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Second National Survey of First-Year Academic Practices, 2002
Administered by the Policy Center on the First Year of College
(supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies & The Pew Charitable Trusts)
Betsy O. Barefoot, EdD
Principal Investigator Findings from the Second National Survey of First-Year Academic Practices, 2002 can be viewed here. The 2002 survey was designed to complement and expand the Policy Center’s 2000 National Surveys of First-Year Curricular and Co-curricular Practices click here. Taken together, data from these survey initiatives paint a comprehensive picture of first-year policies, procedures, and programs at institutions across the US. These data can be used by institutions as a means of comparing institution-specific information with national trends. It is important to note, however, that the data, which are descriptive of first-year initiatives in the years 2000 - 2002, are not intended to be prescriptive or to identify “best practice” in any area of the first year.
In August of 2002, the Second National Survey was successfully transmitted electronically to 1,867 chief academic officers at both two- and four-year institutions that met the following characteristics: regional accreditation by one of the six regional accrediting bodies in the US, size of over 250 students; presence of first-year students, and finally, correct and available e-mail addresses for the chief academic officer. Of the 1,867 surveys successfully transmitted, 1,000 responses were received for an overall response rate of 54%.
Successful transmissions and response rates for each Carnegie category are as follows:
| Associates Colleges |
728 transmissions, 352 responses (48%) |
| Baccalaureate General Colleges |
260 transmissions, 150 responses (58%) |
| Baccalaureate Liberal Arts Colleges |
188 transmissions, 112 responses (60%) |
| Masters I & II Institutions |
478 transmissions, 266 responses (56%) |
| Research Intensive Universities |
89 transmissions, 47 responses (53%) |
| Research Extensive Universities |
124 transmissions, 73 responses (59%) |
A list of the 1,000 responding institutions can be accessed at: list.pdf
The primary means of data analysis used in this research is by Carnegie classification, using the Year 2000 Carnegie classification system. This system divides American colleges and universities into seven primary categories: Associate Degree Institutions, Baccalaureate-General Institutions, Baccalaureate-Liberal Arts Institutions, Masters I and Masters II institutions, Doctoral/Research Intensive and Doctoral Research/Extensive Institutions. In this data analysis, we have collapsed the Masters I and II categories into one single category. The Carnegie classification system also identifies a small number of “special-purpose” institutions, such as tribal colleges, engineering colleges, teachers colleges, business and management colleges, and faith-related institutions, which because of their small numbers, were, for purposes of this research, collapsed into one of the seven major categories.
Of the 25 questions on the 2002 Second National Survey, two questions are repeated from the similar survey in Year 2000. Some of the 23 remaining questions relate to Year 2000 questions and provide more detailed and targeted analysis; others investigate new topics altogether.
To access the survey instrument and findings for each question, click here
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