The Office of Academic Assessment conducts a number of surveys related to student attitudes and perceptions. Survey research is one of the methods by which the university systematically examines contexts that affect teaching and learning, and the results are shared with decision makers who can effect change if indicated. All research conducted in our office follows strict guidelines developed by the American Evaluation Association and the American Educational Research Association for the ethical and responsible treatment of our participants. Although we share survey results as broadly as possible, findings are never reported in such a way that permits identification of an individual's responses.
The Office of Academic Assessment conducts university-developed surveys, such as the VT senior survey, and facilitates the administration, analysis, and reporting of surveys, such as the CIRP and NSSE, that have been developed elsewhere. Below is a listing of those conducted university wide, with links to reports and/or data.
VT Senior Survey
This online survey is administered annually to all graduating seniors. Student perceptions data are collected in the following categories: Courses within major, Faculty within major, Academic Advising, Opportunities within major, Technology within major, and Preparation within major. Data about knowledge, skills and abilities provided by the university and satisfaction with student services is also collected, as well as demographic information, including major, minor, gender, and ethnicity. Graduating students are initially contacted by their departments and provided with a link to the survey. Four follow ups of non-respondents are then conducted by the Office of Academic Assessment. Response rates from the surveys are as follows: 2008 (42%), 2009 (48%).
For results of past administrations of the VT Senior Survey, please click the desired year.
CIRP
Each year, approximately 700 colleges & universities administer the Freshman Survey to over 400,000 entering freshmen. We administer the Freshman Survey to all entering students during orientation or registration. The survey covers a wide range of student characteristics: parental income and education, ethnicity, and other demographic items; financial aid; secondary school achievement and activities; educational and career plans; and values, attitudes, beliefs, and self-concept. Published annually in "The American Freshman," the results from these surveys “provide a comprehensive portrait of the changing character of entering students and American society at large.” For further information about this nationwide survey, click http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/cirpoverview.php.
For results of past administrations of the CIRP at VT, please click the desired year.
2009 VT CIRP Profile 2009 CIRP instrument
2008 VT CIRP Profile 2008 CIRP instrument
2007 VT CIRP Profile 2007 CIRP instrument
2006 VT CIRP Profile 2006 CIRP instrument
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is designed to obtain information from colleges and universities nationwide about student participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and professional development. The survey asks students to rate their level of participation in activities that have been shown to relate to academic and personal development, along with the number of hours preparing for classes, working for pay, and providing care for dependents. Questions also focus on mental activities (memorization, synthesis, analysis) in which they engage as well as relationships with others and perceptions of their overall collegiate experience. For further information about NSSE, click http://nsse.iub.edu/html/quick_facts.cfm
For results of past administrations of the NSSE survey here at VT, please click the desired year.
ECAR
The mission of the EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (ECAR) is to foster better decision making by conducting and disseminating research and analysis about the role and implications of information technology in higher education. ECAR periodically surveys freshman and senior undergraduate students on what kinds of information technologies these students use, their technology behaviors, how IT impacts their experiences in their courses, and their perceptions of IT in their academic experience. For further information about ECAR, click http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ers0706/ekf0706.pdf
In 2007, Virginia Tech participated in the national ECAR survey. No individual institution information is available from this administration. In 2009, Virginia Tech again participated in the national ECAR survey.