Return to contents Dominican University CIRP Freshman Survey 2014 Results Higher Education Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles

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Dominican University CIRP Freshman Survey

2014 Results

Higher Education Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles

First-time, Full-time Freshmen

Dominican UniversityN=457

Catholic 4yr Colleges-medium selectivityN=4,567

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The First Year is Important…

The CIRP Freshman Survey (TFS) collects important information on what your incoming students are like before they experience college. Key sections of the survey examine:

• College admissions decisions• Financing college• High school experiences and behaviors• Knowledge, skills and abilities• Expectations for college-major and career• Expectations for college life

2

INCOMING FIRST YEAR STUDENTS

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Table of Contents

Demographics Sex and Race/Ethnicity

Distance from Home

Type of High School

College Admissions Decisions College Applications

Accepted/Attending First Choice

Reasons for Attending College

Reasons for Attending This College

Financing College Economic Situation

Educational Expenses

Ability to Finance Education

High School Experience Academic Preparation

Habits of Mind Construct

Pluralistic Orientation

Academic Self-Concept

Civic Engagement

Health and Wellness

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Expectations for College-

Major and Career

Expectations for College Life

3

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A Note about CIRP Constructs

We use the CIRP Constructs throughout this PowerPoint to help summarize important information about your students from the TFS.

Constructs statistically aggregate the results from CIRP questions that tap into key aspects of the college experience. They focus on student traits and institutional practices contributing to students’ academic and social development. 4

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Demographics

36.5%

63.5%

Male

Female

Your Institution

5

40.9%

59.1%

Male Female

Comparison Group

SEX

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Demographics

African American/

Black

American Indian/ Alaska Native

Asian/ Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Is-

lander

Latino White/ Caucasian

Other Race/ Ethnicity

Two or More Races/ Eth-

nicities

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

6.4%

0.0%2.6%

49.8%

34.0%

0.2%

7.0%6.0%

0.1%3.0%

16.7%

65.7%

1.3%

7.2%

Race/Ethnicity

Your Institution Comparison Group

6

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Demographics

Sex

7

5 or less 6-10 11-50 51-100 101-500 Over 5000%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

19.1%

32.9% 33.8%

7.0% 5.7%1.5%

7.8%

12.8%

35.2%

16.1%

21.2%

6.9%

Your Institution

How many miles is this college from your permanent home?

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Demographics

Sex

8

Public school (not charter or

magnet)

Public charter school

Public magnet school

Private reli-gious/parochial

school

Private inde-pendent college-

prep school

Home school0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

71.3%

7.2%

1.8%

13.3%

6.1%

0.2%

72.4%

2.9% 2.7%

17.3%

4.3%0.4%

Your Institution

From what kind of high school did you graduate?

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College Admissions Decisions

Many factors impact incoming students’ college choice, including the benefits they see in attending college and considerations about which specific college to attend.

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College Admissions Decisions

Sex

10

None 1 2 3 4 5 6 7-10 11 or more

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

6.3% 5.5%

12.5% 14.2% 12.9%16.0%

8.8%

17.3%

6.6%10.2%

8.0%11.4%

16.5% 15.7%12.0%

7.6%

14.2%

4.4%


To how many colleges other than this one did you apply for admission this year?

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College Acceptance

11

86.0%

14.0%

Were you ac-cepted by your first choice col-

lege?

Yes No

First Choice Second Choice

Third Choice Less than Third Choice

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

42.9%40.3%

12.9%

3.9%

60.4%

27.2%

8.7%

3.7%


Is this college your …

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

8.6% 9.0%15.6%

26.3%33.0%

42.1%

18.5% 21.6%

89.7% 89.3%82.9%

71.1% 58.4% 44.5%

78.9% 75.5%

To be able to get a better job

To gain a general education and ap-preciation of ideas

To make me a more cultured person

To be able to make more money

College Choice

12

Your Institution Comparison Group Very Important Very Important Somewhat Important Somewhat Important

In deciding to go to college, how important to

you was each of the following reasons?

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

11.0%17.4%

11.8% 14.0%20.8% 25.0%

88.1%81.1%

86.6% 84.1% 69.3% 62.9%

To learn more about things that interest me

To get training for a specific career

To prepare myself for graduate or professional

school

College Choice

13


In deciding to go to college, how important to you was each of the following reasons?

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

32.0%27.6%

38.1% 42.4% 41.2% 40.1%34.9% 30.7%

38.2% 35.5%

64.2% 69.1% 46.0% 39.7%34.5% 36.6%

55.2% 61.1%38.0% 40.8%

This college has a very good academic

reputation

This college has a good reputa-

tion for its social activities

This college’s graduates gain

admission to top graduate/profes-

sional schools

This college’s graduates get

good jobs

The percentage of students that graduate from

this college

College ChoiceHow important was each reason in your decision to

attend this college?

14


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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

16.1%21.2% 20.8%

35.5%28.9%

18.9% 22.3%14.9%

81.2% 73.4% 75.1% 49.4%

19.0%

12.1%

28.3%

14.8%

I was offered finan-cial assistance

The cost of at-tending this

college

Not offered aid by first choice

Could not af-ford first choice



15


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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

45.5% 44.1%

31.7% 31.3%37.8%

32.9% 33.1% 34.9%

21.3% 20.7% 46.5%

31.3%13.1%

13.1%

48.1% 49.0%

My parents wanted me to come here

I wanted to live near home

Rankings in national maga-

zines

A visit to the campus



16


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Financing College

Economic factors play an important role in students’ decisions about

college.

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Financing CollegeThe percentage of students with at least some funds

from these various sources.

18

Other sources

Aid to be repaid

Aid not to be repaid

Personal resources

Family resources

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

8.9%

68.2%

85.6%

69.0%

79.4%

11.7%

78.3%

88.8%

82.1%

82.8%


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Financing CollegeDo you have any concern about your ability

to finance your college education?

19

None Some Major0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

12.3%

60.1%

27.6%28.4%

57.9%

13.7%

Your Institution

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High School Experiences

Understanding students’ established behaviors in high

school helps foster skills, knowledge and abilities in the curriculum and co-curriculum.

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High School ExperiencesPlease mark which of the following courses you have

completed?

21

Algebra II Pre-Calculus/

Trigonometry

Probability & Sta-tistics

Calculus AP Probability & Statistics

AP Calculus0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100% 97.6%

82.1%

19.5%15.1%

9.3%

15.3%

98.0%

85.4%

29.6%26.6%

12.8%

19.7%

Your Institution

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English Reading Mathematics Writing0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

30.2% 30.2% 28.4% 26.7%24.0% 23.2% 24.0%

20.7%

Your Institution

22

Have you had any remedial work in any of the following subjects?

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10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

13.8%11.6%

31.7%

21.4%

8.5% 7.4%

19.5%

12.4%

Your Institution

23

Do you feel you will need any remedial work in any of the following subjects?

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High Pluralistic Orientation

All FTFT Men Women40

42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

49.7

48.3

50.5

49.2 48.849.4

Habits of Mind Habits of Mind is a unified measure of the behaviors and traits associated with academic success. These learning behaviors are

seen as the foundation for lifelong learning.

Construct Items

• Support your opinion with logical argument

• Seek solutions to problems and explain them

to others• Seek alternative solutions to a

problem• Evaluate the quality or

reliability of information you received• Ask questions in class• Take a risk because you felt you

had more to gain• Seek feedback on academic

work • Explore topics on your own,

even though it was not required for a class• Accept mistakes as part of the

learning process• Revise your papers to improve

your writing• Look up scientific research

articles and resources

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42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

50.9 50.7 51.0

49.5 49.849.3


Construct Items

• Tolerance of others with different beliefs

• Ability to work cooperatively with diverse

people• Ability to discuss and

negotiate controversial issues• Openness to having my views

challenged• Ability to see the world from

someone else's perspective

Pluralistic OrientationPluralistic Orientation measures skills and dispositions appropriate

for living and working in a diverse society.

25




42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

47.248.4

46.5

47.949.1

47.0


Construct Items

• Self-rated academic ability• Self-rated mathematical

ability• Self-rated self-confidence

(intellectual)• Self-rated drive to achieve

Academic Self-Concept

Self-awareness and confidence in academic environments help students learn by encouraging their intellectual inquiry. Academic

Self-Concept is a unified measure of students’ beliefs about their abilities and confidence in academic

environments.

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Civic EngagementEngaged citizens are a critical element in the functioning of our

democratic society. Civic Engagement measures the extent to which students are

motivated and involved in civic, electoral and political activities.


42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

49.448.5

49.849.548.7

50.1

Construct Items

Publicly communicated your opinion about a cause Worked on a local, state, or national political campaign Demonstrated for a cause Keeping up to date with political affairs Influencing social values Helped raise money for a cause or campaign Performed volunteer work


27


Health and WellnessStudents’ physical and emotional well-being can affect many

important aspects of the student experience including academic performance and persistence. These items gauge student behaviors, attitudes and experiences related to health and

wellness.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

48.7% 51.4%43.0%

37.9%

46.3% 38.5%

15.9%

10.2%

Felt overwhelmed by all you had to do

Felt depressed

Your Institution Comparison Group Frequently Frequently Occasionally Occasionally

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Health and Wellness

Learning disability

ADHD Autism spectrum

Physical disability

Chronic illness Psychological disorder

0%

10%

20%

1.5%

4.8%

0.4%

4.0%

0.9%

7.5%

3.4%

5.3%

0.7%

3.9%

2.2%

7.2%


29

Do you have any of the following disabilities or medical conditions?

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Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

These items illustrate students’ views of their academic skills and

abilities.

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High School ExperiencesAt this institution, which course placement tests have you

taken in the following subject areas:

31


10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

73.4%

25.5%

98.7%

79.9%

35.7%

25.8%

54.8%

33.6%

Your Institution


Knowledge, Skills and AbilitiesThink about your current abilities and tell us how

strong or weak you believe you are in each of the following areas:

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

50.7% 50.9%42.1% 45.1%

24.7%18.9%

23.1% 22.7%

21.6%22.8%

26.7%

12.5%

General knowledge Knowledge of a particular field or discipline

Foreign language ability

Your Institution Comparison Group A Major Strength A Major Strength Somewhat Strong Somewhat Strong




0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

31.8% 30.3%22.7% 26.3%

20.0% 22.7%

19.2%12.2%

12.8% 9.9%13.0% 9.7%

Understanding of the problems facing your

community

Understanding of national issues

Understanding of global issues





0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

43.4% 40.7% 41.2% 42.7%

28.4% 32.3%

22.5%17.7%

25.8% 21.3%

18.3%16.9%

Critical thinking skills Problem-solving skills


Ability to manage your time effectively




0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

34.4% 30.8% 33.6% 31.6%

15.0%11.0%

19.7%16.6%

Interpersonal skills


Knowledge of people from different races/cultures

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Expectations for College:Major and Career

Understanding students’ intended majors and career aspirations helps

them plot an intentional and meaningful course of study.


Expectations: MajorPlease indicate your intended major.

Your Inst

Comp

Group

YourInst

CompGrou

p

Agriculture 0.2% 0.1% Fine Arts 3.3% 1.2%

Biological & Life Sciences

9.9% 14.8%

Mathematics or Computer Science

3.7% 3.5%

Business 18.4% 17.2%

Physical Science 0.9% 2.2%

Education 6.4% 6.4% Social Science 12.3%

7.4%

Engineering 4.8% 4.9% Justice and Security 3.5% 3.7%

English 1.8% 1.5% Library Science 0.0% 0.0%

Health Professions 15.1% 21.3%

Other Non-technical 3.7% 2.3%

History or Political Science

2.2% 3.1% Undecided 9.6% 6.3%

Arts & Humanities 4.2% 4.4%

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Expectations: MajorDo you consider yourself Pre-Med or Pre-Law?

38

Pre-Med Pre-Law0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

22.4%

8.5%

22.2%

6.3%

Your Institution


Expectations: CareerPlease indicate your intended career.

Your Inst

CompGrou

p

YourInst

CompGroup

Agriculture/Natural Resources

0.7% 0.4% Health Professional 13.9%

11.8%

Artist 7.2% 4.8% Homemaker/Stay-at-Home Parent

0.0% 2.9%

Business 17.2%

13.7%

Information Technology Professional

2.5% 2.8%

Business (Admin Assistant)

1.1% 0.3% Lawyer 1.8% 2.8%

Clergy 0.2% 0.5% Military 0.0% 1.4%

College Faculty 0.2% 0.3% Nurse 5.8% 5.4%

Communications 1.1% 1.6% Research Scientist 1.8% 2.6%

Doctor (MD or DDS) 4.9% 8.8% Service Industry 0.0% 0.3%

Education (elementary/secondary)

6.9% 6.2% Skilled worker 0.0% 0.2%

Engineer 4.5% 2.6% Social/Non-Profit Services 0.4% 6.5%

Government 5.1% 4.9% Other 12.1%

12.7%

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Expectations: Time to DegreeHow many years do you expect it will take you to

graduate from this college?

1 2 3 4 5 6+ Do not plan to graduate

from this college

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0.2% 0.4% 0.9%

88.3%

7.3%

0.9% 2.0%0.1% 0.4% 1.8%

85.3%

8.4%

3.1%0.9%

Your Institution

40

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Expectations: Degree AspirationsWhat is the highest academic degree that you intend to

attain?

None Voca-tional cer-tifi-cate

Associate (A.A. or equiva-

lent)

Bache-lor's

degree (B.A., B.S., etc.)

Master's degree (M.A., M.S., etc.)

Ph.D. or Ed.D.

M.D., D.O.,

D.D.S., D.V.M.

J.D. (Law)

B.D. or M.DIV.

(Divinity)

Other0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0.5% 0.0% 0.7%

25.2%

47.3%

17.6%

5.0%2.7%

0.0% 1.1%0.2% 0.1% 0.6%

20.9%

45.8%

18.1%

9.6%

3.6%0.1% 1.1%


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Expectations for College Life

Understanding students’ expectations helps provide

opportunities for students to grow intellectually, interpersonally and

affectively.

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

43.7% 39.5%32.7% 32.9%

42.9% 39.8%

33.4%34.7%

36.7%30.6%

46.7%47.2%

Participate in volunteer or community service work

Participate in a study abroad program

Discuss course content with students outside of class

Expectations for College LifeWhat is your best guess as to the chances that you will:

43

Your Institution Comparison Group Very Good Chance Very Good Chance Some Chance Some Chance

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

38.2%47.2%

18.2% 16.9%

37.8% 41.8%

52.4%41.1%

8.3% 6.2%

42.9% 33.7%

Communicate regularly with your professors

Take a course exclusively on-line at this institution

Work on a professor’s re-search project


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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

29.3%22.0%

7.4% 6.9%

23.8%16.5%

9.6%

6.5%

3.6% 2.4%

4.7%

4.2%

Need extra time to complete your degree requirements

Take a leave of absence from this college temporarily

Transfer to another college before graduating


45



For more information about

HERI/CIRP Surveys

The Freshman SurveyYour First College Year Survey

Diverse Learning Environments Survey

College Senior SurveyThe Faculty Survey

Please contact:[email protected](310) 825-1925

www.heri.ucla.edu

The more you get to know your students, the better you can

understand their needs.

Documents

Return to contents Dominican University CIRP Freshman Survey 2014 Results Higher Education Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles