This document reports survey data on differences by graduation year in the responses of alumni to questions regarding general education goals. Specifically, development of information accessing skills, tolerance for social diversity, the utility of particular courses, preparedness for career competition, and interest in reading are considered. 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.
General Education Items
General Education Preparation
|
Know How to Access and Use Information |
All |
Dec93-Aug94 |
Dec94-Aug95 |
Dec95-Aug96 |
|
|
Mean |
4.24 |
4.22 |
4.24 |
4.25 |
|
|
1:Disagree |
% |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.1 |
2.0 |
|
2: Tend to Disagree |
% |
3.9 |
3.5 |
4.2 |
4.0 |
|
3: Neither A/D |
% |
9.5 |
10.8 |
9.4 |
8.2 |
|
4: Tend to Agree |
% |
39.3 |
39.3 |
40.1 |
38.5 |
|
5: Agree |
% |
45.8 |
44.8 |
45.3 |
47.3 |
| Survey item q31 (exact wording) | |||||
|
Made Friends with Diverse Persons |
All |
Dec93-Aug94 |
Dec94-Aug95 |
Dec95-Aug96 |
|
|
Mean |
3.93 |
3.95 |
3.93 |
3.89 |
|
|
1:Disagree |
% |
7.8 |
7.6 |
7.0 |
8.9 |
|
2: Tend to Disagree |
% |
9.0 |
8.6 |
9.4 |
9.0 |
|
3: Neither A/D |
% |
11.8 |
12.2 |
12.2 |
10.9 |
|
4: Tend to Agree |
% |
25.5 |
24.5 |
26.1 |
26.0 |
|
5: Agree |
% |
45.9 |
47.1 |
45.3 |
45.1 |
| Survey item q32 (exact wording) | |||||
|
Social Science Courses were Useful |
All |
Dec93-Aug94 |
Dec94-Aug95 |
Dec95-Aug96 |
|
|
Mean |
3.55 |
3.56 |
3.55 |
3.53 |
|
|
1:Disagree |
% |
8.6 |
7.1 |
9.1 |
9.6 |
|
2: Tend to Disagree |
% |
11.6 |
12.8 |
10.5 |
11.3 |
|
3: Neither A/D |
% |
22.6 |
23.0 |
22.8 |
22.0 |
|
4: Tend to Agree |
% |
31.0 |
31.3 |
31.2 |
30.3 |
|
5: Agree |
% |
26.2 |
25.8 |
26.3 |
26.8 |
| Survey item q33 (exact wording) | |||||
|
Courses Encouraged Creative Thinking |
All |
Dec93-Aug94 |
Dec94-Aug95 |
Dec95-Aug96 |
|
|
Mean |
4.12 |
4.08 |
4.15 |
4.13 |
|
|
1:Disagree |
% |
1.8 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
1.5 |
|
2: Tend to Disagree |
% |
5.3 |
6.2 |
3.8 |
5.9 |
|
3: Neither A/D |
% |
12.4 |
12.9 |
13.2 |
11.1 |
|
4: Tend to Agree |
% |
40.4 |
40.4 |
39.7 |
41.2 |
|
5: Agree |
% |
40.1 |
38.6 |
41.3 |
40.2 |
| Survey item q34 (exact wording) | |||||
|
Prepared to be Competitive |
All |
Dec93-Aug94 |
Dec94-Aug95 |
Dec95-Aug96 |
|
|
Mean |
4.36 |
4.38 |
4.35 |
4.36 |
|
|
1:Disagree |
% |
2.0 |
1.5 |
2.6 |
1.9 |
|
2: Tend to Disagree |
% |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.7 |
|
3: Neither A/D |
% |
7.9 |
7.8 |
7.5 |
8.4 |
|
4: Tend to Agree |
% |
29.3 |
29.6 |
29.1 |
29.2 |
|
5: Agree |
% |
57.3 |
57.7 |
57.3 |
56.9 |
| Survey item q35 (exact wording) | |||||
|
Foreign Language Courses Helped Appreciation of Other Cultures |
All |
Dec93-Aug94 |
Dec94-Aug95 |
Dec95-Aug96 |
|
|
Mean |
3.71 |
3.70 |
3.75 |
3.69 |
|
|
1:Disagree |
% |
7.9 |
8.3 |
6.3 |
9.3 |
|
2: Tend to Disagree |
% |
7.7 |
7.9 |
8.7 |
6.5 |
|
3: Neither A/D |
% |
21.3 |
20.7 |
21.2 |
22.1 |
|
4: Tend to Agree |
% |
31.0 |
31.5 |
31.5 |
29.8 |
|
5: Agree |
% |
32.1 |
31.7 |
32.3 |
32.3 |
| Survey item q36 (exact wording) | |||||
|
I Read Newspapers and Magazines |
All |
Dec93-Aug94 |
Dec94-Aug95 |
Dec95-Aug96 |
|
|
Mean |
4.27 |
4.32 |
4.24 |
4.24 |
|
|
1:Disagree |
% |
4.6 |
2.9 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
|
2: Tend to Disagree |
% |
6.0 |
6.0 |
5.6 |
6.3 |
|
3: Neither A/D |
% |
6.2 |
6.2 |
6.4 |
6.1 |
|
4: Tend to Agree |
% |
24.2 |
25.5 |
23.9 |
23.0 |
|
5: Agree |
% |
59.0 |
59.3 |
58.5 |
59.1 |
| Survey item q37 (exact wording) | |||||
|
Leisure Reading |
|
How Frequently do you Read for Leisure |
All |
Dec93-Aug94 |
Dec94-Aug95 |
Dec95-Aug96 |
|
|
Over 3 times/week |
% |
35.4 |
35.4 |
35.4 |
35.3 |
|
1-3 times/week |
% |
26.4 |
25.6 |
26.5 |
27.2 |
|
1-3 times/month |
% |
17.1 |
17.0 |
17.7 |
16.4 |
|
Under once a month |
% |
7.9 |
8.4 |
7.8 |
7.4 |
|
Seldom |
% |
10.9 |
11.1 |
10.4 |
11.1 |
|
Not at all |
% |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
2.5 |
| Survey item q38 (exact wording) | |||||
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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