Who are our students today?

2 yr and 4 yr students;

graduate students

• Generation X, Y

• Nontraditional Students

• Distance learners

Generation X,Y Students• Racially/Ethnically diverse

• Technologically comfortable

• Risk-Takers - extreme sports

• Big Consumers – ATM and credit cards, pagers, cell phones, cars

• Familiar with/prefer fast-moving stimuli

• View themselves as customers to colleges

• Freshmen not always accurate in their assessment of academic or psychosocial needs

Nontraditional Students

• 1995 44% all UGs 25+ years old

• most employed while enrolled

• tremendous diversity in age

• differing reasons for college attendance

• wide range in preparation level

• not as interested in traditional campus activities

Distance Learners

Video, live satellite, computer/internet formats

• Wide range of reasons for enrollment

• mostly nontraditional age

• some reports that women like better, have higher retention rates

• we don’t yet know a lot about effectiveness of distance learning compared to traditional classroom

Characteristics of UD Undergraduates

UD Facts & Figures- Fall 2001 http://www.udel.edu/IR

• 20,949 students

• About half Newark undergrads live in campus housing

• 1,049 full-time faculty

• Student faculty ratio of 16:1

• 122 undergraduate, 75 master’s, 34 doctoral programs

• 4,079 degrees awarded in 1999-2000

• FY 2000 total operating revenues $487.7 million

UD StudentsFall 2001• 20,949 students:

16,307 undergrads 2,942 graduate students 1,700 Continuing Education

• 60% undergrads were nonresidents• 59% undergrads were women• Ethnicity for Undergrads:

87% White; 6% Black; 7% other• 36% FT freshmen received some financial aid

Fall 2001 Freshmen

SAT Verbal 571 (Nat. Ave: 506)

SAT Math 588 (Nat. Ave: 514)

18,209 applicants; 3,379 enrolled (35% yield)

86-90% return for sophomore year

70% graduate in 5 or fewer years

Many will participate in study abroad, undergrad

research, honors classes, co-op/internships

Tuition, fees & other expenses: $13,124 / $22,214

UD Undergraduates• Would choose UD again• Above norms on satisfaction with computing, library

resources, food services• Some evidence of sophomore/junior slump (sophomore

classes the most difficult in some depts)• On average study about 15-16 hrs/week• Many work at least part-time• ~16% participate in Greek organizations• Anecdotally- ‘nothing to do around here’• Counseling & Health Cntr well used, but get especially

busy near exam times when student stress is high; after Spring Break for HIV testing

Fall 2000 Freshman Needs SurveyIR&P, 2000

UD Freshmen said they need help with:• Acquiring knowledge & skills for grad school• Identifying coo-op and internship opportunities• Expanding their volume of literary works read• Public speaking• Synthesizing and applying ideas• Quantitative and math skillsNeed least help with:• Using computer as learning tool• Working in groups to solve problems

Student EngagementNSSE, Spring 2001

Compared to national norms:

– More UD freshmen & seniors use email to

communicate with instructor

– Fewer freshmen made a class presentation

– Fewer freshmen and seniors work on campus

for pay

What Do Freshmen Fear the Most???Choose the top five fears:

•Will not have enough money

•Not able to manage time

•Difficulty meeting friends

•I will become depressed

•College will be too difficult

•Trouble with roommate

•I will become homesick

•Trouble understanding professor

•Will be tempted to cheat in class

•I will not appear as sophisticated as other freshmen

•I will get lost on such a huge campus

What Freshmen Fear Mostfrom Jeweler & Gardner, 1987; Gardner, 1992.

• I won’t be able to manage time.

• I will become depressed & will affect performance.

• College will be too difficult.

• I’ll be homesick.

• I won’t develop good study habits.

• I will have trouble understanding the professor.

Undergraduate Behaviors…from Bishop, 1992

Students don’t always behave in ways that are consistent with their values & knowledge

• 40-90% admit academic dishonesty

• Some, but not high community activism

• Majority have consumed alcohol

• Many report feeling depressed

• Many women report negative body image

• Date rape and dating violence are reported

Research on Undergraduates from Pascarella & Terenzini, 1991

• Change does occur– gains in factual knowledge, cognitive skills, values, attitudes, socially, morally

• Become better writers, speakers, thinkers

• More culturally and aesthetically aware

• Generally more liberal, sociocentric

• Better self-identity, more comfortable with their decisions

Characteristics of UD Undergraduates

UD Facts & Figures- Fall 2001 http://www.udel.edu/IR

• 20,949 students

• About half Newark undergrads live in campus housing

• 1,049 full-time faculty

• Student faculty ratio of 16:1

• 122 undergraduate, 75 master’s, 34 doctoral programs

• 4,079 degrees awarded in 1999-2000

• FY 2000 total operating revenues $487.7 million

UD Undergraduates

• Would choose UD again• Above norms on satisfaction with computing, library

resources, food services• Some evidence of sophomore/junior slump (sophomore

classes the most difficult in some depts)• On average study about 15-16 hrs/week• Many work at least part-time• ~16% participate in Greek organizations• Anecdotally- ‘nothing to do around here’• Counseling & Health Cntr well used, but get especially

busy near exam times when student stress is high; after Spring Break for HIV testing

What do you think undergraduate students expect of student life

professionals???