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The Canadian Undergraduate Survey: Building Partnerships Through Effective Institutional Research CACUSS 2007 – Saskato

The Canadian Undergraduate Survey: Building Partnerships Through Effective Institutional Research CACUSS 2007 – Saskatoon. Presented by: Lynn Smith , University of Manitoba Dan Pletzer , Nipissing University Nicholas Borodenko , Prairie Research Associates. History and overview.

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The Canadian Undergraduate Survey: Building Partnerships Through Effective Institutional Research CACUSS 2007 – Saskato

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  1. The Canadian Undergraduate Survey:Building Partnerships Through Effective Institutional ResearchCACUSS 2007 – Saskatoon Presented by: Lynn Smith, University of Manitoba Dan Pletzer, Nipissing University NicholasBorodenko, Prairie Research Associates

  2. History and overview

  3. CUSC history and overview • The Canadian Undergraduate Survey Consortium (CUSC) involves a group of universities that conducts an annual survey of students • Began in 1994 by Garth Wannan (University of Manitoba), Eric McKee (Dalhousie University), and Dennis Domoney (University of Lethbridge) • The goal was to better understand students’ experiences at university and to provide benchmarks across time and against other universities

  4. CUSC composition • Began with group of 8 universities • Has grown to 35 universities in 2007 • While some universities have participated each year since 1994, others have chosen to be involved only in specific years • Some universities have 12 years of data to track their performance

  5. CUSC coordination • Coordinated by the University of Manitoba • Since 2000, PRA has been managing and reporting on the survey • First survey conducted in 1994 • Thirteenth survey conducted in 2007 • Fielding period is February to April

  6. Survey format • Three-year cycle • All undergraduates (94, 96, 99, 02, 05, 08) • Graduating students (97, 00, 03, 06) • First-year students (98, 01, 04, 07) • Option of paper-based or Web-based format • Movement toward 100% use of Web-based methodology (2008)

  7. Questionnaire • Six-page questionnaire gathers between 175-200 pieces of information • Survey focus varies depending on target group (first year, all undergraduates, graduating) • Generally, questionnaire focuses on areas such as students’: • Finances/debt • Growth and development • Job prospects • Choice of university • Satisfaction with university (facilities, services, faculty, etc.) • Questionnaires are reviewed/refined annually

  8. Sample size • Random sample of 1,000 students • Includes full-time and part-time students • Excludes independent or special students • Universities are responsible for generating random sample (PRA is available to provide assistance) • Universities have the option to increase sample size

  9. Web-based methodology • Pilot tested in 2005 with six universities • First offered as an option in 2006 • 12 of 25 universities used the Web-based format • To participate in web survey, university provides PRA with e-mail addresses for the sample of students • Universities also provided text for invitations/reminders, logos, and electronic signatures to help validate survey • PRA e-mails students personalized invitations, including unique link to survey • Total of three e-mails, sent at one-week intervals

  10. 2007 Survey Results Survey of First-year Students

  11. 2007 Survey of First-year Students • 35 universities participated • 32 web-based • 3 paper-based • 12,682 completed questionnaires returned • Overall response rate of 44% • Paper-based response rate: 34% • Web-based response rate: 44% • Per university response rate ranged from 20% to 69%

  12. Who are First-Year Students? • The typical student is an 18-year-old female • Most commonly, students are living at home (46%) or in on campus housing (33%) • 18% report belonging to a visible minority • 5% report having a disability • 3% report being Aboriginal • Average grade in high school was an A-

  13. Where did they apply? • 62% applied to universities other than the one they are attending and 12% applied to college • On average, these students applied to two other universities, mostly within their home province (67%) • Still, 83% are attending their university of choice • 93% were satisfied with the application process to their university

  14. What motivated them to attend? • Most important reason for attending university: • prepare for a specific job (42%) • get a good job (25%) • Most important reasons for attending their current university: • a specific career-related program (21%) • to live close to home (20%) • the quality of academic program (16%) • Previous contact that persuaded them: • Campus visit (25%) • University web-site (18%) • Brochures or pamphlets (17%) • Visit by university representative to their school (12%)

  15. How did they register? • 51% of students received some help from their university while registering, of which 94% were satisfied • Most registered on-line (91%) or in-person (23%) • 89% were able to register for all (54%) or most of the courses they wanted (35%)

  16. What are they doing in their first year? • Top 5 majors/subjects of concentration • Arts and Humanities: 26% • Social Science: 15% • Business: 13% • Biological Science: 13% • Physical Sciences: 9% • 82% taking a full course load • Average grade expected in first year is between a B and a B+

  17. Which sources are students using to finance their education?

  18. How much are they relying on these sources for?

  19. How are they paying for their university education? • Average student requires $10,000 to pay for their first year of university • Relying on multiple sources – 3 on average • 19% of those with student loans say they are having difficulty maintaining course load to fulfill loan requirements • 29% of those with a scholarship, award, or bursary say they would not have been able to attend without one • 20% are very concerned about having enough funds to complete their post-secondary education

  20. Where have they found success? • Most find success: • Finding their way around campus (97%) • Understanding course content and information (96%) • Meeting academic demands (92%) • Finding a program of studies to meet their objectives (90%) • Students find less success: • Becoming involved in campus activities (46%) • Getting academic advice (67%) • Finding useful information on careers (67%)

  21. How satisfied are first-year with…

  22. Institutional Use of Data Building Partnerships- Strengthening Institutions

  23. How institutions use the data • Use is broad and varies • Teaching Excellence • Retention • Recruitment • Marketing • Strategic Planning

  24. University of Saskatchewan • Marketing and Student Recruitment • Student Employment and Career Centre (Survey of Graduating Students) • Service Learning • Integrated Planning on Teaching and Learning (using past 6 years of survey results) • Campus Safety • Distribution to key stakeholders on campus

  25. University of Lethbridge • Presentations to University Board and President’s executive • Comparisons to peer group in areas of student demographics, use and satisfaction of services/facilities, finances, impact on growth and development • Helps to identify areas of strength and areas for potential improvement

  26. University ofWinnipeg • Program planning for adultlearners (larger proportion of non-traditional learners  older, p/t jobs, non-regular study hours) • Department heads are provided with survey results to identify strengths & weaknesses in their particular areas • Theme-based Strategic Planning presentations • Performance tracking for areas undergoing change (e.g., Aboriginal Services)

  27. Example provided by the University of Winnipeg • Part of the input for a major investment in a new Student Information System that would allow on-line registration Source: CUSC surveys of first year students

  28. Residences: Example provided by the University of Winnipeg • Data was used as one indicator of the market for student housing • 3% of sample live on campus • About 8% dissatisfied with finding suitable housing • 11% would live on campus if given opportunity Source: CUSC surveys of first year students

  29. University of Manitoba • Circulates a series of 6 research reports on student satisfaction (also distributed to CACUSS Newswire and put on-line at http://umanitoba.ca/student/research_reports.html) • Data shared with Public Affairs and Institutional Analysis Offices, as requested • Used by various Student Affairs Offices for student-liferelated evaluation and planning • Undergraduate Experience at Canadian Universities

  30. University of Ottawa • CUSC data (% of students satisfied) is used as an indicator in the university’s Service Quality Assessment in establishing its Balanced Score Card report • Used for yearly planning and operations • http://web5.uottawa.ca/vision2010/scorecard-students_2005.html • http://web5.uottawa.ca/vision2010/scorecard-academic_2005.html#

  31. Nipissing University • Evaluation of services and facilities • Influenced the Strategic Planning Process (e.g. library, athletics, student awards / financial assistance) • Departmental reports are prepared according to subject major/concentration for evaluation of strengths and areas of improvement • Board of Governors presentations on overall university performance • http://www.nipissingu.ca/accountability/downloads/Appendix%20B%20-%20Multi-Year%20Action%20Plan.pdf • http://www.nipissingu.ca/president/downloads/PresReport2006.pdf

  32. % satisfied/very satisfied with services/facilities Nipissing University Source: 2004-2005 CUSC Survey (comprehensive)

  33. Dalhousie University • Used for parts of the President’s annual reports to the Board and Senate • “Sore thumbing”: Surveys have indicated areas where we need to improve. Data from later surveys helps us to determine whether efforts to improve are working.

  34. Looking ahead…

  35. ‘Business as usual’ • Fall 2007 - Preparation for Comprehensive Survey • Participants are invited to provide input into the survey during the fall meeting in Winnipeg • Jan – Feb 2008: Survey goes into the field

  36. ‘New & exciting business’ • Plans for Incorporation • New name Canadian ‘University’ Survey Consortium • New members welcome • Web sitewww.cusc-ccreu.ca

  37. Contacts

  38. CUSC Steering Committee • Ken Kush, Trinity Western University • kush@twu.ca • Michael O’Sullivan, Dalhousie University Michael.OSullivan@Dal.CA • Dan Pletzer, Nipissing University danp@nipissingu.ca • Lynn Smith, University of Manitoba lynn_smith@umanitoba.ca

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