2004 Sophomore Survey


This document lists survey questions and response options for the 2004 Sophomore Survey. To view frequency distributions of the responses to a question, click on the question number.
Section A: FACULTY CONTRIBUTIONS
Please evaluate how well faculty members at this campus do each of the following:
(Scale: 4="Excellent," 3="Good," 2="Fair," 1="Poor.")
1. Set high expectations to learn
2. Respect the diverse talents and ways of learning of you and your classmates
3. Encourage you to be an actively involved learner
4. Encourage student-faculty interaction, in and out of the classroom
5. Give you frequent and prompt feedback
6. Encourage you to devote sufficient time and energy to your coursework
7. Develop opportunities for you to learn cooperatively with fellow students
8. Care about your academic success and welfare
9. In general, how would you evaluate your instructors on these eight measures?
Section B: HELP OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Based on your experience so far, how would you evaluate each of the following?   (If you have not had enough experience with a service to evaluate it, please mark the response "Don't know/did not use" and then skip to the next service.)
(Scale: 4="Excellent," 3="Good," 2="Fair," 1="Poor.")
1. Orientation for new students
a. length of session
b. quality of programs
c. helpfulness of staff
d. accommodations
e. overall effectiveness of orientation
2. Academic advising
a. Access to advisor
b. Sufficient time with advisor
c. Accurate information about degree requirements and course sequencing
d. Knowledge of campus policies and procedures
e. Academic advising services overall
3. Academic assistance or tutoring if you needed extra help in:
a. writing
b. reading
c. mathematics
d. study skills
e. foreign language
f. computer science
g. science
h. academic help overall
4. Library Services
a. hours of operation
b. Access to databases and collections
c. training to use library
d. library services overall
5. Technology
a. access to the Internet
b. hours of operation for computer center, labs, and help desks
c. access to up-to-date facilities
d. access to trained staff for help
e. technology training classes
f. technology services overall
6. Career-related Services
a. opportunity for career assistance
b. information on internships, co-op, or other career-related experiences
c. resources available to explore career options
d. information available through computers/Internet and other technology
e. career-related services overall
7. Timely availability of textbooks, computer supplies, and other course materials provided by the campus bookstore.
Section C: CAMPUS SAFETY, CLASS SIZE, AND THE SPOKEN ENGLISH OF INSTRUCTORS
1. Do you feel that this campus has taken sufficient steps to ensure your physical safety?
Yes
No
Not sure

2. How many of your classes, if any, do you feel have been too large for you to learn effectively?
None
One
Two
Three
Four or more

3. In how many classes have you had difficulty understanding the spoken English of an instructor?
None
One
Two
Three
Four or more
Section D: KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND PERSONAL GROWTH
1. To what extent do you think your college education contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in each of the following areas?
(Scale: 4="Very Much," 3="Somewhat," 2="Very Little," 1="Not At All.")
Writing skills
Speaking skills
Listening skills
Comprehension skills (understanding written information)
Using mathematics skills
Applying scientific methods of inquiry
Enhancing analytic skills
Developing computer skills
Developing tolerance for divergent views
Understanding of diverse cultures and values
Recognizing and acting upon ethical principles
Exercising public responsibility and community service
Appreciating racial equity
Appreciating gender equity
Advancing your appreciation of the arts
Understanding issues and problems facing the world
Understanding the present as it relates to historical events/process
Understanding how science and technology influence everyday life
Ability to adapt to changing technologies
Ability to critically analyze ideas and information
Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
Ability to lead or guide others
Ability to function as part of a team
Ability to plan and carry out projects independently
Valuing learning as a lifelong process
Commitment to personal health and fitness
Taking responsibility for your own behavior
Self-confidence
Sense of personal identity
Independence and self-reliance
Potential for success
Coping with change
Ability to handle stress
Personal growth
Time management
Self-discipline
Section E: OTHER OFFICES THAT SERVE YOU
Based on your experience so far, how would you evaluate each of the following services? (If you have not had enough experience with a service to evaluate it, please mark the response "don't know/did not use" and then skip to the next service.) For those services which required interaction with university offices or units (secretaries, tutors, counselors, office workers, etc.), please rate how responsive the staffs in those offices or units were to your needs.
(Scale for both rating of services and rating of staff: 4="Excellent," 3="Good," 2="Fair," 1="Poor.")
1. Registration process
2. Financial aid services: application/award process
3. Financial aid services: disbursement process
4. Campus food services
5. Campus health services
6. Campus counseling (personal, interpersonal, or psychological)
7. Business services/cashier/student accounts
8. Campus residence life programs for students living in university-owned housing
9. Opportunities to participate in campus recreational and other extra-curricular or co-curricular activities
10.Opportunities to participate in community service projects
11. Opportunities to develop leadership skills

12. Did you receive financial aid (including scholarships, grants, loans, work-study employment) while at NC State?
 
Yes
No

13. If yes, were you satisfied with your aid package?
Very satisfied
Moderately satisfied
Moderately dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

14. Please rate the customer service skills of the following financial aid staff.
(Scale: 4="Excellent," 3="Good," 2="Fair," 1="Poor.")
a. Reception staff
b. Phone staff
c. Advisor staff
Section F: CAMPUS CLIMATE
1. To what extent is it important to you to experience a sense of belonging or community at NC State?
 
Very important
Moderately important
Slightly important
Not at all important

2. To what extent do you experience a sense of belonging or community at NC State?
 
To a great extent
To some extent
To a small extent
Not at all

3. How would you assess the campus climate for the following groups of students?
(Scale: 5="Strongly Supportive," 4="Mildly Supportive," 3="Neutral," 2="Mildly Unsupportive," 1="Strongly Unsupportive.")
STUDENT GROUP:
Women
Men
African Americans
Other ethnic minorities
International students
Disabled students
Gay and lesbian students

Indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements:
(Scale: 4="Agree Strongly," 3="Agree Somewhat," 2="Disagree Somewhat," 1="Disagree Strongly.")
4. NC State is committed to helping minority students succeed.
5. NC State has visible leadership from the Chancellor and other administrators to foster diversity on campus.

Section G: EMPLOYMENT AND INVOLVEMENT WHILE AT NC STATE
1. Please denote which of the following school-related groups (clubs, organizations, programs) you have been involved with at NC State by marking the bubble beside the category.
Academic (Honors Program, etc.)
Organizations/Clubs related to your major
Honor/Service/Professional fraternity/sorority
Residence Hall Council, IRC
Social Fraternity/Sorority
Intramural/Recreational sports, Club Teams
Varsity Athletic Teams
Student Government
Student Judicial Board
Union Activities Board groups, Student Media
Visual/Performing Arts/Music groups
Minority student groups
Religious/Political/Issue groups
Other groups

2. Were you employed either on or off campus at any time during this academic year?
Yes - on campus
Yes - off campus
Yes - both on and off campus
No (mark response and skip to question 6)

3. Was your job related to your academic major? If not, was this by choice?
(Scale: 4="Directly related," 3="Somewhat related," 2="Not Related (by choice)," 1="Not related(not by choice)," 0="Not Applicable")
On-Campus Job
Off-Campus Job

4. When you are working during the academic year, on average how many hours per week do you work?
On-Campus Job
   
hours
Off-Campus Job
   
hours

5. Please briefly explain why you work for pay during the academic year.

6. Have you participated in research with an NC State faculty member? (Not as a subject in someone's research project but actually helping with the research project.)
Yes
No (skip to Section H )

7. How would you evaluate this research experience in terms of its contribution to your personal and professional growth?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

Section H: LEARNING WITH TECHNOLOGY
Note: The questions in this section were added in support of NC State's university-wide LITRE (Learning in a Technology-Rich Environment) project. A link to results will be added here when the LITRE Assessment Committee releases its report later this year. For more information contact LITRE_assessment@ncsu.edu.
Learning Management Systems:
Learning management systems, such as Wolfware and WebCT, make it possible to put course materials online, submit homework online, have online interactions with instructors and classmates, etc..

1. How many courses have you taken at NC State that used a learning management system such as Wolfware or WebCT?
None
1-3
4-8
More than 8

If you have taken 3 or fewer courses using learning management systems at NC State, please answer Question 2 , otherwise skip to Question 3.

2. Why have you not taken (more) courses that use learning management systems?
(Scale: 5="Strongly Agree," 4="Agree," 3="Neither Agree nor Disagree," 2="Disagree," 1="Strongly Disagree")
I do not know about these learning management systems
I know about the learning management systems, but did not know how to enroll in courses that used them
Courses I needed/wanted did not use learning management systems
I am not comfortable using and/or do not like using technology in the learning environment
This is not the best way for me to learn
Courses that use learning management systems tend to be harder
Instructors do not use these technologies effectively
Other (please explain)

If you have taken 4 or more courses using learning management systems at NC State, please answer Question 3, otherwise skip to Question 4.

3. Why have you taken courses that use learning management systems?
(Scale: 5="Strongly Agree," 4="Agree," 3="Neither Agree nor Disagree," 2="Disagree," 1="Strongly Disagree")

Courses I needed/wanted used learning management systems
I am comfortable using and/or like using technology in the learning environment
This is a good way for me to learn
Courses that use learning management systems tend to be easier
Instructors use these technologies effectively
Learning management systems provide easy access to course materials outside of class
Other (please explain)

All Answer
Technology in Class:
4. Listed below are some teaching and learning technologies that you might have experienced in class at NC State.
Please indicate how many of the courses you have taken at NC State used each one.
(Response categories: 4="All/Most," 3 = "Some," 2 = "A few," 1="None")
How did these methods help you learn compared to courses in which they were not used?
(Response categories: 3="I learn better this way," 2 = "No Difference," 1 = "I Don't learn as well this way," 0 = "Not applicable.")

Static electronic presentations (e.g., Powerpoint)
Electronic presentation of course concepts via animation, multimedia, simulation, etc.
Instructor demonstrations of Web materials (e.g., library resources)
Computerized exams/quizzes in class or lab
Use of computer stations for course-specific software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, ALIAS, Design Studio, etc.)
Electronic feedback to the instuctor during class via handhelds, pushbuttons, laptops, etc.

Section I: YOUR CONCLUSIONS
1. All things considered, how would you characterize the intellectual environment on this campus?
Very strong
Strong
Weak
Very weak

2. All things considered, how would you evaluate the overall quality of instruction?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

3. All things considered, how would you evaluate the overall education that you are receiving at this institution?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

4. Did you ever consider withdrawing or transferring from NC State?
No
Yes, but not very seriously
Yes, I seriously considered it
Yes, I left and came back

5. Do you plan to complete your degree program at this institution?
Yes
No
Not sure

6. If applicable, please briefly explain why you have considered leaving, have left, or plan to leave NC State.

7. If you could start over again, would you still choose to attend this institution?
Yes
No
Not sure

8. How well do you feel NC State met your needs in the following three areas?
(Scale: 4="Very Well," 3="Adequately," 2="Somewhat Adequately," 1="Poorly.")
Intellectual growth
Career training
Personal growth

9. Occasionally we like to recontact survey respondents to ask a few follow-up questions. Would it be okay for us to contact you in the future if we would like more information about your responses to this survey?
 
Yes
No

10. What are the two most important things NC State could do to improve the quality of undergraduates' experience here?

11. Please use the space below to share any general comments you have about your experiences at NC State or tell us why you were particularly satisfied/dissatisfied with any aspect of your education at NC State.


For more information on the 2004 Sophomore Survey 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, 2004

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