University of the Virgin IslandsCIRP Freshman Survey

2012 ResultsFirst-time, Full-time Freshmen

University of the Virgin IslandsN=250

Public HBCUN=2,498

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

INCOMING FIRST YEAR STUDENTS

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Table of ContentsDemographics

Sex and Race/EthnicityDistance from HomeType of High School

College Admissions DecisionsCollege ApplicationsAccepted/Attending First ChoiceReasons for Attending CollegeReasons for Attending This College

Financing CollegeEconomic SituationEducational ExpensesAbility to Finance Education

High School Experience

Academic PreparationHabits of Mind ConstructPluralistic OrientationAcademic Self-ConceptCivic EngagementHealth and Wellness

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Expectations for College-Major and Career

Expectations for College Life

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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.

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Demographics

35.8%

64.2%

Male Female

UVI

38.5%

61.5%

Male Female

Public HBCUs

SEX

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Demographics

78.8%

0.0% 0.0%4.5%

1.3%6.4%

9.0%

86.0%

0.2% 0.0% 0.7% 1.8% 1.4%

9.9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

AfricanAmerican/ Black

AmericanIndian/ Alaska

Native

Asian/ NativeHawaiian/

Pacific Islander

Latino White/Caucasian

Other Race/Ethnicity

Two or MoreRaces/

Ethnicities

Race/Ethnicity

UVI Public HBCUs

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Demographics

14.3%

42.9%

14.3%

0.0%

14.3% 14.3%

24.1%

17.2%

24.1%

10.3%

17.2%

6.9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

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

UVI Public HBCUs

How many miles is this college from your permanent home?

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Demographics

87.5%

0.0% 0.0%

12.5%

0.0% 0.0%

83.3%

0.0%

13.3%

3.3%0.0% 0.0%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Public school (notcharter or magnet)

Public charter school Public magnet school Privatereligious/parochial

school

Private independentcollege-prep school

Home school

UVU Public HBCUs

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.

College Admissions Decisions

37.5%

12.5% 12.5%15.5%

0.0%

25.0%

0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

25.8%

6.5%3.2%

19.4% 19.4%16.1%

6.5%

0.0%3.2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

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

UVI Public HBCUs

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

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College Acceptance

97.7%

2.3%

Were you accepted by your first choice

college?

Yes No

66.7%

22.2%

8.9%

2.2%

58.0%

26.1%

10.0%5.8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

First Choice Second Choice Third Choice Less than ThirdChoice

UVI Public HBCUs

Is this college your …

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College Choice

7.3% 3.6%

24.4%15.5%

29.3%24.2%

10.0% 9.9%

90.2%92.2%

75.6%81.5% 58.5% 64.4% 90.0% 88.5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

To be able to get a better job

To gain a general education and

appreciation of ideas

To make me a more cultured person

To be able to make more money

UVI HBCUsVery Important Very ImportantSomewhat Important Somewhat Important

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

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College Choice

12.2% 15.5%7.3% 9.3%

19.5%11.3%

85.4% 82.9%92.7% 89.6%

75.6%83.5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

To learn more about things that interest me

To get training for a specific career To prepare myself for graduate or professional school

UVI Public HBCUsVery Important Very ImportantSomewhat Important Somewhat Important

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

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College ChoiceHow important was each reason in your decision to attend this college?

36.7%46.7% 44.4% 41.4% 38.7% 39.6% 37.1% 35.5%

29.5% 33.6%

46.9%

41.4%

27.6%40.9%

19.9%28.7% 31.7%

45.6%

19.2%

31.5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

This college has a very good academic

reputation

This college has a good reputation for its

social activities

This college’s graduates gain admission to top graduate/professional

schools

This college’s graduates get good

jobs

The percentage of students that

graduate from this college

Your Institution Comparison GroupVery Important Very ImportantSomewhat Important Somewhat Important 14

College ChoiceHow important was each reason in your decision to attend this college?

29.5% 29.0% 28.4% 27.0% 28.7%20.1% 21.8%

15.0%

50.3% 48.2%

64.2%57.0%

11.2%17.6%

26.1%

24.3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

I was offered financial assistance

The cost of attending this

college

Not offered aid by first choice

Could not afford first choice

UVI Public HBCUsVery Important Very ImportantSomewhat Important Somewhat Important 15

College ChoiceHow important was each reason in your decision to attend this college?

28.5% 33.2% 31.8%25.8%

18.6%25.8% 22.8% 27.4%

34.4%19.8%

37.2%

23.7%

5.6%

10.5% 20.0%

41.7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

My parents wanted me to come here

I wanted to live near home

Rankings in national magazines

A visit to the campus

Your Institution Comparison GroupVery Important Very ImportantSomewhat Important Somewhat Important 16

College Reputation OrientationCollege Reputation Orientation - measures the degree to which students value academic reputation and future career potential as a reason for choosing this college

Your Institution Comparison Group

43.642.5

44.2

46.245.7

46.6

40

42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

All FTFT Men Women

Construct Items

• This college's graduates get good jobs • This college's graduates gain admission to

top graduate/professional schools • This college has a very good academic

reputation

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Financing CollegeEconomic factors play an important role in

students’ decisions about college.

Financing CollegeThe percentage of students with at least some funds from these various sources.

6.5%

51.5%

71.0%

48.4%

41.9%

0.0%

12.5%

62.5%

50.0%

25.0%

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

Other sources

Aid to be repaid

Aid not to be repaid

Personal resources

Family resources

UVI Public HBCUs19

Financing CollegeDo you have any concern about your abilityto finance your college education?

25.0%

75.5%

0.0%

25.8%

58.1%

16.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

None Some Major

UVI Public HBCUs20

High School ExperiencesUnderstanding students’ established behaviors in high school helps foster skills, knowledge and

abilities in the curriculum and co-curriculum.

High School ExperiencesPlease mark which of the following courses you have completed?

81.1%

27.3%

20.6%18.2%

0.0% 0.0%

82.3%

52.5%

29.2%

9.9%

5.1%3.2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Algebra II Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry Probability & Statistics Calculus AP Probability & Statistics AP Calculus

UVI Public HBCUs22

Habits of MindHabits 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.

Your Institution Comparison Group

46.3

47.8

45.5

49.848.8

50.6

40

42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

All FTFT Men Women

Construct Items

• Support your opinion with logical argument• Seek solutions to problems and explain themto others

• Seek alternative solutions to a problem• Evaluate the quality or reliability ofinformation you received

• Ask questions in class• Take a risk because you felt you had more togain

• Seek feedback on academic work • Explore topics on your own, even though itwas not required for a class

• Accept mistakes as part of the learningprocess

• Revise your papers to improve your writing• Look up scientific research articles andresources

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47.1

50.1

45.4

49.6 50.149.3

40

42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

All FTFT Men Women

UVI Public HBCUs

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.

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45.6

47.3

44.7

49.350.1

48.8

40

42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

All FTFT Men Women

UVI Public HBCUs

Construct Items

• Self-rated academic ability• Self-rated mathematical ability• Self-rated self-confidence (intellectual)• Self-rated drive to achieve

Academic Self-ConceptSelf-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.

49.0 49.1 48.9

51.250.2

51.8

40

42

44

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

All FTFT Men Women

Construct Items

• Publicly communicated your opinionabout a cause

• Worked on a local, state, or nationalpolitical 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

Your Institution Comparison Group

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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.

63.9%52.2% 54.2%

39.4%

23.9%

28.3%12.9%

11.5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Felt overwhelmed by all you had to do Felt depressed

Your Institution Comparison GroupFrequently FrequentlyOccasionally Occasionally

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Health and Wellness

2.0%1.4%

0.7%

6.1%

1.4%0.7%

2.7%

4.7%

0.2%

3.4%

1.2%1.9%

0%

10%

20%

Learning disability ADHD Autism spectrum Physical disability Chronic illness Psychologicaldisorder

Your Institution Comparison Group

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

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For more information about HERI/CIRP Surveys

The Freshman Survey

Presentation Prepared byOffice of Institutional Research and Planning

Template provided by HERI/CIRP

The more you get to know your students, the better you can understand their needs.

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