This survey has 3 sections and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Please answer all questions to the best of your ability.
SECTION A:
1. Gender
[ ] Male
[ ] Female
2. What was your age as of November 1st , 2004? _______
3. Your program of study ___________________________________________
4. Your year in the program
[ ] First
[ ] Second
[ ] Third
[ ] Fourth
[ ] Out of phase
5. Are you a full time or part time student? (Please 9 only one that applies)
[ ] Full time student
[ ] Part time student
6. Where did you live during your last semester? (Please 9 only one that applies)
[ ] In residence
[ ] At home with family
[ ] Elsewhere off campus
7. On average how many hours per week were you employed last semester?
[
[
[
[
[
[
] less than 5 hours
] 6 – 10
] 11 – 15
] 16 – 20
] more than 20 hours
] Not applicable
8. Do you have care responsibilities? (Please 9 all that apply)
[ ] None
[ ] Children
[ ] Parent
[ ] Siblings
[ ] Other __________________
9. Is English your first language?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
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10. Did you write an English proficiency test as an entrance requirement?
[ ] Yes (If “Yes” please answer question 10A)
[ ] No (if “No”, please continue with question 11)
[ ] Not Applicable (if “Not Applicable”, please continue with question 11)
10A What English proficiency test did you write as an entrance requirement?
(Please 9 all that apply)
[ ] TOEFL
[ ] RTEP
[ ] MELAB
[ ] IELTS
[ ] CAEL
11. What is your current academic standing? (Please 9 only one that applies)
[ ] Clear
[ ] Conditional
[ ] Probationary
[ ] Suspended
12. Did you launch an academic appeal that was unsuccessful, at the end of the Fall 2004 semester?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] Not Applicable
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SECTION B:
For each question please check off only ONE response for each row. The columns show whether you
agree (“Yes”) or disagree (“No”) with each statement or whether it does not apply to you.
i) Problems with the course material or course content.
In the course(s) I found most difficult:
1. The course content did not interest me.
Yes
No
Not Applicable
2. The course content was too
complicated.
3. The course content was not
challenging enough.
4. I found the course content/subject
matter overwhelming.
5. There was too much work for me to
complete on time.
6. I found the course content too
theoretical or abstract.
7. I was not sure what my teacher(s)
expected on assignments.
8. Feedback on my assignments was
lacking.
9. The textbooks/software used in my
courses was too difficult.
10. The expectations of the course were
not made clear to me on the course
outline.
Please comment on what would have helped you to be more successful with the course
material or content.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
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ii) Overall learning experience
These are the learning skills with which I
had difficulty:
11. Researching assignments.
Yes
No
Not Applicable
12. Writing essays and term papers.
13. Taking multiple choice exams.
14. Writing short answer or essay exams.
15. Understanding lectures.
16. Taking lecture notes.
17. Completing problem-based
assignments.
18. Taking part in group projects.
19. Taking part in class discussion.
20. Keeping up with the pace of classes.
21. Mastering core Program courses.
22. Managing my time well.
23. Studying enough or the right way.
24. Meeting the level of computer skills
required.
Please comment on what would have helped you to be more successful.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
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iii) Support services
I found the following support
services useful:
Yes
No
Did not access
Was not aware of
these services
these services
25. Faculty support.
26. Academic advising in my
program.
27. Learning Success Centre.
28. Tutoring support. (please
indicate subject)
_______________________
_______________________
29. Individual or group
counseling.
30. The Math Centre.
31. The Writing Centre.
32. Access Centre.
Other supports that I found useful:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Supports that could have been useful to me:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
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iv) Additional factors
These factors also affected my success:
Yes
No
Not Applicable
33. My program of studies was not what I
expected it to be.
34. My motivation decreased because I
was influenced to choose a program
that did not really interest me.
35. I began having doubts about my career
and educational direction.
36. I became stressed out and that
interfered with my ability to focus on my
coursework.
37. I was working too many hours to earn
money.
38. I spent too much time socializing.
39. I spent too much time participating in
sports &/or other extracurricular
activities.
40. Personal/family problems got in the
way of my studies.
41. Health problems affected my studies.
42. Financial problems affected my studies.
43. I did not realize I was in trouble
academically.
44. I did not understand Ryerson academic
polices and procedures and how they would
affect me. (Examples: course deadlines, how
GPA & academic standings are calculated,
what it means to be on probation)
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SECTION C:
45. Did you enter the program directly from high school?
[ ] Yes (if “Yes”, please go with question 47)
[ ] No (if “No,”, please continue with question 46)
46. If you were not in high school, what did you do in the year prior to entering your program?
(Please 9 all that apply)
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
] not applicable
] attended community college
] attended another university
] enrolled in Ryerson Continuing Education including Distance Education or Off-Campus
] enrolled in another Ryerson degree program
] enrolled in Ryerson’s diploma in arts program
] employed full time (30 hours or more per week)
] employed part time
] other
47. What was your grade point average (GPA) or high school average on entering Ryerson University?
_______________________
If you entered Ryerson directly from high school, please complete the following questions:
48. When entering Ryerson, did you have difficulty adjusting to university life?
[ ] Yes (if “Yes”, please answer the questions in the following section on the next page)
[ ] No (if “No”, please provide any other comments or suggestions in the space provided below)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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E. Adjusting to university life
I had a hard time adjusting to university
because:
Yes
No
Not Applicable
49. Being away from home for the first time
was hard for me.
50. Living in a big city for the first time was
hard for me.
51. I felt lonely or did not know how make
friends
52. I was not prepared for the demands
placed on me.
53. There was not enough guidance and
structure for me.
54. I could not relate to the students in my
project groups.
55. I found it hard to approach my faculty
for help.
56. I did not know where to go for help.
Other reasons (please explain):
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
What might have helped you to adjust more successfully? Please be as detailed as you can.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for helping us with this survey. Your time is appreciated.
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