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The Role of Research in Education at NCSU

A survey developed by the NCSU Committee on Research Universities (the Senate Subcommittee on Research Universities) and the Office of the Provost

Index

Project Description
Summary and Highlights
Faculty Survey Instrument and Results
Summary Report for Department Head Survey
Department Head Survey Instrument

Project Description

 This survey was conducted to enable the NCSU Committee on Research Universities (CRU) to better understand the impact of research on education at NCSU and to communicate these findings to NCSU's constituents. Format of the final survey instruments, data collection, and preliminary analysis were carried out by University Planning and Analysis at NCSU. Survey planning, question construction, and the final analysis were carried out by the NCSU CRU (M. Kelly, G. Lee, J. Schetzina, M. Witt, J. Wortman, and E. Theil, chair).

All tenure-track faculty were surveyed during the period 12/1/93 to 1/31/94. The response rate was 70%. No significant difference by faculty status was observed between the population (N = 1594) and the usable obtained sample (n = 1114).

A complementary survey of department heads was also carried out during this same period. 50 of 70 departments responded, for a 71% response rate.

Summary and Highlights

(Synthesized from CRU discussions by E. Theil)
Research funds at NCSU make information transfer 5 times faster and equipment availability 2 times higher for undergraduates and graduates; the number of supported graduate students is increased by 1.3 times. Research dollars raised by the Faculty enhance the budget by an average of $0.27 for each salary $1.00 paid by the state.

Placement rates in jobs related to the subject studied, as a measure of educational effectiveness, show that the education of students at NCSU is enormously successful (75% of the responding departments report up to 80-100% placement within six months of the baccalaureate degree; greater than 90% placement for the master's degree; and greater than 95% for the doctoral and postdoctoral trainee).

Research information is regularly used in undergraduate teaching
In the classroom:
Over 400 faculty members use either the results of their current research or that of their colleagues in their undergraduate teaching at least once a week. 84.3% of the faculty respondents incorporate these research results into their undergraduate lectures.
Individualized study:
 More than half the faculty responding spend up to 3 hours per week with students in independent study and individualized research. 48% of the responding departments have at least 10 undergraduate studednts involved in research per year and 12% have over 30.
Fast information transfer:
The lag for new research information reaching textbooks was up to or over 5 years compared to less than one year for that same information to reach undergraduate classrooms at NCSU, according to 79% of faculty respondents.
Research funds buy equipment used in teaching:
1/3 of the responding faculty report that the equipment used in teaching was purchased with research funds they raised themselves. 34% of responding faculty use equipment purchased with research funds at least 1-2 times per week in teaching undergraduates. 50% of responding faculty use equipment purchased with external research funds at least once per week in teaching graduate students.
Graduate training is supported with faculty-raised research funds:
80% of the departments' faculty raise money to support 9 or more graduate assistantships per year. Over 1/3 of the Ph.D. students are supported by research dollars raised by the faculty.
Research funds raised by the faculty enhance the state's salary investment:
For each salary dollar invested by the State, over 1/3 of the faculty at NCSU raise an additional 33 cents, through research funds, to enhance the budget. 13.5% of faculty respondents return greater than or equal to TWO dollars in research funds they raise themselves for each one salary dollar invested by the State. On the average, the faculty add an additional 27 cents on every salary dollar paid them by the State, to enhance the budget, through research funds they raise themselves.
The education students receive in a research university is valued by society.
Placement of graduates, by department, within six months of the degree , in 40 hour/week jobs related to the major (up to 80-100% placement):

Research funds create jobs:
50% of responding departments report that 15 or more employees are supported by research funds.