2008 Sophomore Survey

This document lists survey questions and response options for the 2008 Sophomore Survey. To view frequency distributions of the responses to a question, click on the question number.

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?

HELP OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

10. Orientation for new students
a. length of session
b. quality of programs
c. helpfulness of staff
d. accommodations
e. overall effectiveness of orientation

11. 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

12. 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

13. Library
a. hours of operation
b. staff responsiveness
c. access to databases and collections
d.training to use library
e. library services overall

14. 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

15. 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

16. Timely availability of textbooks, computer supplies, and other course materials provided by the campus bookstore.
17. Overall, how would you rate the NC State Virtual Advising Center Web site?

CAMPUS SAFETY, CLASS SIZE, AND THE SPOKEN ENGLISH OF INSTRUCTORS

18. Do you feel that this campus has taken sufficient steps to ensure your physical safety?

Yes

Not sure

19. 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

20. In how many classes have you had difficulty understanding the spoken English of an instructor?

None

One

Two

Three

Four or more

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND PERSONAL GROWTH

21. To what extent do you think your college education so far has 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
Understanding how science and technology influence everyday life
Using books, journals, and/or articles from the library/internet, etc. for a research paper/project
Ability to adapt to changing technologies
Ability to critically analyze ideas and information
Ability to plan and carry out projects independently
Understanding of diverse cultures and values
Developing tolerance for divergent views
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
Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
Ability to lead or guide others
Ability to function as part of a team
Recognizing and acting upon ethical principles
Exercising public responsibility and community service
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

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 choose "do not know/did not use" and then skip to the next service.) For those services which required interaction with staff secretaries, tutors, counselors, office workers, or other people, please rate how responsive those staff people were to your needs.
(Scale for rating of both services and staff: 4="Excellent," 3="Good," 2="Fair," 1="Poor.")

22. Registration process
23. Financial aid services: application/award process
24. Financial aid services: disbursement process
25. Campus food services
26. Campus health services
27. Campus counseling (personal, interpersonal, or psychological)
28. Business services/cashier/student accounts
29. Campus residence life programs for students living in university-owned housing
30. Opportunities to participate in campus recreational and other extra-curricular or co-curricular activities
31.Opportunities to participate in community service projects
32. Opportunities to develop leadership skills

33. Have you received financial aid (including scholarships, grants, loans, work-study employment) while at NC State?

Yes

34. If yes, were you satisfied with your aid package?

Very satisfied

Moderately satisfied

Moderately dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

35. 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

CAMPUS CLIMATE

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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
Students with disabilities
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.")

39. NC State is committed to helping minority students succeed.

40. NC State has visible leadership from the Chancellor and other administrators to foster diversity on campus.

EMPLOYMENT AND INVOLVEMENT WHILE AT NC STATE

41. In which of the following school-related groups (clubs, organizations, programs) have you been involved with at NC State? (Mark all that apply.)

Academic scholarship program (Caldwell, Park, etc.)

Intramural/Recreational sports, Club Teams

Minority student groups

Organizations/Clubs related to your major

Political/Issue groups

Religious groups

Residence Hall Council, IRC

ROTC

Service groups

Social fraternity/sorority

Student Government

Student Media/Publications

Union Activities Board groups

University Honors Program

University Scholars Program

Varsity Athletic Teams

Visual/Performing Arts/Music groups

42. The following list includes several different faculty-student mentoring experiences you might have had while at NC State. First, please indicate whether or not you had such an experience while at NC State. (Response categories: 0="No," 1="Yes.") If yes, please indicate the extent to which it contributed to your personal and/or professional growth. (Response categories: 4="A great deal," 3="Some," 2="A little," 1="Not at all.")

a. Worked on an independent study project with a faculty member

b. Worked on a research project with a faculty member outside of course or program requirements

c. Worked on an extension or public service project with a faculty member outside of course or program requirements

d. Assisted in teaching a class or lab under the guidance of a faculty member

e. Regularly met with a faculty member who provided academic guidance (e.g., assistance with coursework, course selection, etc.)

f. Regularly met with a faculty member who provided professional guidance and/or support (e.g., career goals, employment opportunities, letters of recommendation, etc.)

g. Regularly met with a faculty member who provided guidance on non-academic issues/responsibilities (e.g., work, family, physical well-being, etc.)

h. Worked with a faculty member on campus activities (e.g., committees, student life activities, etc.)

43. 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 47)

44. 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

45. When you are working during the academic year, on average how many hours per week do you work?

On-Campus Job

Off-Campus Job

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

OVERALL EVALUATION

47. All things considered, how would you characterize the intellectual environment on this campus?

Very strong

Strong

Weak

Very weak

48. All things considered, how would you evaluate the overall quality of instruction?

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

49. All things considered, how would you evaluate the overall education that you are receiving at this institution?

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

50. Did you ever consider withdrawing or transferring from NC State?

Yes, but not very seriously

Yes, I seriously considered it

Yes, I left and came back

51. Do you plan to complete your degree program at this institution?

Yes

Not sure

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

53. If you could start over again, would you still choose to attend this institution?

Yes

Not sure

54. 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

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. For more information contact LITRE_assessment@ncsu.edu.
These next questions ask you about teaching and learning technologies that you might have experienced in the courses you have taken at NC State.

55. First, please indicate how many of the courses you took used each technology IN the classroom or lab. (Response categories: 4="All/Most," 3 = "Some," 2 = "A few," 1="None")
If you took a course(s) that used the technology, do you think it helped you learn the material better than you would have if the technology had not been used? (Response categories: 3="I learn better," 2 = "There's no difference in how well I learn," 1 = "I Don't learn as well," 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.

56. Next, please indicate for how many of the courses you took you used each technology OUTSIDE the classroom or lab. (Response categories: 4="All/Most," 3 = "Some," 2 = "A few," 1="None")
Again, if you took a course(s) that used the technology, do you think it helped you learn the material better than you would have if the technology had not been used? (Response categories: 3="I learn better," 2 = "There's no difference in how well I learn," 1 = "I Don't learn as well," 0 = "Not applicable.")

Learning management systems (e.g., Wolfware, WebCT)

Electronic communication among students (e.g., email, chat groups, audio/visual conferences)

Electronic communication with the instructor (e.g., email, chat groups, audio/visual conferences)

Work to be prepared with a wordprocessor, spreadsheet, graphic program, etc.

Use of digital content resources (e.g., online articles, digital images, multimedia, databases)

Use of course-specific software (e.g., Maple, SAS, ALIAS, Design Studio, GIS tools, JAVA, etc.) for homework or out-of-class assignments

57. Thinking about all the various teaching and learning technologies that you have used either in or outside the classroom at NC State, to what extent have they helped your your ability to... (Response categories: 4="A Great Deal," 3="Some," 2="A Little," 1="Not At All.")

a. Answer questions in your field of study.

b. Solve problems in your field of study.

c. Use the methods of research in your field to gain new knowledge.

d. Use information available from sources such as books, journals, etc.

e. Use the skills and technologies of your field to complete a major project/assignment.

FINAL COMMENTS

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

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 2008 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: April, 2009

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