

3.81

3.79

3.84

3.80

Sat. Awareness of New Scientific Knowledge and Discoveries.

3.79

3.75

3.78

3.84

Sat. Understanding Present as it Relates to the Past

3.67

3.65

3.68

3.67

Sat. Understanding Issues Facing World

3.66

3.61

3.69

3.68

Sat. Advancing Appreciation of Arts/Music/Literature

3.57

3.56

3.62

3.51

Sat. Being Involved in Community Affairs

3.54

3.53

3.58

3.52

Survey items (exact wording)
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Means and Accompanying Frequencies

 Goal Importance and Preparation Satisfaction

Imp. Preparing for Career

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.71

4.69

4.73

4.72

1: Not Important

%

0.1

0.2

.

0.1

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

0.3

0.6

0.1

0.2

3: Mod. Important

%

3.8

3.8

3.8

4.0

4: Important

%

19.5

21.0

18.9

18.6

5: Very Important

%

76.2

74.5

77.2

77.1

Survey item qa30 (exact wording)
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Sat. Preparing for Career

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.86

3.87

3.87

3.84

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

5.0

4.1

5.4

5.6

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

11.6

12.1

10.6

12.2

3: Neither S nor D

%

10.1

10.7

10.0

9.7

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

38.8

38.5

39.9

37.7

5: Very Satisfied

%

34.4

34.6

34.1

34.8

Survey item qb30 (exact wording)
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Imp. Viewing Learning as a Lifelong Process

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.53

4.48

4.55

4.56

1: Not Important

%

0.5

0.7

0.1

0.8

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

1.2

1.3

1.2

1.0

3: Mod. Important

%

6.8

7.6

7.0

5.8

4: Important

%

28.0

30.0

27.5

26.3

5: Very Important

%

63.5

60.4

64.2

66.0

Survey item qa27 (exact wording)
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Sat. Viewing Learning as a Lifelong Process

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.13

4.09

4.17

4.15

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

1.3

1.0

1.1

1.7

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

4.1

5.1

3.4

3.8

3: Neither S nor D

%

15.9

17.0

15.8

14.7

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

37.4

37.6

36.9

37.8

5: Very Satisfied

%

41.3

39.3

42.7

41.9

Survey item qb27 (exact wording)
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Imp. Understanding own Abilities/Interests

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.49

4.46

4.50

4.51

1: Not Important

%

0.4

0.4

0.5

0.4

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

1.0

0.8

0.7

1.5

3: Mod. Important

%

7.0

8.1

6.4

6.5

4: Important

%

32.5

34.1

33.1

30.2

5: Very Important

%

59.1

56.7

59.4

61.5

Survey item qa29 (exact wording)
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Sat. Understanding own Abilities/Interests

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.85

3.84

3.85

3.85

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

2.8

2.5

2.9

3.2

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

8.4

8.4

7.8

9.0

3: Neither S nor D

%

17.9

19.1

17.7

16.8

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

43.1

43.1

44.7

41.3

5: Very Satisfied

%

27.9

27.0

27.0

29.8

Survey item qb29 (exact wording)
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Imp. Ability to Analyze Events/Information/Ideas

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.46

4.42

4.50

4.47

1: Not Important

%

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.3

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

0.7

0.9

0.5

0.6

3: Mod. Important

%

7.4

7.9

7.4

6.8

4: Important

%

35.9

38.9

32.8

36.0

5: Very Important

%

55.8

52.2

59.1

56.2

Survey item qa15 (exact wording)
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Sat. Ability to Analyze Events/Information/Ideas

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.19

4.14

4.23

4.21

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

0.3

0.2

0.4

0.2

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

2.4

2.8

1.5

2.9

3: Neither S nor D

%

11.9

13.6

11.6

10.3

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

48.8

49.5

47.7

49.2

5: Very Satisfied

%

36.6

33.9

38.7

37.4

Survey item qb15 (exact wording)
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Imp. Recognizing and Acting on Ethical Principles

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.38

4.35

4.39

4.41

1: Not Important

%

0.5

0.2

0.9

0.5

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

2.4

2.5

2.9

1.9

3: Mod. Important

%

10.5

11.9

9.5

9.9

4: Important

%

31.5

32.9

29.6

31.9

5: Very Important

%

55.1

52.5

57.1

55.7

Survey item qa20 (exact wording)
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Sat. Recognizing and Acting on Ethical Principles

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.95

3.92

3.95

3.98

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

1.4

1.3

1.2

1.8

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

5.1

4.6

5.9

4.8

3: Neither S nor D

%

21.2

23.0

20.8

19.5

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

41.5

42.4

40.3

41.6

5: Very Satisfied

%

30.8

28.7

31.7

32.2

Survey item qb20 (exact wording)
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Imp. Having Tolerance for Different Views

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.34

4.28

4.37

4.39

1: Not Important

%

0.9

0.7

0.8

1.1

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

2.8

2.9

2.9

2.6

3: Mod. Important

%

10.8

13.9

9.7

8.6

4: Important

%

32.0

32.7

31.6

31.5

5: Very Important

%

53.5

49.7

55.0

56.1

Survey item qa18 (exact wording)
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Sat. Having Tolerance for Different Views

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.04

4.03

4.07

4.01

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

1.5

0.9

1.5

2.0

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

4.0

3.9

3.5

4.8

3: Neither S nor D

%

18.8

20.8

18.7

16.7

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

40.9

40.0

39.9

43.0

5: Very Satisfied

%

34.8

34.3

36.5

33.5

Survey item qb18 (exact wording)
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Imp. Ability to Understand Current Literature

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.26

4.24

4.24

4.29

1: Not Important

%

1.2

1.1

1.4

0.9

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

2.9

3.1

3.0

2.4

3: Mod. Important

%

13.0

13.0

13.8

12.2

4: Important

%

35.0

36.0

33.4

35.5

5: Very Important

%

48.0

46.7

48.4

49.0

Survey item qa16 (exact wording)
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Sat. Ability to Understand Current Literature

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.99

3.97

4.00

4.01

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

1.3

1.1

1.1

1.8

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

5.6

5.9

5.2

5.6

3: Neither S nor D

%

18.1

19.6

18.4

16.2

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

42.7

41.9

43.4

42.8

5: Very Satisfied

%

32.3

31.5

31.9

33.6

Survey item qb16 (exact wording)
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Imp. Acquiring a Broad General Education

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.20

4.15

4.23

4.21

1: Not Important

%

0.8

0.9

0.6

1.0

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

3.4

3.4

3.3

3.4

3: Mod. Important

%

14.7

15.5

14.0

14.4

4: Important

%

37.5

39.7

36.7

35.9

5: Very Important

%

43.6

40.5

45.4

45.3

Survey item qa14 (exact wording)
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Sat. Acquiring a Broad General Education

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.29

4.29

4.29

4.29

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

0.6

0.4

0.8

0.5

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

3.1

3.3

2.4

3.7

3: Neither S nor D

%

7.6

7.9

7.9

6.9

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

44.1

43.3

44.7

44.2

5: Very Satisfied

%

44.7

45.1

44.3

44.7

Survey item qb14 (exact wording)
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Imp. Valuing Gender Equity

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.04

3.95

4.05

4.13

1: Not Important

%

3.7

4.6

3.7

2.9

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

6.6

6.9

7.7

5.0

3: Mod. Important

%

14.9

16.8

13.5

14.4

4: Important

%

31.2

31.9

30.1

31.8

5: Very Important

%

43.5

39.8

45.1

46.0

Survey item qa25 (exact wording)
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Sat. Valuing Gender Equity

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.81

3.79

3.83

3.82

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

2.0

2.0

2.2

1.7

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

6.4

5.5

6.3

7.5

3: Neither S nor D

%

28.5

31.5

27.1

26.8

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

34.5

33.4

35.0

35.3

5: Very Satisfied

%

28.6

27.6

29.5

28.6

Survey item qb25 (exact wording)
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Imp. Valuing Racial Equity

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

4.02

3.95

4.03

4.10

1: Not Important

%

4.0

4.6

4.2

3.3

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

6.8

7.1

7.9

5.4

3: Mod. Important

%

15.4

17.7

13.1

15.2

4: Important

%

30.3

30.0

30.3

30.7

5: Very Important

%

43.4

40.6

44.5

45.4

Survey item qa24 (exact wording)
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Sat. Valuing Racial Equity

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.81

3.79

3.84

3.80

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

2.3

2.0

2.5

2.3

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

6.1

5.5

5.6

7.4

3: Neither S nor D

%

28.8

31.8

27.6

26.7

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

34.2

32.9

34.5

35.2

5: Very Satisfied

%

28.7

27.8

29.8

28.4

Survey item qb24 (exact wording)
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Imp. Developing Commitment to Personal Health

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.96

3.94

3.94

4.01

1: Not Important

%

2.9

2.3

3.5

2.9

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

6.0

7.2

6.2

4.6

3: Mod. Important

%

18.4

18.0

18.8

18.3

4: Important

%

37.4

39.4

35.2

37.6

5: Very Important

%

35.3

33.1

36.3

36.7

Survey item qa26 (exact wording)
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Sat. Developing Commitment to Personal Health

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.92

3.90

3.96

3.91

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

2.0

1.6

2.1

2.2

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

6.4

7.5

6.2

5.4

3: Neither S nor D

%

21.8

23.2

19.8

22.6

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

37.0

35.2

37.4

38.7

5: Very Satisfied

%

32.8

32.6

34.5

31.1

Survey item qb26 (exact wording)
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Imp. Understanding how Science and Technology Influence Life

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.91

3.83

3.91

4.01

1: Not Important

%

2.5

2.9

3.0

1.6

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

6.1

6.9

5.9

5.3

3: Mod. Important

%

21.9

22.9

21.9

20.7

4: Important

%

36.8

38.8

36.0

35.5

5: Very Important

%

32.7

28.5

33.2

36.9

Survey item qa19 (exact wording)
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Sat. Understanding how Science and Technology Influence Life

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.96

3.92

3.98

3.97

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

0.9

1.0

0.6

1.1

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

4.5

4.9

3.5

4.9

3: Neither S nor D

%

21.7

22.6

22.9

19.3

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

44.3

44.2

43.6

45.0

5: Very Satisfied

%

28.8

27.3

29.4

29.7

Survey item qb19 (exact wording)
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Imp. Understanding Issues Facing World

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.90

3.83

3.90

3.98

1: Not Important

%

2.3

3.0

1.7

2.1

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

6.8

7.3

7.3

5.7

3: Mod. Important

%

21.8

23.8

21.2

20.1

4: Important

%

37.2

35.6

39.1

36.9

5: Very Important

%

32.0

30.2

30.8

35.3

Survey item qa22 (exact wording)
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Sat. Understanding Issues Facing World

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.66

3.61

3.69

3.68

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

1.3

1.5

0.8

1.7

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

9.4

9.0

9.5

9.7

3: Neither S nor D

%

29.5

32.3

29.2

26.7

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

41.4

41.0

41.1

42.3

5: Very Satisfied

%

18.3

16.2

19.4

19.5

Survey item qb22 (exact wording)
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Imp. Awareness of New Scientific Knowledge and Discoveries.

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.82

3.76

3.80

3.90

1: Not Important

%

3.2

3.6

3.2

2.6

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

8.2

9.3

8.0

7.2

3: Mod. Important

%

22.5

22.3

23.7

21.5

4: Important

%

35.9

37.3

35.3

34.9

5: Very Important

%

30.3

27.5

29.8

33.8

Survey item qa17 (exact wording)
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Sat. Awareness of New Scientific Knowledge and Discoveries.

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.79

3.75

3.78

3.84

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

1.0

1.1

0.8

1.2

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

7.2

7.8

6.9

6.9

3: Neither S nor D

%

25.6

28.0

26.5

21.8

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

44.5

41.0

45.5

47.2

5: Very Satisfied

%

21.7

22.1

20.3

22.9

Survey item qb17 (exact wording)
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Imp. Being Involved in Community Affairs

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.64

3.60

3.65

3.69

1: Not Important

%

4.8

5.3

4.4

4.5

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

11.2

11.7

11.7

10.1

3: Mod. Important

%

25.4

26.3

25.0

24.8

4: Important

%

32.4

31.4

32.4

33.7

5: Very Important

%

26.2

25.3

26.5

27.0

Survey item qa21 (exact wording)
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Sat. Being Involved in Community Affairs

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.54

3.53

3.58

3.52

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

2.1

1.6

1.4

3.5

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

10.5

10.7

10.4

10.3

3: Neither S nor D

%

37.9

39.6

37.5

36.3

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

30.0

29.7

29.6

30.9

5: Very Satisfied

%

19.5

18.4

21.0

19.0

Survey item qb21 (exact wording)
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Imp. Understanding Present as it Relates to the Past

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.60

3.56

3.60

3.65

1: Not Important

%

4.2

4.1

4.1

4.5

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

11.6

12.7

11.3

10.7

3: Mod. Important

%

26.8

27.8

26.8

25.8

4: Important

%

34.4

33.5

36.2

33.3

5: Very Important

%

23.0

21.9

21.6

25.7

Survey item qa23 (exact wording)
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Sat. Understanding Present as it Relates to the Past

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.66

3.65

3.67

3.67

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

1.4

1.4

1.3

1.4

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

7.9

6.9

7.7

9.1

3: Neither S nor D

%

32.3

34.7

31.0

30.9

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

40.0

39.3

42.2

38.5

5: Very Satisfied

%

18.5

17.8

17.8

20.1

Survey item qb23 (exact wording)
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Imp. Advancing Appreciation of Arts/Music/Literature

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.44

3.35

3.44

3.52

1: Not Important

%

9.5

9.7

9.2

9.5

2: Of Limited Imp.

%

13.4

16.1

12.1

11.9

3: Mod. Important

%

24.9

25.0

26.2

23.4

4: Important

%

28.3

27.4

30.2

27.4

5: Very Important

%

23.9

21.7

22.3

27.9

Survey item qa28 (exact wording)
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Sat. Advancing Appreciation of Arts/Music/Literature

All

Dec93-Aug94

Dec94-Aug95

Dec95-Aug96

Mean

3.57

3.56

3.62

3.51

1: Very Dissatisf.

%

4.0

3.2

3.4

5.4

2: Somewhat Dissat.

%

10.5

11.6

9.0

11.0

3: Neither S nor D

%

32.3

34.0

31.2

31.6

4: Somewhat Satisf.

%

31.4

28.7

34.8

30.8

5: Very Satisfied

%

21.8

22.6

21.5

21.2

Survey item qb28 (exact wording)
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Additional Topics by Graduation Year


For more information on the Fall 1998 Survey of Baccalaureate Alumni contact:
Dr. Nancy Whelchel, Associate Director for Survey Research
Office of Institutional Planning and Research
Box 7002
NCSU
Phone: (919) 515-4184
Email: Nancy_Whelchel@ncsu.edu

Posted: September, 2000

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