1997 Freshman Survey: UNLV Responses Prepared by Rebecca Mills, Ed. D., Special Assistant to the President for Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research March 10, 1998 Introduction Since Fall 1966, the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) has conducted a longitudinal study of the American higher education system sponsored by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Graduate School of Education and Information Services at the University of California, Los Angeles. One project in the comprehensive study looks at the characteristics of students attending American colleges and universities as first-time, full-time freshmen. Better known as the "Freshman Survey," the project seeks to "provide a normative profile of the American freshman population for use by individuals engaged in policy ysis, human resource planning, campus administration, educational research, and guidance and counseling." Results from the freshman survey often are included in the mainstream press as well as the Chronicle of Higher Education. The 1997 national norms are based on the responses of 252,082 students at 4 of the nation’’s two- and four-year colleges and universities. As a part of an institutional assessment plan, UNLV participates in the national survey of freshmen. Respondents 1,489 of UNLV’’s 3229 freshmen responded to the 1997 Freshman Survey. Of the respondents, 45.5% were male, and 54.5% were female; 71% of the respondents were 20 years of age or younger. More than half of the respondents were first-time, full-time freshmen; most others were transfer students, and a few were part time freshmen. When looked at as a group, 56% of the freshmen were 1997 high school graduates; 27% graduated from high school before 1995. The majority of the respondents (67%) were white; 6% were black, 5% Native American, 9% Hispanic, and 21% Asian. (The percentages add to more than 100 because some students selected more than one response). One of the more interesting findings from the survey results was that 16% of the students reported that they were not native speakers of English; obviously, this has implications for faculty and for student services personnel. Despite some assumptions that UNLV’’s students are overwhelmingly local residents, fully a quarter of the students indicate that their permanent residence is more than 500 miles from UNLV. However, 41% report that their permanent home is fewer than eleven miles from UNLV, and another 27% live between eleven and fifty miles from UNLV. Fully two-thirds of the students expect to remain in Las Vegas once they complete their education. We know that students whose parents did not attend college face significant barriers to attaining a postsecondary education. These students tend to be less informed about postsecondary education and its processes and are significantly more likely to delay enrollment, a factor shown to inhibit attaining a bachelor’’s degree. Among UNLV’’s freshmen, 54% of the students’’ fathers and 38% of their mothers have earned at least a bachelor’’s degree. The national norms for four-year public colleges are 45% of fathers and 41% for mothers. In addition, a 1988 study found that educational attainment was lower for children of divorced parents or from single-parent families than for children of still-married parents. Almost two-thirds of UNLV’’s freshmen indicated that their parents were living together. Students’’ Views of UNLV and University Life Most UNLV freshmen chose deliberately to attend UNLV. Sy percent of the students indicated that UNLV was their first choice in a college, and another 20% said that UNLV was their second choice. Fifty-six percent did not even apply to another school, but 74% indicated that they were accepted at another college. The respondents come to UNLV with the full intent of earning a degree (80%), expecting to be satisfied with their college experience (43%), and feeling they fit in (91%). Although six percent of the respondents expect to need extra time in attaining a degree, the freshmen have high expectations for themselves. Two-thirds of the students indicate that they plan to earn a graduate degree during their lifetime; in fact, a third of them plan to earn a graduate degree at UNLV. Perhaps because the majority (76%) earned high school grades of B or higher, 53% expect to earn a B average in college, and 17% expect to graduate with honors. Interestingly, though, more than half of the respondents think that there is at least some chance that they will need a tutor. Despite the fact that an overwhelming majority (approximately 93%) of UNLV’’s undergraduates live off-campus, 90% of these freshmen expect to spend out-of-class hours on campus. Many plan to participate in intramural or club sports (56%), attend on-campus fine arts evening activities (83%), and/or attend intercollegiate athletic competitions (72%). These expectations, which may surprise some faculty and staff, have implications for student life activities planners and contradict the notion that UNLV, at least for students who enter as freshmen, is a "typical commuter school." Student Concerns about Financing their Education Many of the students (65%) have at least some concern about financing college; in fact, 17% said that it was a major concern. They expect to receive the majority of their expenses from "parental or family aid"; however, almost a third of the students’’ parents have incomes of less than $40,000. In addition, 60% of the parents are supporting three or more dependents. Fifty-six percent of the students expect to work while attending college; in fact, almost a quarter of them indicate they plan to work full-time while in college. Twenty percent of the students expect to borrow $1,500 or more to cover the first year’’s educational expenses; this proportion is directly in line with national averages for other four-year, public institutions and supports increasing concern about the rising amount of student loan debt. Students’’ Intended Majors and Careers Survey respondents were asked to select their major field of study. The results were as follows: Business 38% Engineering 7% Health Sciences 8% Sciences 9%. Other 2% Education 9% Fine Arts 7% Liberal Arts 8% Affairs 6% Undecided 5% It is important to note that the survey does not include a choice for a hotel major, however, 220 freshmen enrolled in hotel courses during fall 1997 participated in the survey as a special breakout group. A detailed ysis of their responses will be prepared by Dr. Thomas Jones from the College of Hotel Administration. In addition, responses that make up the 38% in business include 18% who marked "other business"; many of these likely are hotel majors. Ten percent of the respondents were undecided about their probable career. However 28% indicated that they intend to work in business related careers, and 11% plan to pursue careers in education. All other options were selected by fewer than 5% of the students. Assessment Information The Freshman Survey is but one of several assessment projects currently underway at UNLV. The Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research currently is yzing the Freshman Survey data, coordinating a major survey of alumni, and examining performance of UNLV students on the Graduate Record Exam and on several licensing examinations. The Office of the Provost is working with the faculty to design college-level assessment plans that focus on assessing student learning in light of identified program-level educational outcomes. In addition, major assessment is planned or underway in Continuing Education, University and Community Relations, and Student Affairs. The University Assessment Committee plans to share findings from major assessment activities with the campus through a flyer (小册子) called University Assessment Facts. All the UNLV freshmen responded to the 1997survey.