North Carolina State University
2008 Sophomore Student Survey:
College Comparisons of Academic Environment

This Web document reports survey data on college differences in the respondents' overall assessment of the academic environment at NC State. Survey results for all respondents are provided in "2008 Sophomore Student Survey: All Respondents." For information about the survey and analysis methods, see "2008 Sophomore Student Survey: Introduction, Methods, and Student Demographic Profile." For exact question wording, see the survey instrument, or click on the "Q" in the table headers below.

Intellectual Enviroment | Overall Instruction and Education | Classroom Environment | Faculty Contributions | Mentoring Experiences

Q Intellectual Environment
Intellectual environment on this campus NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.19 3.26 3.40 3.10 3.15 3.20 3.15 3.20 2.98 3.27 3.37
4: Very strong % 28.7 32.7 39.6 24.7 24.5 30.2 22.6 32.0 13.6 32.1 42.9
3: Strong % 62.5 61.4 60.4 61.7 66.0 60.1 71.2 56.0 70.5 62.5 54.3
2: Weak % 8.1 5.5 . 12.8 9.4 9.0 5.1 12.0 15.9 5.4 .
1: Very weak % 0.7 0.4 . 0.8 . 0.8 1.1 . . . 2.9
Total N 1333 254 53 243 53 368 177 50 44 56 35
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Q Overall Instruction and Education
  NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design PAMS
Overall education at NC State 3.35 3.48 3.53 3.33 3.28 3.30 3.30 3.38 3.39 3.23
Overall quality of instruction 3.12 3.17 3.28 3.14 3.08 3.07 3.08 3.16 3.05 3.11
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Classroom Environment

Q Number of Classes Too Large to Learn Effectively
# Classes too large to learn effectively NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
None % 28.6 29.3 20.8 28.9 20.8 30.8 25.1 28.6 38.6 10.7 52.8
One % 22.2 18.4 34.0 22.8 15.1 22.3 21.8 24.5 34.1 30.4 11.1
Two % 27.1 28.9 24.5 27.2 39.6 24.7 27.9 28.6 22.7 32.1 16.7
Three % 13.6 12.5 9.4 15.9 18.9 13.4 10.6 16.3 4.5 23.2 13.9
Four or more % 8.5 10.9 11.3 5.3 5.7 8.8 14.5 2.0 . 3.6 5.6
Total N 1345 256 53 246 53 373 179 49 44 56 36
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Q Number of Classes had Difficulty Understanding the Instructor???s English
# Classes difficulty understand instructor's English NCSU College/School
CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
None % 23.4 19.6 18.9 34.3 20.8 19.5 23.3 18.0 29.5 21.4 30.6
One % 31.6 34.1 34.0 38.0 26.4 23.7 36.7 22.0 40.9 35.7 25.0
Two % 25.9 28.2 26.4 19.2 34.0 28.0 23.9 28.0 27.3 26.8 25.0
Three % 12.2 11.0 17.0 5.3 15.1 16.0 13.3 22.0 2.3 14.3 8.3
Four or more % 6.9 7.1 3.8 3.3 3.8 12.8 2.8 10.0 . 1.8 11.1
Total N 1347 255 53 245 53 375 180 50 44 56 36
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Q Faculty Contributions
Set high expectations to learn NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.33 3.37 3.38 3.27 3.24 3.34 3.28 3.38 3.36 3.36 3.31
4: Excellent % 37.8 41.2 41.5 33.6 27.8 39.8 33.9 38.0 38.6 43.6 38.9
3: Good % 57.6 55.6 54.7 60.2 68.5 54.9 61.1 62.0 59.1 49.1 55.6
2: Fair % 4.2 2.3 3.8 6.1 3.7 5.0 3.9 . 2.3 7.3 2.8
1: Poor % 0.4 0.8 . . . 0.3 1.1 . . . 2.8
Total N 1350 257 53 244 54 377 180 50 44 55 36


Respect diverse talents/ways of learning NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.03 3.06 3.08 2.99 3.04 2.98 3.11 3.08 3.23 2.93 2.92
4: Excellent % 24.2 28.2 25.0 21.2 22.6 21.2 27.2 26.0 31.8 27.3 16.7
3: Good % 56.4 52.9 59.6 59.2 58.5 56.2 58.3 58.0 59.1 41.8 63.9
2: Fair % 17.1 15.3 13.5 16.7 18.9 21.5 12.2 14.0 9.1 27.3 13.9
1: Poor % 2.2 3.5 1.9 2.9 . 1.1 2.2 2.0 . 3.6 5.6
Total N 1347 255 52 245 53 377 180 50 44 55 36


Encourage you to be actively involved NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.07 3.12 3.04 3.07 3.04 3.01 3.06 3.24 3.23 3.04 3.06
4: Excellent % 27.1 30.7 30.2 25.8 24.1 22.3 26.8 38.0 38.6 26.8 33.3
3: Good % 53.9 51.4 43.4 55.7 55.6 57.8 54.7 48.0 47.7 53.6 44.4
2: Fair % 17.4 16.7 26.4 17.6 20.4 18.3 15.6 14.0 11.4 16.1 16.7
1: Poor % 1.6 1.2 . 0.8 . 1.6 2.8 . 2.3 3.6 5.6
Total N 1350 257 53 244 54 377 179 50 44 56 36


Encourage student-faculty interaction NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 2.96 2.95 2.98 2.93 2.93 2.97 2.98 3.06 3.16 2.93 2.89
4: Excellent % 24.5 23.8 24.5 26.1 22.2 23.6 22.3 32.0 31.8 25.0 22.2
3: Good % 49.8 50.4 49.1 44.1 51.9 51.7 54.7 44.0 52.3 44.6 50.0
2: Fair % 23.0 22.3 26.4 26.1 22.2 22.3 21.2 22.0 15.9 28.6 22.2
1: Poor % 2.7 3.5 . 3.7 3.7 2.4 1.7 2.0 . 1.8 5.6
Total N 1350 256 53 245 54 377 179 50 44 56 36


Give you frequent and prompt feedback NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.03 3.07 2.98 2.99 3.11 3.02 3.02 3.02 2.95 2.98 3.14
4: Excellent % 24.8 28.0 18.9 22.1 27.8 25.2 24.4 20.0 25.0 23.2 30.6
3: Good % 54.5 52.5 62.3 54.9 55.6 53.6 55.6 62.0 45.5 53.6 58.3
2: Fair % 19.2 17.9 17.0 22.5 16.7 19.4 17.8 18.0 29.5 21.4 5.6
1: Poor % 1.5 1.6 1.9 0.4 . 1.9 2.2 . . 1.8 5.6
Total N 1351 257 53 244 54 377 180 50 44 56 36


Encourage devoting time/energy to coursework NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.29 3.36 3.25 3.22 3.17 3.31 3.24 3.22 3.48 3.25 3.25
4: Excellent % 38.4 43.6 35.8 33.5 31.5 39.9 35.6 34.0 52.3 40.0 36.1
3: Good % 52.2 49.8 52.8 55.5 53.7 51.6 53.9 54.0 45.5 47.3 55.6
2: Fair % 8.8 5.8 11.3 11.0 14.8 8.2 10.0 12.0 . 10.9 5.6
1: Poor % 0.5 0.8 . . . 0.3 0.6 . 2.3 1.8 2.8
Total N 1350 257 53 245 54 376 180 50 44 55 36


Opp. to learn cooperatively w/ students NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 2.89 2.85 2.91 2.95 3.06 2.82 2.87 3.14 3.18 2.79 2.78
4: Excellent % 18.1 15.2 20.8 18.1 29.6 15.8 15.0 32.0 38.6 16.1 16.7
3: Good % 55.1 58.0 49.1 61.3 46.3 53.5 57.8 50.0 43.2 50.0 47.2
2: Fair % 24.2 23.3 30.2 17.7 24.1 27.3 26.1 18.0 15.9 30.4 33.3
1: Poor % 2.6 3.5 . 2.9 . 3.5 1.1 . 2.3 3.6 2.8
Total N 1347 257 53 243 54 374 180 50 44 56 36


Care about academic success and welfare NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 2.95 2.97 3.04 2.93 2.94 2.92 3.02 3.08 3.05 2.75 2.86
4: Excellent % 23.5 23.5 24.5 21.9 25.9 22.3 25.0 34.0 27.3 14.5 27.8
3: Good % 52.2 54.1 54.7 52.5 46.3 53.1 55.6 44.0 50.0 49.1 36.1
2: Fair % 20.4 18.4 20.8 21.9 24.1 19.4 16.1 18.0 22.7 32.7 30.6
1: Poor % 3.9 3.9 . 3.7 3.7 5.3 3.3 4.0 . 3.6 5.6
Total N 1346 255 53 242 54 377 180 50 44 55 36


General eval of instructors on 8 items NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.10 3.12 3.11 3.09 3.17 3.07 3.14 3.22 3.26 2.91 3.06
4: Excellent % 21.0 21.8 18.9 20.0 27.8 19.1 21.3 30.0 31.0 12.7 22.2
3: Good % 68.9 69.6 73.6 69.0 61.1 69.2 71.3 64.0 66.7 65.5 66.7
2: Fair % 9.4 7.4 7.5 10.6 11.1 11.4 7.3 4.0 . 21.8 5.6
1: Poor % 0.7 1.2 . 0.4 . 0.3 . 2.0 2.4 . 5.6
Total N 1347 257 53 245 54 377 178 50 42 55 36
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Q Mentoring Experiences
Had experience NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
Work on ind study w/ faculty % 5.2% 7.8% 7.5% 4.9% 9.3% 3.4% 5.6% 6.0% 6.8% 0.0% 2.8%
Work on non-course rsch w/ faculty % 5.1% 8.6% 1.9% 4.5% 13.0% 4.0% 2.8% 8.0% 4.5% 0.0% 5.6%
Work on extension/pub svc proj w/ faculty % 5.0% 5.8% 1.9% 6.5% 3.7% 3.7% 3.3% 12.0% 4.5% 5.4% 8.3%
Assist teaching class/lab w/ fac guidance % 4.6% 4.3% 3.8% 6.5% 3.7% 4.8% 1.7% 6.0% 0.0% 7.1% 8.3%
Reg met w/ faculty for academic guidance % 29.0% 40.9% 20.8% 28.0% 27.8% 23.3% 17.8% 22.0% 40.9% 48.2% 44.4%
Reg met w/ faculty for prof guidance % 19.7% 28.0% 17.0% 18.7% 29.6% 14.1% 13.9% 18.0% 15.9% 35.7% 25.0%
Reg met w/ faculty for non-acad guidance % 9.8% 11.7% 7.5% 8.9% 11.1% 8.5% 6.1% 20.0% 15.9% 12.5% 8.3%
Work w/ faculty on campus activities % 13.4% 18.7% 15.1% 15.9% 22.2% 9.0% 10.6% 12.0% 6.8% 14.3% 11.1%
Total N 1353 257 53 246 54 377 180 50 44 56 36



Contrib to grwth: ind study w/ faculty NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design PAMS
  Mean 3.58 3.69 3.25 3.55 3.80 3.58 3.22 4.00 4.00 3.00
A great deal % 64.1 81.3 50.0 54.5 80.0 58.3 33.3 100.0 100.0 .
Some % 31.3 12.5 25.0 45.5 20.0 41.7 55.6 . . 100.0
A little % 3.1 . 25.0 . . . 11.1 . . .
Not at all % 1.6 6.3 . . . . . . . .
Total N 64 16 4 11 5 12 9 3 3 1


Contrib to grwth: Non-course rsch w/ faculty NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design PAMS
  Mean 3.37 3.37 4.00 3.10 3.43 3.29 3.25 4.00 4.00 3.50
A great deal % 51.6 52.6 100.0 30.0 57.1 42.9 50.0 100.0 100.0 50.0
Some % 38.7 36.8 . 60.0 28.6 50.0 25.0 . . 50.0
A little % 4.8 5.3 . . 14.3 . 25.0 . . .
Not at all % 4.8 5.3 . 10.0 . 7.1 . . . .
Total N 62 19 1 10 7 14 4 3 2 2


Contrib to grwth: Extension/pub svc proj NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.39 3.27 4.00 3.46 4.00 3.42 3.00 3.50 3.50 3.00 3.50
A great deal % 44.1 33.3 100.0 46.2 100.0 50.0 33.3 50.0 50.0 . 50.0
Some % 50.8 60.0 . 53.8 . 41.7 33.3 50.0 50.0 100.0 50.0
A little % 5.1 6.7 . . . 8.3 33.3 . . . .
Total N 59 15 1 13 2 12 3 6 2 3 2


Contrib to grwth: Assist teaching NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.30 3.89 3.50 3.07 2.00 3.31 3.00 3.33 3.75 2.67
A great deal % 46.3 88.9 50.0 28.6 . 37.5 . 66.7 75.0 33.3
Some % 37.0 11.1 50.0 50.0 . 56.3 100.0 . 25.0 .
A little % 16.7 . . 21.4 100.0 6.3 . 33.3 . 66.7
Total N 54 9 2 14 2 16 1 3 4 3


Contrib to grwth: reg mtg w/ faculty-acad NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.57 3.61 3.55 3.53 3.29 3.52 3.64 3.82 3.71 3.63 3.44
A great deal % 62.0 68.4 54.5 59.1 35.7 58.1 67.9 81.8 70.6 63.0 50.0
Some % 33.7 26.5 45.5 34.8 57.1 37.2 28.6 18.2 29.4 37.0 43.8
A little % 3.5 3.1 . 6.1 7.1 3.5 3.6 . . . 6.3
Not at all % 0.8 2.0 . . . 1.2 . . . . .
Total N 374 98 11 66 14 86 28 11 17 27 16


Contrib to grwth: reg mtg w/ faculty-prof NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.58 3.61 3.67 3.58 3.47 3.53 3.50 3.88 4.00 3.75 3.11
A great deal % 64.9 68.7 66.7 65.0 46.7 58.8 59.1 87.5 100.0 75.0 44.4
Some % 29.4 25.4 33.3 27.5 53.3 35.3 31.8 12.5 . 25.0 33.3
A little % 4.8 4.5 . 7.5 . 5.9 9.1 . . . 11.1
Not at all % 0.8 1.5 . . . . . . . . 11.1
Total N 248 67 9 40 15 51 22 8 7 20 9


Contrib to grwth: reg mtg w/ fac-nonacad NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.63 3.61 3.75 3.72 3.17 3.45 4.00 3.78 3.71 3.86 3.67
A great deal % 67.3 73.9 75.0 72.2 33.3 48.3 100.0 77.8 71.4 85.7 66.7
Some % 28.3 13.0 25.0 27.8 50.0 48.3 . 22.2 28.6 14.3 33.3
A little % 4.4 13.0 . . 16.7 3.4 . . . . .
Total N 113 23 4 18 6 29 7 9 7 7 3


Contrib to grwth: work w/ fac on campus activities NCSU CALS CED CHASS CNR COE COM COT Design FYC PAMS
  Mean 3.42 3.59 3.25 3.41 3.58 3.37 3.14 3.20 3.67 3.63 2.75
A great deal % 57.3 71.8 37.5 52.9 66.7 56.7 35.7 60.0 66.7 62.5 25.0
Some % 31.8 17.9 50.0 38.2 25.0 30.0 50.0 20.0 33.3 37.5 50.0
A little % 6.4 7.7 12.5 5.9 8.3 6.7 7.1 . . . .
Not at all % 4.5 2.6 . 2.9 . 6.7 7.1 20.0 . . 25.0
Total N 157 39 8 34 12 30 14 5 3 8 4
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For more information on the 2008 Sophomore Student 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: April, 2009

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