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1998 ENTERING STUDENTS SURVEY |
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SURVEY OF ‘97-'98 ENTERING STUDENTS
Spring 1998
The Office of Institutional Research and Planning at Portland State University conducted a survey in Spring 1998 of ‘97-98 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 students who entered Portland State University Fall 1997. Among these students, 199 (36%) were new freshmen and 347 (64%) were new transfer students. A break down of the responses reflects the following: For 75% of new students PSU was their first choice when applying for admission to college; 72% of students indicated they applied to PSU because of courses or programs offered that would allow them to achieve their long-range career plans. Eighty percent of new students indicated that their immediate educational plan was to earn a bachelor's degree at PSU. Most freshmen (90%) expected to earn their bachelor's degree in 3 to 5 years, while most transfer students (71%) planned to complete their degree in 1 to 2 years. Ninety six percent of new students planned to attend school full-time (taking 12 or more credits per term during the 1997-1998 school year) and 77% of the students expected to work at least part-time.
Reasons for Attending PSU
In the 1998 Entering Student Survey respondents were asked about their reasons for attending PSU. A majority of them reported that the main reasons for attending PSU were: Receiving a college degree (93%); Preparing for a career (92%); Enriching life (81%); Increasing potential income (79%), and; Preparation for graduate or professional degrees (72%).
In the survey, entering students were asked to rate the importance of 12 factors in reaching their decision to attend PSU. The four top factors were: Ability to stay in Portland area (75%); Cost (73%); Program offerings (68%), and; Reputation of programs (50%).
General Opinions of Experience at PSU
While entering students’ overall experience at PSU was positive, there were some differences between the experiences of freshmen and transfers. Fifty five percent of transfer students felt PSU met their expectations while 49% of freshman felt their expectations were being met. Academically, both groups reported that they were able to take classes they wanted (65% of freshmen; 70% of transfers) and that they found classes intellectually exciting (86% of freshmen; 87% of transfers). Socially, 76% of transfer students felt comfortable coming onto campus and going to class as compared to 66% of freshmen. Transfer students (54%) were also more likely to know how to get help with questions and concerns than freshmen (49%). Most students (69% of freshmen; 67% of transfers) indicated that they had met other students who may become friends and a little over half of these students (58% of freshmen; 53% of transfers) had met a faculty member with whom they could talk.
Experiences with the Admissions
Office
The survey results reveal that entering students were very satisfied with the Admissions Office and its services. Among nine statements in this survey section, the three items with which respondents indicated the highest level of satisfaction were: Office hours (87% of freshmen; 92% of transfers); People working in the office (90% of freshmen; 88% of transfers), and; People who answer the phone at the office (87% of freshmen; 85% of transfers). The survey results indicate that freshmen were more satisfied with the Admissions Office than transfer students in the following aspects: Prompt responses to requests for information and materials (81%); Prompt processes of application for admissions (84%); Admissions staff willing to help find answers to many questions (83%). Compared with freshmen, transfer students were satisfied with the following services: Information about transfer credit evaluation (68%); Accurate and helpful referrals received from the office (78%), and; Availability to meet with an Admission Counselor when needed (57%).
Educational Support Received
Entering students were asked in the survey to report on the educational support they received while studying at PSU, including parents, children, spouse, employer, fellow students, PSU faculty, PSU staff, and friends. The survey results show that "Friends" and "Parents" were rated higher than other sources by both groups. A majority of respondents in each group reported that: Parents (90% of freshmen; 82% of transfers); Friends (81% of freshmen; 83% of transfers); Fellow students (66% of freshmen; 65% of transfers), and; PSU faculty (59% of freshmen; 61% of transfers) were more supportive of their education than other sources.
Satisfaction with Services
In the survey, entering students were asked to rate their satisfaction with services they received at PSU. Services that received "High" or "Very High" satisfaction ratings were: Application procedures (54% of freshman; 51% of transfers); Orientation (54% of freshmen; 51% of transfers); Information received through Orientation Program (53% of freshmen; 42% of transfers); PSU admissions and recruiting publications (48% of freshmen; 43% of transfers); Registration procedures (49% of freshmen; 36% of transfers), and; Financial aid publications received from PSU (35% of freshmen; 45% of transfers).
The following section presents entering students’ satisfaction in four aspects: a) application procedures, b) financial aid services, c) advising , and d) other services (orientation, freshmen inquiry, and university studies).
A) Application Procedures
Overall, freshmen were more satisfied than transfer students with application procedures.
Freshmen rated Admissions publications (48%), Application
procedures (57%), and Information about the Freshman Inquiry (31%)
higher than transfer students (43%, 51%, and 22% respectively). Transfer students (20%)
reported a higher level of satisfaction than freshmen (16%) with Meeting with PSU
recruiters off campus.
B) Financial Aids Service
Transfer students were more satisfied than freshmen with all of the three items about
financial aid services, including: Financial aid publications received from PSU
(35% of freshmen; 45% of transfers); Financial aid advising prior to application
(21% of freshmen; 24% of transfers), and; Services from Financial Aid
Office staff (32% of freshmen;45% of transfers).
C) Advising
Transfer students were more satisfied than freshman with: Advising from
admissions counselor (24% of freshmen;30% of transfers); Advising
on general education requirements (23% of freshmen;33% of transfers), and; Advising
on requirements for majors (29% of freshmen;40% of transfers);
while freshmen (48%) reported more satisfaction with Advising from peer mentor
than transfer students (20%).
D) Other Services
Freshmen reported more satisfaction with: Orientation (54%); Information
from orientation (53%), and; Registration procedures (49%) than
transfer students (51%, 42%, and 36% respectively). However, transfer students (34%)
reported more satisfaction with University Studies staff than freshmen
(31%).
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