Expectation & Experience Surveys 1998 & 2002 AIRPO, June West Point, New York

Angel Andreu Monroe Community College Rochester, New York

Expectation & Experience Surveys It is believed that unrealistic expectations can lead to academic or social failure for students and ultimately to their withdrawal from college. By better understanding the expectations of entering students, it is hoped that MCC can help them deal more effectively with unrealistic expectations through the orientation process, counseling and their instructors. The goal is student success and increased retention rates.

Expectation & Experience Surveys History In spring 1998, a committee which included representatives from admissions, counseling, marketing, orientation and research was created to develop a survey of students expectations.

Expectation & Experience Surveys Part 1 A. Do (Did) you plan to enroll at MCC B. Do you plan to earn an MCC degree or certificate C. Choose the one answer that best describes your plans immediately after leaving MCC D. During this Fall semester, how many courses do (did) you plan to take? E. During this Fall semester, how many hours do (did) you plan to study each week? F. During this Fall semester at MCC, how many hours a week will (were) you be employed ?

Expectation & Experience Surveys Part 2 (36 statements -- Yes/No Scale) 1. After completing an MCC degree, it (will) is easy to to transfer to a 4-year college. 2. My MCC education will (is) be at least of equal quality to local 4-year college. 3. MCC courses (are) will be easier than courses at local 4-year colleges. 4. MCC will (is) be more difficult than high school. 5. There will (are) be frequent opportunities to talk to my college instructors outside of class. 6. My college instructors will get (got) to know me on a personal level. 7. (I have) A faculty advisor in my MCC program will be assigned to me.

Expectation & Experience Surveys Part High school average 36. From September 2002, how long will it take you to finish your MCC program. 37. Age 38. Gender 39. Are you: (ethnicity) 40. Please fill in your Social Security # (NOTE: Your Social Security number is requested for research purposes only and is completely confidential.)

Expectation & Experience Surveys 1998 after the Fall 1998 semester, Experience Surveys went out to the 1,585 respondents of the Expectation Survey, receiving 494, or a 31% response rate 2002 after the Fall 2002 semester, Experience Surveys went out to the 785 respondents of the Expectation Survey, receiving 163, or a 21% response rate 1998 survey was sent to all incoming Freshman and Transfer students (N = 5,116) who were accepted for the Fall 1998 semester. Responses were received from 1,585 students, a 31% response rate 2002 survey was mailed in August to 5,274 potential students who were admitted to MCC for the fall 2002 semester and had never before attended the College. Responses were received from 785 students, a 15% response rate

Expectation & Experience Surveys Sign test was used on matched pairs to determine significance (p < 0.05, designated by a “Y”) between expectation and experience. The first percent in the parenthesis refers to “Yes” responses on the Expectation survey followed by the percent of “Yes” responses on the Experience survey. In the column labeled “Valid N,” the first number refers to the number of responses from the 1998 survey and the second to the number of responses to the 2002 survey.

Expectation & Experience Surveys Educational Qualities Significant Valid N After completing MCC degree, easy to transfer to 4 year college. Y (91%, 86%) Y (93%, 85%) (463, 152) MCC education of at least equal quality to local private colleges. Y (86%, 79%) N (81%, 84%) (486, 156) MCC courses will be easier than courses at local 4 year colleges. N (34%, 38%) N (34%, 35%) (443, 148) MCC will be more difficult than high school. Y (90%, 75%) Y (86%, 75%) (470, 158)

Expectation & Experience Surveys Study Hours and Fall GPA 1998 Full-Time Students Expected Study Hours Actual Study Hours Count%GPACount%GPA Less than 1 hour/credit About 1 hour/credit More than 1 but less than 2 hours/credit About 2 hours/credit More than 2 hours/credit GPA was recalculated. Physical Education courses were not included since study time is usually not a factor in these courses. Withdrawals were counted as “F” because the faculty is not consistent in their grading practices making F and W sometimes indistinguishable.

Expectation & Experience Surveys Study Hours and Fall GPA 2002 Full-Time Students Expected Study Hours Actual Study Hours Count%GPACount%GPA Less than 1 hour/credit About 1 hour/credit More than 1 but less than 2 hours/credit About 2 hours/credit More than 2 hours/credit

Expectation & Experience Surveys Instructor/Classroom Significant Valid N There will be frequent opportunities to talk to my college instructors outside of class. N (83%, 82%) N (82%, 84%) (478, 160) My college instructors will get to know me on a personal level. Y (62%, 56%) N (60%, 58%) (475, 158) My MCC instructors will regularly keep me informed of my academic progress. Y (83%, 51%) Y (88%, 67%) (489, 162) My MCC instructors will review most reading assignments in class. Y (68%, 76%) Y (61%, 76%) (476, 162) My MCC instructors will require attending class regularly. N (96%, 97%) N (97%, 99%) (489, 163) My grades at MCC will be affected if I miss several classes. N (94%, 94%) N (96%, 98%) (491, 163)

Expectation & Experience Surveys Advising/Placement Significant Valid N A faculty advisor in my MCC program will be assigned to me. Y (79%, 43%) Y (74%, 51%) (474, 160) I will need academic advising before I register for courses at MCC. N (73%, 71%) N (67%, 67%) (490, 167) Students who do poorly on their placement test must take courses without credit. Y (61%, 74%) Y (67%, 75%) (424, 158) I must start at the course level determined by my placement test. Y (80%, 69%) Y (81%, 66%) (449, 160) I will finish my MCC program in 2 years. Y (73%, 41%) Y (78%, 42%) (475, 160)

Expectation & Experience Surveys Financial Aid Significant Valid N Students will be told how much financial aid they will get before registering for classes. Y (71%, 41%) N (67%, 47%) (430, 162) If I need help, someone at MCC will help me fill out my FA application. Y (91%, 78%) Y (95%, 20%) (440, 161)

Expectation & Experience Surveys Career Exploration and Planning Significant Valid N I will need help with career exploration and planning. Y (63%, 52%) Y (63%, 46%) (481, 161) MCC will assist me in finding a job after graduation. Y (61%, 52%) N (54%, 44%) (438, 160) Potential employers will want to see my MCC grades. Y (85%, 75%) N (83%, 77%) (463, 162)

Expectation & Experience Surveys Work and School Significant Valid N It will be difficult for me to balance my studies with my job. N (31%, 33%) Y (41%, 27%) (476, 163) I will feel stressed about doing well academically at MCC. Y (49%, 57%) N (48%, 53%) (485, 163) I plan to schedule my MCC classes so that I can spend only half a day on campus. N (53%, 53%) N (54%, 60%) (461, 160) In order for me to take classes, I will have to work while attending MCC. N (67%, 62%) N (65%, 57%) (484, 163) I will use alternative scheduling options, such as online courses, TV courses, late-start or short courses, off-site courses, etc. N (35%, 27%) (162)

Expectation & Experience Surveys Social and Relationships Significant Valid N I will make new friends at MCC. Y (93%, 84%) Y (97%, 87%) (484, 163) My relationship with my family will change when I go to MCC. Y (24%, 32%) N (20%, 24%) (479, 163) My relationship with my friends will change when I go to MCC. Y (34%, 40%) Y (30%, 38%) (482, 162) I will participate in out-of-class activities and events at MCC. Y (60%, 18%) Y (59%, 22%) (471, 162) I will make friends with students from many different cultural backgrounds at MCC. Y (90%, 59%) Y (97%, 65%) (482, 163)

Expectation & Experience Surveys Emotional Significant Valid N I know what I need to do in college and will be successful without a lot of extra help. Y (61%, 77%) Y (60%, 81%) (477, 161) I will feel stressed about doing well socially at MCC. Y (20%, 15%) N (18%, 11%) (483, 162)

Expectation & Experience Surveys Racial Issues Significant Valid N I will see incidents of racial prejudice by students at MCC. Y (33%, 14%) Y (35%, 5%) (464, 158) Some students will be treated unkindly by other students because of racial prejudice. Y (51%, 11%) Y (42%, 5%) (461, 161) Some students will be treated unfairly by faculty or staff because of racial prejudice. Y (17%, 4%) Y (14%, 1%) (467, 161)

Expectation & Experience Surveys In sum, there were four significant changes in expectations from 1998 to 2002 and six significant changes in experience. Stability of the instrument: –Correlation between 1998 & 2002 Expectation: (p < 0.01) –Correlation between 1998 & 2002 Experience: (p < 0.01)

Expectation & Experience Surveys Returning vs. Non-returning –1998: there were five retention related items where expectations were similar, but very different experiences ReturnNon-Return Frequent opportunities to talk to instructors outside of class 83%65% Making new friends at MCC 87%67% Someone at MCC helped fill out financial aid application 86%67% Assigned faculty advisor in MCC program 59%33% Planning to earn an MCC degree or certificate 85%56%

Expectation & Experience Surveys Returning vs. Non-returning –2002: there were four retention related items where expectations were similar, but very different experiences ReturnNon-Return MCC courses are easier than courses at local 4-year colleges 33%70% Instructors regularly kept the student informed of their academic progress 65%91% Felt stressed about doing well academically at MCC 56%27% Made friends with students from many different cultural backgrounds 63%91%

Expectation & Experience Surveys Returning vs. Non-returning –1998: there were two retention related items where expectations differed, but even more differently on experiences 1. Expecting to finish program in 2 years ExpectedExperienced Return74%62% Non-Return61%32%

Expectation & Experience Surveys Returning vs. Non-returning –1998: there were two retention related items where expectations differed, but even more differently on experiences 2. Participating in out-of-class activities and events ExpectedExperienced Return61%19% Non-Return50%7%

Expectation & Experience Surveys Returning vs. Non-returning –2002: there were no retention related items where there was a significant difference in expectation and in experience.

Expectation & Experience Surveys Differences in Expectation Between Enrolled vs. Not Enrolled –In 1998 more likely to expect to be told how much financial aid they will receive before registering for classes (82% vs. 70%) that MCC will assist them in finding a job after graduation (71% vs. 58%) to start a career immediately after leaving MCC (38% vs. 24%) to be planning to work a 40 hour week (23% vs. 15%) that a faculty advisor in their program will be assigned to them (87% vs. 78%)

Expectation & Experience Surveys Differences in Expectation Between Enrolled vs. Not Enrolled –In 2002 more likely to expect to use alternative scheduling options (57% vs. 31%) relationships with friends will change (22% vs. 36%); to work while attending MCC (82% vs. 66%); to work 40 or more hours per week (28% vs. 11%) to take 3 or fewer courses (64% vs. 25%).

Questions?