Achieving Student Learning Outcomes
April, 2016
First-Year Student Survey Results
Number of Responses = 370
Response Rate = 38%
In late March and early April, 370 first-year students responded to a survey about their experiences at Mines.
Note that female students are over-represented in the sample of students who responded to the survey.
The purpose of the survey is to identify potential opportunities for improvement and to confirm positive
aspects of students’ experiences. Thanks to Dr. Tom Boyd for financial support of this project and to
Professor Renee Falconer and Nicole Vilegi-Sandage for their participation in the survey development
process.
1. How much time do you spend during a typical week doing the following activities?
None
1-5
hours
6-10
hours
11-15
hours
16-20
hours
21-30
hours
31-40
hours
41+
hours
Working (on or off campus job)
69%
12%
13%
3%
1%
1%
1%
0%
Participating in student clubs/groups
19%
47%
21%
7%
2%
2%
1%
1%
Using online social networks
(Facebook, etc.)
14%
57%
19%
6%
2%
1%
0%
1%
Exercising or playing sports
11%
42%
24%
12%
7%
3%
1%
1%
Watching TV, reading for pleasure,
playing video/computer games, etc.
9%
42%
25%
15%
7%
1%
1%
1%
Studying with other students
5%
45%
25%
11%
10%
2%
1%
0%
Socializing with friends
1%
19%
32%
25%
14%
4%
2%
3%
Studying/doing homework on your own
1%
11%
24%
24%
25%
10%
3%
2%
How much time do you spend
during a typical week studying?
45%
24% 25%
1%
5%
None
24%
25%
11%
11%
10%
10%
2%
1-5 hours
6-10
hours
11-15
hours
16-20
hours
Studying/doing homework on your own
21-30
hours
3% 1%
2% 0%
31-40
hours
41+
hours
Studying with other students
2. How often have you done the following during the current academic year?
Very
Often
Often
Sometimes
Never
Completed homework on time
85%
13%
1%
0%
Used an online instructional website (excluding
Blackboard, LonCapa, online homework, etc.)
66%
13%
16%
5%
Felt stressed about earning good grades
40%
36%
22%
3%
Felt overwhelmed by all I had to do
26%
36%
34%
4%
Accepted mistakes as part of the learning process
25%
52%
22%
1%
Felt sleep deprived
22%
27%
44%
8%
Found ways to relieve stress
19%
45%
34%
2%
Researched scientific articles and resources
12%
34%
46%
8%
Utilized campus resources (CASA, Writing Center,
AMS Learning Center, etc.) to support your learning
10%
25%
45%
20%
Explored class topics/concepts on your own, even
though it was not required for the class
7%
16%
58%
19%
Felt depressed
7%
15%
40%
38%
Attended a faculty member's office hours
6%
21%
57%
16%
Skipped class
1%
7%
51%
41%
3. Please indicate your agreement or disagreement that your coursework has emphasized the
following skills/abilities.
4. Please indicate your agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
Not
applicable
74%
23%
2%
1%
0%
0%
64%
27%
7%
2%
1%
0%
41%
51%
7%
1%
0%
0%
40%
45%
10%
4%
1%
0%
38%
47%
12%
2%
1%
0%
37%
32%
16%
12%
2%
0%
I enjoy living on campus
37%
39%
13%
6%
4%
2%
I feel like I fit in at Mines
I spend more time studying,
doing homework, and preparing
for class than I expected
I expect that I will earn a "B"
average or higher
Faculty provide the support I
need to succeed academically
I have improved my study
strategies since I arrived at
Mines
I am comfortable asking
questions of faculty outside of
class
The time I spend studying, doing
homework, and preparing for
class interferes with my ability to
spend time enjoying my
interests/hobbies
I am worried about my ability to
succeed academically
I am worried about my ability to
finance my education
Most of my classes are
interesting
My classes are relevant to my
academic and career interests
I know where to seek help when
I struggle with learning new
concepts
I expect that I will work on a
professor's research project
I expect that I will change my
major
37%
47%
10%
4%
2%
0%
33%
31%
21%
14%
1%
0%
32%
42%
18%
6%
2%
1%
31%
53%
13%
1%
1%
1%
31%
43%
18%
7%
1%
0%
31%
40%
23%
4%
1%
1%
30%
38%
20%
11%
1%
0%
26%
33%
17%
18%
5%
1%
25%
24%
20%
20%
9%
1%
20%
56%
18%
5%
1%
0%
20%
54%
19%
7%
1%
0%
18%
65%
13%
4%
0%
0%
8%
26%
49%
14%
2%
1%
8%
11%
30%
32%
15%
3%
My parents support my choice to
attend Mines
I have made several friends
since coming to Mines
I am committed to overcoming
any challenges I may face at
Mines
I become stressed out if my
grades are below my
expectations
I expect that I will be satisfied
with Mines
My biggest source of stress is
the pressure I place on myself
5. How many years do you expect it will take you to graduate with your undergraduate degree from
Mines?
6. How do you rate your interactions with the following groups of people at Mines?
94%
88%
84%
83%
76%
74%
24%
7%
Students
11%
Faculty
16%
Undergraduate TAs
Excellent and good
27%
17%
Stuudent service
staff/offices
Graduate TAs
Fair and poor
This newsletter is published by the assessment office:
Kay Schneider, Assessment Director
http://inside.mines.edu/assessment
Administrative sta
and offices