Portland
State University Research Update
Office of Institutional Research and Planning
Volume 2, Issue 4 Summer 1999
The majority of respondents (63%) entered Portland State as transfer students. Most respondents are employed (72%) and work 16-35 hours a week (60%). (See Figure 1.) Most (83%) received some form of financial aid for their education; of these, half (51%) utilize a combination of sources and a third (32%) acquire loans only. The majority (85%) are not responsible for the care of children or other dependents. Nearly all respondents live off campus (89%) and most drive alone (47%) or use public transportation (36%) to commute to PSU. More than half of the students (60%) reported attending both day and evening classes. (See Figure 2.) For the levels of parental education status, most respondents’ fathers had attended some college (24%) or completed their degree (43%), and most respondents’ mothers had also attended some college (28%) or completed their degree (30%).
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ACADEMIC STATUS AND GOALS
Most respondents plan to earn a degree at PSU (95%); some intend to earn a bachelor’s degree (37%), while others intend to pursue master’s (36%) and doctoral (12%) degrees. Half of the respondents decided on their majors during their sophomore or junior years (52%), although a fourth decided before enrolling in college (23%). Over half (58%) had not changed their majors while at PSU so far. Almost a third of students (31%) stated that attending college is a means of satisfying their career goals; not quite as many are attending college to prepare for a graduate or professional degree (29%). Over half of the respondents (55%) listed academic performance as their top concern as they continue their studies at PSU; finances (22%) and course availability (15%) were also top concerns. (See Figure 3.) When asked how supportive certain groups or individuals were of their educational goals, respondents reported that employers, PSU staff and faculty, and fellow students were supportive; parents, spouse or partner, and friends were very supportive.
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When asked about the factors that were important in their decision to attend PSU, most stated that the ability to stay in Portland (79%) and cost (75%) were important or very important. The reputation of the University (40%), its programs (48%) and program offerings (66%) were also important factors. University Studies, Senior Capstone, and employer recommendations were the least important factors. (See Figure 4.)
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he most significant reasons for attending PSU at the present time were receiving a college degree (95%), preparing for a career (94%), and increasing potential income (85%). Of least significance were changing careers (27%) and meeting others (36%). (See Figure 5.)
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Figure 6 shows how often students participated in coursework activities. Respondents reported frequent use of the Internet and the library for research and stated they were required to write academic essays often. Oral presentations and group projects were also often required in their courses, whereas math and graphic projects were required less frequently.
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SATISFACTION WITH PSU
Respondents were asked if they would choose to pursue their undergraduate education at PSU again. Almost half (48%) responded that they would, while 25% stated they would not; 27% were undecided. Most respondents thought their employers (67%) and friends (52%) would rate PSU’s academic reputation as good. The majority of students (77%) stated that PSU offers the courses and programs they need to achieve their long-range career goals. A second set of satisfaction questions covered the classroom environment, faculty, and courses, as shown in Figure 7. Over half the respondents indicated that PSU is a welcoming place for students where faculty members are accessible and staff are helpful. A majority of students reported that they are in classes that they want to take (80%) and are in at least one class that they find intellectually stimulating (92%). Most respondents are socially comfortable coming onto campus and going to class (84%) and have met other students who became friends (78%). Despite this, many students (67%) do not participate in special events, student organizations, or social activities offered at PSU. When asked about satisfaction with campus life and opportunities for social interaction at PSU, half of the respondents were neutral (52%) and only one-fourth (26%) expressed satisfaction.
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In response to questions about satisfaction with PSU’s services, most respondents expressed satisfaction with the library (87%), admissions (86%), financial aid (75%), registration (79%), advising (53%), orientation (69%), and transfer evaluation procedures (68%). Most students were also satisfied with the availability of classes at registration (57%), the quality of instruction (77%), course content (82%), and testing and grading practices (83%). (See Figure 8.)
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Overall, students indicated that their experiences at PSU were positive. Over half reported that the classroom activities in which they participated were in keeping with general education requirements, as shown in Figure 6. Over half also expressed satisfaction with most of the campus and classroom environment items (see Figure 7) and all of the student services items (see Figure 8). For more information, please contact Juliette Stoering, Institutional Research Analyst, OIRP at stoerij@oirp.pdx.edu or at (503) 725-3432.
Juliette Stoering, Institutional Research Analyst, and Shannon Campbell, Graduate Assistant, created this edition of the Portland State University Research Update.