North Carolina State University
2009-2010 Graduating Senior Survey:
Highlights
NC State conducted its annual survey of graduating seniors during the fall 2009 and spring 2010 semesters. Students from eight of the nine undergraduate academic units who graduated in December 2009 or May 2010 (AY09-10) are included1. Fifty-three percent of seniors who graduated in AY09-10 completed the online survey. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +1.0 percentage points at a 95% confidence interval.
Survey results indicate that graduating seniors were very satisfied with the academic environment at NC State. Almost all respondents - - 90 percent or more - - gave a positive rating to the overall education they received at the University and to the intellectual environment on campus. About 80 percent said they would choose to attend NC State again if starting over, and more than 90 percent said they would recommend NC State to a friend. Ratings of faculty were overwhelmingly positive, with more than 85 percent of respondents giving ratings of "excellent" or "good" on each of eight items measuring faculty contribution to the students' education.
Students at NC State are frequently involved in mentoring relationships with faculty. More than 60 percent of students reported having participated in at least one of the 8 types of faculty-student mentoring asked about. One-third or more graduating seniors received routine academic guidance from faculty (44.3%) or routine professional guidance/support from faculty (37.4%). Regardless of the type of mentoring experience, the majority of students who had such experience said it contributed "a great deal" to their personal and/or professional growth.
Graduating seniors are pleased with the technology and library services offered at NC State. More than 90 percent of graduating seniors gave positive ratings to services such as library hours of operation, access to library databases/collections, access to the Internet, hours of operation for computer labs, and access to up-to-date technology facilities. Respondents point to the need for improvement, however, in services related to academic advising and research support.
The majority of graduating seniors believe that the NC State community is committed to creating an environment that promotes and supports diversity. More than 90 percent of students agree that NC State is committed to minority student success (96.4%), and more than 80 percent agree that NC State leaders foster diversity on campus (82.3%). There were racial/ethnic differences in the ratings of both diversity measures, however, with white respondents being much more likely than students of color to "strongly agree" with both of these statements.
Close to one-half of survey respondents reported that it took more than four years to complete their degree. Respondents most commonly cited academic or curricular reasons for their delayed graduation, such as changing majors, taking a lighter courseload, or having a double major or minor. More than one-fifth of graduating seniors indicated that the hours they spent working impeded their progress toward a degree.
Paid employment is widespread among NC State students. About 70 percent of graduating seniors were employed during their senior year, working an average of 20 hours per week. By far the most common reason among all respondents given for paid employment was the need to pay for basic living expenses like rent and groceries. Students working in on-campus jobs reported working fewer hours per week than those with off-campus jobs, and were more likely to be working in jobs directly related to their major (40% versus 29%).
NC State graduating seniors are engaged in their campus community. About 80 percent of respondents reported being involved in at least one of the extracurricular activities asked about, with involvement in activities related to academics and athletics being most common. Forty percent or more students reported involvement in organizations or clubs related to their major (47.3%) and intramurals, recreational sports, or club sports (39.7%). Attendance at NC State concerts, performances, or exhibits was also fairly common, with more than two-thirds of respondents attending at least one such event while a student at NC State.
1. Due to a low response rate (16.8%), survey results for the College of Design are not representative of the graduating senior population and are therefore excluded from all 2009-2010 Graduating Senior Survey reports. (back)
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: November, 2010
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