2005 CIRPThe Towson Freshman:

Results and TrendsKathryn Doherty

Director of Assessment

July 25, 2006

CIRP Background

• National Survey

• 20 Years of Data

• 85% FTFT Responding in 2005

• 1948 TU Respondents; 51,925 Nationally

• Self Reported

• National Norms are All 4-Year Colleges

CIRP Participants Reflect Campus

Younger than 20 99%

U.S. citizens 98%

English as a native language 97%

Come from public schools 80%

Plan to live on campus 72%

Towson University as first choice 68%

Largely Female

FTFT Students Gender

Female64%

Male36%

And White

Ethnicity of FTFT Students

White/Caucasian82%

African American/Black11%

Asian American/Asian4%

Other3%

And From Upper Middle Class Homes

FTFT Students' Parents Income

0

5

10

15

20

25

Less than $24,999

$25,000 to$39,999

$40,000 to$49,999

$50,000 to$59,999

$60,000 to$74,999

$75,000 to$99,999

$100,000 to$149,999

$150,000 to$200,000

$200,000 ormore

Percentage Responding Best Estimate of Your Parents Income

With Trend Toward Higher Family Incomes

FTFT Students Are Coming From Upper Middle Class

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

Less than$20000

$20000-$29999

$30000-$39999

$40000-$49999

$50000-$59999

$60000-$74999

$75000-$99999

$100000-$149999

$150000 ormore

Parents Income Range

Percentage Responding

Parents Income

1985 1995 2005

And Higher Family Income Than National CIRP Respondents

Annual Family Income $75,000 or More

40%

57%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

All 4-YearPublic

Towson

TU Students Enjoyed the Computer and Diverse Friendships

in High SchoolTen Most Frequent Activities During the Last Year in High School

0 20 40 60 80 100

Felt overw helmed by all I had to do

Discussed politics: With friends

Studied w ith other students

Discussed religion

Attended a religious service

Was bored in class

Discussed politics: In class

Socialized w ith someone of another racial/ethnic group

Used the Internet for research or homew ork

Used a personal computer

Percentage Responding Frequently

They Volunteered and Voted

Activities in the Past YearOccasionally

(%)Frequently

(%)

Performed volunteer work 58 20

Voted in a student election 57 18

Performed community service 44 14

Participated in demonstrations 40 13

Tutored another student 39 8

Worked on a political campaign 6 1

They Socialized and Worked for Pay

Typical Week in High SchoolMore than 6 hours

per week (%)

Socializing with friends 78

Working (for pay) 67

Exercise or sports 50

Watching TV 28

Partying 27

They Are Less Likely to Smoke in College But More Likely to Drink

7%

46%

5%

54%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Smoke

Drink

Towson

All 4-Year

But Don’t Worry Too Much About Paying for College

FTFT Students Concerns about Financing College

41

52

8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

None Some Major

Percentage Responding None, Some, or Major

And Are Spending Less Time Working for Pay

50%45%

35%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

1985 1995 2005

TU Students Come From Increasingly Greater Distance

More FTFT Students Are Coming From Far Away

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005

Year

PercentageRespondingMiles Away From Home

10 or less Over 50

But Live Closer than National CIRP Respondents

Students Living 50 Miles or Closer

47%

62%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

All 4-Year

Towson

TU Students’ Mothers are Increasingly More Educated

More FTFT Student Mothers Tend to Have College Education

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005

Years

Percentage

HS or less College degree or more

Yet Some Students Still Feel Women Belong At Home

Changing FTFT Student Opinion: "The activities of married women are best confined to the home and family"

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005

Year

Percentage Responding

Strongly Agree or

Somewhat Agree

TU Students Report Strong High School Grades

FTFT Students Grade Distribution

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

C+ or Below B- B B+ A- A or A+

Percentage Responding Average Grade in High School

With Trend Toward More A’s and B’s

FTFT Students Report Rising High School Grades

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005

Year

Percentage Responding

Grade

A- or higher B+ B or lower

But Falling SAT Scores

FTFT Students Report Decreasing SAT Mean Scores

535

540

545

550

555

560

565

2001 2003 2005

Year

Mean Score

SAT Verbal SAT Math

Fewer TU Students Feel They Will Need Remedial Work

11%5%

28%

5% 4%

17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

English Reading Math

All 4-YearTowson

They Come to College To Learn and Get a Job

Very Important Reasons for Coming to College

68%

71%

72%

60% 70% 80%

To be able to get a betterjob

To get training for a specificcareer

To learn more about thingsthat interest me

They Come To Towson Because of the Campus and the TU Reputation

Factor Influencing Decision Very Important (%)

A visit to the campus 41

This college has a very good academic reputation

41

I wanted to go to a school about this size 37

This college’s graduates get good jobs 35

The cost of attending this college 32

This college has a good reputation for its social activities

32

I was offered financial assistance 26

And To Obtain Personal and Career Success

Very Important to Me PersonallyPercent

Responding

Being very well off financially 79

Raising a family 75

Helping others who are difficulty 61

Becoming an authority in my field 54

Obtaining recognition from colleagues 51

TU Students Say They Are Above Average in Drive to Achieve and

Ability to LeadFTFT Students Self-Perception About their Leadership Traits

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Public speaking ability

Self-confidence(intellectual)

Self-confidence (social)

Leadership ability

Drive to achieve

Percentage Rating themselves Above Average

And Rate Themselves Higher Than National CIRP on Academics

Above Average or Highest 10% Academic Ability

61%

70%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

All 4-Year

Towson

But Not as Interested in Culture, Money or Finding a Purpose

Very Important Reasons For College

37%

75%

53%

33%

66%

45%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Culture Money Purpose

All 4-Year

Towson

And Are Spending Less Time Studying

FTFT Students Spend Less Time Studying

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

45.0

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005

Year

Percentage Responding Hours per

Week

6 or more

TU Students Report Middle of the-Road Political Views

Middle-of-the-Road 49.9

Liberal 28.2

Conservative 17.7

Far Left 2.6

Far Right 1.6

And Are Less Conservative Than National CIRP

22%

19%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

All 4-Year

Towson

But Conservative Over the Years on Affirmative Action

Changing FTFT Student Opinion: "Affirmative action in college admissions should be abolished"

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

1995 1996 1997 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005

Year

Percentage Responding

Strongly Agree or

Somewhat Agree

Although Increasingly Liberal on Legalizing Marijuana

Changing FTFT Student Opinion: "Marijuana should be legalized"

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

45.0

50.0

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005

Year

Percentage Responding

Strongly Agree or

Somewhat Agree

And Now Supporting IncreasedFederal Military Spending

Changing FTFT Student Opinion: "Federal military spending should be increased"

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

45.0

50.0

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 2003 2005

Year

Percentage Responding

Strongly Agree or

Somewhat Agree

More TU Students Choose Towson As First or Second Choice

67%

69%

23%

26%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

All 4-Year

Towson

FirstChoice

SecondChoice

They Are Confident They Will be Successful and Engaged at

TowsonSocialize with someone of another race or ethnicity

67%

Make at least “B” average 63%

Be satisfied with Towson 49%

Get a job to help pay for college 47%

Participate in student clubs/groups 35%

And 50% Continue To Say There is a “Very Good” Chance They’ll Be

Satisfied with TowsonFTFT Students Report Their Chances of Being Satisfied with Towson University

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005

Year

Percentage Responding Very Good

Chance

Be satisfied with your college

What is Next?

• College Student Survey administered Spring 2006

• 1519 Respondents from all full time degree seeking students

• Items match with many CIRP items

• Possible pre/post comparisons