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1996 ENTERING STUDENTS SURVEY |
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SURVEY OF ‘95-'96 ENTERING STUDENTS
July 1996
The Office of Institutional Research and Planning at Portland State University conducted a survey in Winter 1996 of ‘95-'96 entering students. Below is a brief summary of results of the survey, which does not include the charts and graphs contained in the original survey report. For detailed results of the survey, contact Dr. Kathi Ketcheson, Director, at ketchek@oirp.pdx.edu or at (503) 725-3425.
The Respondents
This survey was sent to 1,153 students who entered Portland State University Fall Term 1995. A total of 460 students (40%) responded to the survey, 269 (58%) were new freshman and 192 (42%) were new transfer students. The response rate might be partially explained by the fact that at least two other departments sent out surveys during the same time as the Entering Student Survey. A break down of the responses reflects the following: Seventy-eight percent of transfer students and 64% of freshman said that PSU was their first choice when applying for admission to college. Eighty percent of transfer students and 57% of freshmen applied only to PSU. Fifty-three percent of transfers and 87% of freshmen said they took part in Orientation prior to the start of classes. The top concerns of the respondents on entering PSU were finances (34% of transfer; 31.6%, of freshmen) and academic performance (46%, of transfer; 53%, of freshmen). In describing their immediate educational plans, most transfers (87%) and freshmen (61%) said that they intend to earn a Bachelor’s degree at PSU. While 80% of transfers said that completing their Bachelor’s at PSU was "very likely", only 50% of freshmen said the same. The majority of respondents plan to complete at least 12-15 credit hours per term (84% of transfer; 94% of freshmen), and plan to work at lest 16 hours a week while at PSU (79% of transfer; 77% of freshmen).
Satisfaction with Programs and Services
Programs and services rated as "High" or "Very High" in satisfaction by freshmen were Application Procedures(51%), Orientation (57%), Registration Procedures (57%), and Advising from Peer Mentors through the Freshman Inquiry Program (61%). Programs and services rated "High" or "Very High" by transfer students were Application Procedures (56%), Service from the Financial Aid Office (60%), and Registration Procedures (56%).
Opinions of General Education Courses
The majority of the respondents "Agreed" or "Strongly Agreed" that the General Education courses they will take at PSU will help broaden their view of life beyond the scope of their major (62% of transfer; 64% of freshmen); provide them with an opportunity to integrate ideas and explore many points of view (66% of transfer; 63% of freshmen); help them develop general skills in English, math, science, and the arts (69% of transfer; 51% of freshmen); and will help them acquire information from many content areas outside their major (65% of transfer; 57% of freshmen). Most respondents "Agreed" or "Strongly Agreed" that the General Education courses were likely to vary in value, but more than half would be worthwhile to them.
General Opinions of Experience at PSU
The majority of both freshmen and transfer students "Agreed" or "Strongly Agreed" that they were in classes they wanted to take (73% of transfer; 75% of freshmen) and that they were in at least one class they found intellectually exciting (91% of transfer; 86% of freshmen). Seventy-eight percent of transfer students and 77% of freshmen reported that they felt socially comfortable coming onto campus and going to classes, and most respondents said that they had met other students who may become friends (66% of transfer; 74% of freshmen).
Reasons for Attending PSU
The reasons for attending PSU rated as "Important" or "Very Important" by the largest number of respondents were Preparing for a career (91% of transfer; 92% of freshmen); Receiving a college degree (91% of transfer; 88% of freshmen); and Enrichment of their lives (84% of transfer; 73% of freshmen).
Reasons for the Decision to Attend PSU
Reasons rated as "Important" or "Very Important" by most of the respondents in reaching their decision to attend PSU were Program Offerings (68% of transfer; 65% of freshmen), Ability to Stay in Portland (80% of transfer; 69% of freshmen), and Cost (66% of transfer; 75% of freshmen). The reasons for the decision to attend PSU marked as "neutral" by respondents include Recommendation of School Counselors (42% of transfer; 39% of freshmen), Recommendation of Employer (40% of transfer; 41% of freshmen); Recommendation of Friends (42% of transfer; 43% of freshmen); and the Reputation of the University (34% of transfer; 35% of freshmen).
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