2012-13 Cycle Program Learning
Outcomes
Faculty Team: Counselors
Targeted Student Activity:
“Students need to engage in early decision making in
respect to their academic major.”
Counselor Response:
Survey students considering when and how they are
making decisions about their majors
Who Took the Survey?
Degree Type
Degree & Credit
Hour Groups
Count of Type
Degree Type
AS_1630
582
193
195
AS_015
372
AS_46 Greater
AS_3145
AS_46 Greater
21.5%
AS_3145
7.1%
AS_1630
7.2%
AS_015
AA_46 Greater
135
AA_3145
341
AA_46 Greater
13.7%
Count of Type
5.0%
AA_3145
AA1630
375
AA_015
513
2706
Grand Total
12.6%
AA_1630
13.9%
AA_015
0.0%
19.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
How the survey matched up with
Valencia College Demographics
Gender
Valencia College 2011-12
70.0%
Male: 42.8%
Female: 55.8%
Not Indicated: 1.4%
63.7%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
27.6%
Percentages
20.0%
7.9%
10.0%
0.7%
0.0%
Male
Female
Other
(blank)
How the survey matched up with
Valencia College demographics
Race/Ethnicity
Other
Valencia College 2011-12
Other: 11.2%
Hispanic: 30.5%
Caucasian: 36.1%
African-American: 17.2%
Native Hawaiian: n/a
Asian/Pacific Islander: 4.7%
Native American: 0.3%
5.1%
Hispanic, Latino, Spanish
30.5%
White, Non-Hispanic
36.5%
Black or African American, NonHispanic
Native Hawaiian
18.0%
Percentage
0.1%
Asian, Asian American, Pacific
Islander
5.9%
American Indian or other Native
American
1.6%
Did not respond
2.3%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
Question 1 (Q1)
• What is your chosen major?
– Your major is either the field of study for your
bachelor degree or (if not going for a bachelor
degree) the field of study for your associate
degree (e.g., Psychology, Dental
Hygiene, Marketing, etc.)
For Q 1, students either entered their major or selected ‘I am still
undecided’
10%
AS 0_15
90%
4%
AS 16_30
96%
Undecided
Q1
What is your
chosen major?
Comparing Degree
Type &
Decided/Undecided
Decided
6%
AS 31_45
94%
4%
AS 46+
96%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
26%
AA 0_15
74%
23%
AA 16_30
77%
Undecided
Decided
12%
AA 31_45
88%
9%
AA 46+
91%
n= 2706
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Question 2 (Q2)
• When did you choose your major?
For Q 2, students were able to select from:
•
•
•
•
•
Before starting my associate degree
In the first or second term of my associate degree
Sometime mid-way through my associate degree
In the final term of my associate degree
I am still undecided
Q2
When did you choose your major?
Degree Type
90%
80%
80%
70%
70%
66%
63%
60%
54%
50%
46%
Before starting my associates
48%
First or second Term
40%
37%
Mid-way
Final term
30%
24%
20%
20%
19%
0%
20%
17%
12%
9%
10%
2%
0%
1%
Undecided
24%
23%
11%
18%
15%
13%
9%
10%
5%
4%
10%
4%
1%
0%
1%
17%
13%
10%
4%
1%
11%
4%
Question 3 (Q3)
• How many times did you change your
mind before deciding on your chosen
major?
For Q 3, students were able to select from:
•
•
•
•
This was my only choice of major
Only once or twice
Three or more times
I am still deciding
Q3
How many times did you change your mind?
Degree Type
60%
54%
50%
49%
47%
45%
40%
39%
37%
36%
35%
30%
35%
34%
34%
30%
30%
29%
27%
1-2 times
3 or more
26%
21%
20%
still deciding
17%
15%
10%
10%
6%
11%
13%
11%
9%
7%
6%
11%
5%
9%
4%
3%
AS 3145
AS 46
Greater
0%
AA 015
Only Choice
AA 1630
AA 3145
AA 46
Greater
AS 015
AS 1630
Question 4 (Q4)
• What level of confidence do you have
that your chosen major will lead you to
your intended career path?
For Q 4, students were able to select from:
•
•
•
•
Very Confident
Somewhat confident
Somewhat uncertain
Very uncertain
Q4
Level of Confidence
Degree Type
80%
70%
69%
68%
66%
62%
60%
59%
56%
53%
52%
50%
Very Confident
Somewhat confident
40%
Somewhat uncertain
Very uncertain
30%
24%
25%
23%
25%
23%
21%
20%
18%
17%
10%
9%
8%
7%
9%
8%
5%
5%
5%
4%
3%
0%
AA_015
AA_1630
AA_3145 AA_46 Greater
4%
4%
AS_015
2%
AS_1630
4%
2%
2%
AS_3145 AS_46Greater
Question 5 (Q5)
• In selecting your chosen major, how
helpful were the following resources?
• For Q 5, students were able to select from:
•
•
•
•
Career Center advisor(s) / counselor(s)
Academic advisor(s) / counselor(s)
Other Valencia faculty / staff
LifeMap tools in Atlas (My Career Planner, My Job
Prospects, My Education Plan, etc.)
Question 5 (Q5) cont.
• Student Life Skills course (SLS 1122; SLS 1301; SLS 1201,
etc.)
• Internship
• Job/volunteer experience
• Research on my own
• Family or a mentor outside of Valencia
• Other (e.g., other courses, social media)
80%
Career Advising & Counseling
70%
60%
50%
49%
45%
41%
40%
39%
Very helpful
39%
38%
37%
Did not use
34%
30%
26%
26%
23%
20%
23%
21%
20%
16%
10%
21%
13%
9%
9%
5%
6%
5%
11%
6%
0%
AA_015
AA_1630
AA_3145
AA_46
Greater
AS_015
AS_1630
AS_3145
Not helpful
AS_46Greater
80%
Academic Advising/Counseling
70%
60%
50%
Very helpful
40%
Not helpful
31%
30%
30%
26%
Did not use
31%
26%
25%
23%
21%
20%
16%
12%
10%
9%
5%
9%
10%
8%
6%
0%
AA_015
AA_1630
AA_3145
AA_46
Greater
AS_015
AS_1630
AS_3145
AS_46Greater
80%
Other Valencia Faculty & Staff
70%
60%
50%
41%
40%
40%
37%
Very helpful
37%
36%
Not helpful
34%
34%
Did not use
30%
27%
23%
21%
21%
20%
17%
17%
18%
17%
19%
14%
10%
11%
10%
5%
8%
8%
6%
5%
0%
AA_015
AA_1630
AA_3145
AA_46
Greater
AS_015
AS_1630
AS_3145
AS_46Greater
80%
LifeMap Tools
70%
60%
50%
41%
41%
39%
40%
39%
39%
Very helpful
35%
Not helpful
33%
33%
Did not use
30%
21%
20%
17%
19%
18%
16%
14%
11%
10%
14%
12%
17%
15%
15%
14%
12%
7%
7%
0%
AA_015
AA_1630
AA_3145
AA_46
Greater
AS_015
AS_1630
AS_3145
AS_46Greater
80%
Student Life Skills Courses
70%
58%
57%
60%
54%
52%
50%
51%
48%
46%
46%
Very helpful
40%
Not helpful
Did not use
30%
20%
20%
17%
10%
7%
15%
9%
19%
16%
15%
13%
10%
7%
9%
10%
10%
8%
6%
0%
AA_015
AA_1630
AA_3145
AA_46
Greater
AS_015
AS_1630
AS_3145
AS_46Greater
80%
Internship
75%
70%
72%
71%
70%
71%
70%
71%
68%
60%
50%
Very helpful
40%
Not helpful
Did not use
30%
20%
11%
10%
9%
6%
7%
7%
3%
4%
7%
6%
0%
3%
AA_015
AA_1630
AA_3145 AA_46 Greater
10%
5%
2%
AS_015
AS_1630
8%
4%
2%
AS_3145
AS_46Greater
80%
Job/Volunteer
70%
60%
53%
51%
50%
48%
47%
50%
47%
46%
43%
Very helpful
40%
Not helpful
Did not use
30%
27%
24%
23%
20%
24%
21%
20%
23%
20%
10%
5%
5%
5%
4%
3%
2%
1%
0%
AA_015
AA_1630
AA_3145
AA_46
Greater
AS_015
4%
AS_1630
AS_3145
AS_46Greater
80%
Own Research
70%
60%
56%
53%
52%
54%
52%
51%
50%
47%
47%
Very helpful
40%
Not helpful
Did not use
30%
20%
10%
10%
9%
7%
3%
7%
3%
7%
3%
AA_1630
AA_3145
6%
6%
4%
1%
0%
AA_015
9%
AA_46
Greater
AS_015
3%
1%
AS_1630
AS_3145
2%
AS_46Greater
80%
Family or a Mentor outside of Valenica
70%
60%
50%
40%
36%
35%
35%
Very helpful
38%
38%
40%
Not helpful
35%
34%
Did not use
30%
27%
26%
20%
22%
22%
21%
23%
21%
23%
10%
8%
4%
6%
7%
4%
2%
3%
4%
0%
AA_015
AA_1630
AA_3145 AA_46 Greater
AS_015
AS_1630
AS_3145 AS_46Greater
80%
Other
70%
60%
56%
55%
54%
51%
50%
53%
50%
49%
46%
Very helpful
40%
Not helpful
Did not use
30%
20%
16%
15%
14%
13%
13%
13%
11%
11%
10%
3%
4%
4%
4%
0%
AA_015
4%
1%
AA_1630
AA_3145
AA_46
Greater
AS_015
1%
AS_1630
AS_3145
3%
AS_46Greater
Fill in the Blank "Other" sources
other or left question blank
self reflection/spritual guidence
8.9%
2.8%
media
8.4%
Influenced by others
14.5%
Fill in the Blank "Other" sources
life experiences
22.9%
courses
books
17.3%
3.9%
internet/social media
0.0%
21.2%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
Comparing Confidence and Services
Axis Title
Career Center Advising /
Counseling (Correlation of .99)
Academic Advising / Counseling
(Correlation of .73)
1800
1800
1600
1600
1400
1400
1200
1200
1000
1000
1633
831
Career Advising
800
Confidence
800
600
600
400
400
696
Advising
Confidence
693
596
238
200
200
0
171
108
0
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
5
Comparing Confidence and Services
LifeMap Tools (Correlation .25)
Own Research (Correlation .96)
1800
1800
1600
1600
1400
1400
1200
1200
1000
1000
LifeMap Tools
800
Confidence
Own Research
800
600
600
400
400
200
200
0
Confidence
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
0
1
2
3
4
I am currently employed as a class eight diesel technical and have a keen understanding for automotive
electrical and electrical systems in general. I decided to pursue electrical engineering to further better
myself. All of my older siblings went through Valencias direct connect program and graduating from UCF. I
spoke to an advisor at Valencia and was pleased to be imformed that they did offer my desired degree as
part of their direct connect program. I am currently completing my freshman year at Valencia.
I just picked it because I have family
members that are engineers, and I
wanted to become one. The
positive comments I received from
asking engineers
at first I wanted to do nursing but I
decided to get a job as a
phlebotomist to see if I would like it
first. I love my job but when I asked
a lot of working nurses how do they
like their jobs very few told me
positive things. It made me
reevaluate my decision. Also seeing
how a lot of patients that need care
are very unpleasant. I still want to
be in healthcare, I just want to
study something different
I researched about the different
careers I was interested in and all of
them required a degree of biology
or something similar. I found that
the personality test on the my
education plan helped me decide
on the different careers that would
interest and suit me.
I am a mother of three and I want
to be able to care for them
adequately / I am a people person
and don't mind doing things that
others might find appauling / I
attended school for x ray and once I
found out they were not accredited
I no longer went. Although, I
enjoyed all the knowledge gained, it
made me decide to go to a school
that I knew was worth my time
I wish to be come an English high
school teacher when I have finished
college. This is the major that the
counselors told me would be the
best to reach my goal.
Honestly....I prayed A LOT for
guidence. I knew that I wanted to
help people who are not always
able to help themselves. One night I
realized marriage and family are
really important to me. I decided I
want to be a marriage counselor,
which UCF offers a Masters on. And
to get there, one of the majors I can
do is Sociology.
After 10 plus years being out of school and being
a business owner, I realized that I really did
needed my degree. After 10 years I closed my
business and could not get a job at the pay scale
that I thought I deserved. Almost two years later I
raised my GPA from 1.7 to 3.0. I am planning in
attending Embry Riddle or UCF. I was lucky that I
understood how the AA and AS degree worked. I
am getting both degrees and will complete both
in Fall 2013. It should be more aware to AS
students that an AS will NOT get them into a 4
year program and if they do they will have to take
all General Education requirements. yes I know is
on the fine print but a lot of students that I know
think they will go into engineering school with a
AS degree.
Student Success was
a big help in not
only my decision of
my major but in
preparing me for it!
In my case, choosing my major was
a long process. I started with
Graphic Design, but then I stop
going to school. Later I started
Massage Therapy, but I never
finished. I did not like it. Finally, I
decided to go for Business
Administration. The fact that
Business is a major that has
variety,made me go for it.
I went to the career adviser. Some
factors that played a major role in
my decision was job outlook, the
length of the program, and the
median income that this career
receives.
Just felt a calling to this field.
I filled out "My Education Plan" on Lifemap and had someone
look at it because there were some parts of it I was unsure of.
She met with me this week and gave me some resources to look
at on a few different pre-majors and how they fit with UCF
Bachelor degree programs, and also suggested I take the career
planner assessment on Atlas, which I plan to do in the next
couple days. I may take a class in each of the two areas I am
most interested in during the summer to see which one seems
to be the better fit. This will help me to decide what to focus on
without taking too many extra classes.
Who Am I
Where am I going
How will I get there
Unclear (0)
Does not mention any selfexploration/awareness or
knowledge of Valencia
services available. No
indication of awareness of
skills, values, strengths
and/or wants and how that
connects to selecting a
major.
Clarifying (1)
Student in process of selfexploration and minimum
awareness of services
available. Has indicated a
major choice but not
connected to personal
attributes or goals
Clear (2)
Student has tentatively
selected a major based on
self-exploration ; has used
some Valencia services such
as the Career Center; has
had conversations with
others regarding
major/career choice; has
explored interests through
curriculars and cocurriculars; plans to gain life
experience in area of career
interest
Crystallizing (3)
Student has clear choice of major
and shows clear connection and
critical evaluation of personality,
interests, values & skills as they
relate to major, life & career goals.
Evidence would include: visit to
Career Center, mentioning specific
assessments; conversations with
faculty, friends, family,
professionals; exploration of
interests through curriculars or cocurriculars, life experience
(internship, job, volunteering)
No major indicated; student
does not mention any
research or use of Valencia
services, course selection is
random
Student indicates tentative
major but is still exploring
options. Has vague
knowledge of the
educational path to
achieving needed education.
Has vague or basic
connections of job and
degree requirements for
career path. Has plans to
use Valencia services such as
MEP, Career Center and
taking exploratory courses
such as SLS 1122.
Student has chosen major
based on research of
intended career field and
has a tentative educational
plan for achieving goal.
Some evidence of research
is mentioned such as visit to
Career Center, lifemap tab,
reading, web searches, or
talking to professionals
Student has clear choice of major
and developed a path of achieving
education goal based specific
research toward major (reading,
websites, Career Center visit);
Appropriate educational path and
informational interview or job
shadow; learning job trends and
degree requirements for their field
of interest
Student knows degree and
major and has a tentative
educational plan for
achieving said goal including
all degree requirements
Student has confirmed degree and
major/specialization, developed a
workable educational plan based
on degree requirements, pre-reqs
and course load balance
Student has no major and
Student knows the degree
unclear on what degree they they wish to pursue but
want to pursue
unclear of
major/concentration. No
written educational plan
For this survey
Score card
0- No steps
1- “Major just seems to fit me, so
taking classes”
2- “I did research to find my major”
(or plans to)
3- “I did research and developed a
plan” (or plans to)
AS 0-15
AA 0-15 Scores
Mean
Median
Mode
Sum
1.255813953
1
1
54
AA 16-30 Scores
Mean
1.285714
Median
Mode
Sum
1
1
54
1.47619
1
1
62
AA 46+
Mean
Median
Mode
Sum
1
1
0
42
AS 16-30
Mean
Median
Mode
Sum
1.317073
1
1
54
AS 31-45
AA 31-45 Scores
Mean
Median
Mode
Sum
Mean
Median
Mode
Sum
Mean
Median
Mode
Sum
1.35
1
2
54
AS 46+
1.073171
1
1
44
Mean
Median
Mode
Sum
1.125
1
0
45