University Planning and Analysis
Surveys of Students/Alumni


First-Year Student | Transfer Student | Sophomore | Graduating Senior | Future Plans | Baccalaureate Alumni
Campus Climate | National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) | UNC-General Administration

The Survey Research staff at University Planning & Analysis conducts the following student and alumni surveys on a recurring basis. To see a summary of all questions asked over time, click here.

  • First-Year Student Survey
    Incoming first-year students are surveyed shortly after attending fall-term New Student Orientation. The survey collects information on factors influencing their decisions to apply to and attend NC State; their application and admission experiences; their goals, interests, and expectations for their undergraduate years; and demographic and family background characteristics.

  • Transfer Student Survey (discontinued)
    Entering transfer students were surveyed during New Student Orientation. The survey collected information on factors influencing their decisions to apply to and attend NC State; their application and admission experiences; their goals, interests, and expectations for their undergraduate years; and demographic and family background characteristics.

  • Sophomore Survey
    Second-term sophomores are surveyed about overall satisfaction; faculty contributions to their educational experience; academic and non-academic support services; campus climate; self-rated knowledge, skills, and development; participation in co-curricular activities; and enriching educational experiences.

  • Graduating Senior Survey
    Graduating seniors are surveyed primarily during the application for degree process about overall satisfaction; faculty contributions to their educational experience; academic and non-academic support services; campus climate; self-rated knowledge, skills, and development; participation in co-curricular activities and enriching educational experiences; employment while at NC State; and time-to-degree. Special survey inserts may ask additional questions specific to the student's college and/or major program.

  • Future Plans of Graduating Seniors Survey
    Graduating seniors are surveyed close to commencement about their plans following graduation, including detailed information on employment, graduate/professional school attendance, and participation in career-preparation activities while at NC State.

  • Baccalaureate Alumni Survey
    Alumni are surveyed 2.5 to 5.5 years after receiving their baccalaureate degree. The survey asks about their overall satisfaction with their NC State experience; involvement in co-curricular activities and enriching educational experiences while at NC State; post-graduation employment and/or further education; the importance of and preparation in various skills and abilities for employment and/or further education; and their employment-search experience. Special survey inserts may ask additional questions specific to the student's college and/or major program.

  • Campus Climate Survey
    Undergraduate and graduate students are surveyed about their satisfaction with various aspects of being an NC State student, interactions with others on campus, participation in multicultural activities, perceptions about the role of diversity in higher education, experiences that have shaped their attitudes about diversity, and for their perceptions of how supportive the campus environment is for diversity in general and for specific traditionally underrepresented groups in particular.

NC State also participates in the following national survey:

  • National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
    First-year and senior students from universities across the nation are surveyed about their experiences in activities that research shows to be related to positive learning and developmental outcomes. NSSE combines various items in the survey to create "benchmark" measures in five specific categories: Active and Collaborate Learning, Student-Faculty Interaction, Supportive Campus Environment, Enriching Educational Experiences, and Level of Academic Challenge.

UPA provides survey data to UNC-General Administration (UNC-GA):

    Sections of the First Year Survey, Sophomore Survey, and Graduating Senior Survey include questions that UNC-GA requires all schools in the UNC system to administer. UNC-GA provides tables of results with trend data for all schools.


For more information on the student/alumni surveys contact:
Dr. Nancy Whelchel, Assistant Director for Survey Research
University Planning and Analysis
Box 7002
NCSU
Phone: (919) 515-4184
Email: Nancy_Whelchel@ncsu.edu

Posted: August, 2011

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