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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 analysis, 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 464 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. Seventy 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 sixteen 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% Urban 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 analysis 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 analyzing 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.
单选题
This passage is a report of the survey of UNLV freshmen of 1997.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】这篇文章是对于UNLV大学1997级新生调查的报告。根据本题的关键词survey of UNLV freshmen而浏览原文,不难发现有文章的标题就显示了文章的主题1997 Freshman Survey:UNLV Responses,该句符合文章的原意。可见本题答案为YES。
单选题
All the UNLV freshmen responded to the 1997survey.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】UNLV所有的1997级新生对于调查给予了配合。由关键词1997survey可把本题定位到原文的“Respondents”一节,这里对于参加调查的人数作了介绍“1,489 of UNLV''s 3229 freshmen responded to the 1997 Freshman Survey”,可见不是所有的新生配合了调查。
单选题
The survey did not investigate into the family background of the freshmen.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】调查不涉及有关新生的家庭背景的内容。本题的关键词是the family background,由此可在原文“Respondents”一节的最后一段找到出处,这里报道了对于新生父母受教育情况和婚姻状况的调查结果。显然,调查涉及有关新生的家庭背景的内容。故本题应选NO。
单选题
According to the survey, most of the freshmen chose to attend UNLV willingly and they have high expectations for themselves.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】据调查,大部分UNLV的新生是自愿到这所大学就读的,他们对于自己寄予了很大的希望。在“Students'' Views of UNLV and University Life”一节中,文章报道了有关学生对于大学生活的看法的调查,这一节的第一句就是:“Most UNLV freshmen chose deliberately to attend UNLV.”(大部分新生是自愿到UNLV就读的),而第二段也报道了调查的结果是大部分学生对于获得学位、高分、美好的校园体验等有所期待:“the freshmen have high expectations for themselves.”(新生们对自己寄予厚望)。可见本句的内容符合原文的意思。故选YES。
单选题
None of the respondents to the survey intend to select hotel administration as their major because the College of Hotel Administration is notorious for its unprofessional faculty.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】被调查者无一人提出要选择酒店管理专业,原因是大学所属的酒店管理学院由于教师缺乏专业性而臭名昭著。由关键词major和the College of Hotel Administration的提示,在原文“students'' Intended Majors and Careers”一节找到本题的出处,原文指出:“the survey does not include a choice for a hotel major”。文章并未提及学生是否愿意选择该专业,以及该专业师资水平等内容。故应选NOT GIVEN。
单选题
The Freshman Survey is the most important survey project conducted at UNLV.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】新生调查是UNLV最为重要的调查项目。本题关键词为survey project,该定位到文章的最后一段的第一句:“The Freshman Survey is but one of several assessment projects currently underway at UNLV.”(新生调查只是UNLV的数项调查中的一项),说明本句的说法是错误的。
单选题
The report of the Freshmen Survey is prepared by the University Assessment Committee.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】新生调查报告由大学评估委员会提供。文章的开头提供了调查报告的提供者:“Rebecca Mills,Ed.D.,Special Assistant to the President for Planning,Assessment,and Institutional Research”,她是校长的计划、评估和科研助理。该句不符合原文的意思。
填空题
The project that studies the characteristics of university freshmen is known as 1.
填空题
The fact that quite a number of the freshmen of UNLV are not native speakers of English has implications for 1 and 2.
填空题
The results related to the survey over student concern about financing their education shows that more concerned should be with the rising amount of 1.