elon}
Elon conducts several national surveys to provide more information on first-year experiences. Additional surveys are administered while at Elon and beyond. Below are the first-year surveys administered, as well as explanations.
The Freshmen Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) survey is an instrument used to collect student expectations and pre-entering characteristics. Since Elon has participated in the Freshmen CIRP survey every year since 1984, this survey can be used for trend analysis. The University uses results from this survey to help predict retention, gauge possible demand and use of various programs (such as the Service Learning Center and the Study Abroad program), and to measure student perceptions of Elon – like its academic reputation. In addition, Elon has used the results from this instrument to support increases in study abroad offerings, increases in degree offerings, modifications to admission requirements, and modifications to financial aid programs. For Elon’s CIRP data, please click here.
Students enrolled in first-year core courses English 110 and General Studies 110 during the Spring term may participate in the Your First College Year (YFCY) survey. The survey is primarily used to evaluate the many aspects of a students’ first-year experience in college. Elon has conducted a first-year experience survey since 1992 and has used the YFCY annually since 2002. In addition to this survey’s results supporting additional research - such as more in depth analysis of the impact of campus community, the First-Year Committee also used its results extensively in their analysis. Specifically, the YFCY survey helped to establish the impact of a students’ sense of empowerment, was used as a springboard to establish more “empowerment” activities for students (such as creating their own clubs or interest groups while at Elon), and helped to establish adjustment/skills seminars for first-year students.
The Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement (BCSSE) collects data about entering college students' high school academic and co-curricular experiences, as well as their expectations for participating in educationally purposeful activities during the first college year. BCSSE administration takes place prior to start of fall classes and is designed to be paired with a NSSE administration at the end of the first college year, providing an in-depth understanding of first-year student engagement on campus. Elon has participated in the BCSSE each year since 2007.
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) asked freshmen and seniors during their Spring term about key questions about their educational experiences. Elon has participated in the NSSE each year since 2000. The results from this survey have helped to support changes in curriculum and programs in various areas of the University (such as Diversity training workshops and seminars, the development of a core statistics course, holding faculty forums on out of class activities for students, monitoring student expectations for foreign language course studies, and monitoring academic challenge and rigor). For Elon’s most recent NSSE data, please click here.
For more information, please contact Libby Joyce, Assistant Director of Institutional Research at 336.278.6643 or ljoyce@elon.edu