SUMMARY OF RESULTS: CUSC 2010 FIRST-YEAR SURVEY
What is CUSC?
The Canadian University Survey
Consortium (CUSC) is a group of
Canadian Universities working
cooperatively to gain a better
understanding of the Canadian
undergraduate student
population. The CUSC surveys run
in a three-year cycle, targeting
particular types of undergraduate
students each year: first-year
undergraduate students, all
undergraduate students, and
graduating students.
Summary of University of Saskatchewan Results
Profile of Our Undergraduate Students

The typical undergraduate student was a 22-year-old, English speaking, single
female, studying full-time.

17% of the students self-identified as a visible minority (12% in 2008) compared to
29% from the peer group1. 6% reported being Aboriginal and 9% reported having
a disability.

Over half (55%) of U of S students lived in rented accommodations off-campus
(45% in the peer group), while only 5% lived in on-campus housing (13% in the
peer group).
In January 2011, a random
sample of 1,000 undergraduate
students from the U of S was
invited to complete an online
questionnaire, which yielded a
response rate of 35.7%.

45% of our students had at least one parent who had a university degree
compared to over half (51.4%) in our peer group.

Nearly half of our students (48%) received an academic scholarship from the U of
S, up from only 17% in 2005 and 34% in 2008.
Contact

For more information contact the
Office of Institutional Planning
and Assessment at:
ipa_assessment@usask.ca
Nearly a quarter of our students indicated they had interrupted their studies,
mainly for reasons related to employment or finances.

Compared to our peer group, on average, U of S students spent two hours less on
academic work in and outside of classes/labs each week (31.1 hours/week vs. 33.5
hours/week).

43% of the students have changed their intended majors since beginning their
studies at the U of S (40% in the peer group).
Who participated?
Academic Profile
1
CUSC categorizes the participating universities into three groups. Our peer group is the one that consists
of universities offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees, with most having professional schools.
This group tends to be the largest institutions, in terms of student populations. In 2011, our peer group
comprised four participating universities: Dalhousie, Manitoba, York, and Saskatchewan.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS: CUSC 2010 FIRST-YEAR SURVEY
Employment and Financing Education

Nearly half (47%) of respondents were employed at the time of the survey, working an average of 15.7 hours per
week. 35% of those employed indicated that their employment had a negative impact on their academic
performance, while 25% reported a positive impact.

69% of U of S students have decided on a career field or specific occupation (62% in 2008; 58% 2005).

U of S students were more optimistic about their career prospects than the peer group: 79% believed there were
at least some job opportunities available in their major area of study (65% in 2005; 75% in 2008), compared to
72% in the peer group.

Over half of U of S students (54%) had debt, with an average debt load of $17,413 ($18,070 in the peer group).

Government loans made up the largest source of student debt. However, a smaller proportion of our students
owed government loans compared to the peer group (29% vs. 35%), and this percentage has decreased over the
years (35% in 2008; 38% in 2002).

The top three sources of university funding were: parents, family, or spouse (62%); earnings from summer work
(52%); and personal savings (47%).

Three-quarters of U of S students reported being at least somewhat concerned about having sufficient funds to
complete their education (60% in 2008).
Experience and Satisfaction

U of S students were more likely to use parking facilities (65% vs. 47% in the peer group) and athletic facilities
(74% vs. 65% in the peer group), but less likely to live in on-campus residences, use financial aid services, or
participate in a student life program.

Compared to our peers, U of S students were more satisfied with study space, athletic facilities, and food
services. When asked for areas needing improvement, parking, food services and academic advising topped the
list.

9 in 10 students were satisfied with the quality of teaching at the U of S (79% in 2005; 87% in 2008).
 60% of our students were satisfied with the concern shown by the university for them as individuals (55% in 2008
and 56% in 2005).
 Over 9 in 10 students were satisfied with their decision to attend the U of S.

94% of our students were satisfied with the overall quality of education (86% in 2008; 91% in the peer group).