Executive Summary: Ninety-seven percent of the students surveyed said that UMass rates at least “somewhat well” in comparison to other universities. Seventy-two percent said that the statement, “At UMass, students have the individual attention of knowledgeable, dedicated faculty and advisors,” describes UMass at least “somewhat accurately.” The top three things that respondents believe UMass students need most are: 1) More parking on campus, 2) Better maintenance of auditoriums and lecture halls, and 3) Increased user-friendliness of administrative services.
On Wednesday April 29, 1997, Project Pulse conducted a “UMass Image” survey for University Advancement. The survey investigated students’ opinions about the image of UMass. An almost identical survey was conducted previously in 1988. Project Pulse interviewers attempted to contact 872 undergraduates who had been randomly selected by computer from the University’s student database. Pulse interviewers successfully contacted 401 of these students and 355 (88.5%) agreed to participate in the survey. The response rate for the survey was 48% The final disposition of the calling list is presented in Table 1. Demographics of the respondents are shown in Table 2.
|
Table 1: Final Disposition
of Calling List
|
|||
|
|
N
|
% of Total
|
% of Contacted
|
| In & cooperated |
355
|
40.7
|
88.5
|
| Contacted, but refused |
46
|
5.3
|
11.5
|
| Not contacted |
345
|
39.5
|
|
| Unobtainable phone no. |
115
|
13.2
|
|
| Ineligible |
11
|
1.2
|
|
| Totals |
872
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
|
Table 2: Demographics
of Respondents
|
|
|
|
%
|
| Female |
51.4
|
| Male |
48.6
|
| First-year student |
27.3
|
| Sophomore |
26.1
|
| Junior |
23.6
|
| Senior |
23.0
|
| Live on-campus |
65.9
|
| Live off-campus |
34.1
|
| Entered UMass as Freshman |
76.9
|
| Entered as Transfer student |
23.1
|
| White/Caucasian |
84.7
|
| Asian-American/Pacific Islander |
6.3
|
| Latino/Hispanic/Chicano |
2.6
|
| Cape Verdean |
1.4
|
| African-American/Black |
1.4
|
| Bi-racial/Multi-racial |
1.4
|
| Other |
2.0
|
|
Average age = 20.5 years
|
|
Initially students were asked how well UMass rates in comparison to other universities. The vast majority of students (97%, n=334) surveyed said UMass rates either “very well” or “somewhat well” in comparison to other universities (see Figure 1). When asked how well UMass rates in comparison to their “perception of an ideal university,” ninety-five percent (n=334) said either “very” or “somewhat” well.
Figure 1: In general, how
well do you think UMass rates in comparison to other universities
Next, students were read a battery of statements about UMass and were asked
to report how accurately each statement describes UMass-Amherst as they perceive
it. The battery included statements about diversity, academics and social life
at UMass. See Table 3 for the results from this battery of questions.
|
Table 3: Students' Accuracy
Ratings of Ten Statements Pertaining to UMass
|
||||||||
|
|
Very Accurately describes
UMass
|
Somewhat Accurately describes
UMass
|
Somewhat Inaccurately
describes UMass
|
Very Inaccurately describes
UMass
|
||||
|
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
N
|
%
|
| UMass has a rich mix of academic, cultural, and social opportunities. |
175
|
49.4
|
159
|
44.9
|
17
|
4.8
|
3
|
0.8
|
| UMass is known for the excellence of academic programs & faculty. |
76
|
21.6
|
224
|
63.6
|
40
|
11.4
|
12
|
3.4
|
| At UMass, students have the individual attention of knowledgeable, dedicated faculty and advisors. |
52
|
14.9
|
200
|
57.1
|
70
|
20.0
|
28
|
8.0
|
| UMass has a remarkable diversity of people, programs, and ideas. |
168
|
47.5
|
148
|
41.8
|
30
|
8.5
|
8
|
2.3
|
| UMass offers opportunities that enrich, challenge, and prepare students well for life after college. |
125
|
36.3
|
192
|
55.8
|
20
|
5.8
|
7
|
2.0
|
| UMass is a party school. |
146
|
41.6
|
168
|
47.9
|
34
|
9.7
|
3
|
0.9
|
| UMass has a location that offers both aesthetic beauty and cultural focus. |
160
|
45.6
|
161
|
45.9
|
22
|
6.3
|
8
|
2.3
|
| UMass has academic departments that enjoy national attention. |
115
|
35.1
|
171
|
52.1
|
36
|
11.0
|
6
|
1.8
|
| UMass has selective admissions. |
36
|
10.8
|
196
|
58.7
|
78
|
23.4
|
24
|
7.2
|
| UMass is firmly committed to the principles of affirmative action, civility, equal opportunity, and the free exchange of ideas. |
103
|
30.2
|
186
|
54.5
|
40
|
11.7
|
12
|
3.5
|
Finally, Pulse Interviewers asked students a series of questions pertaining
to student needs at UMass. Students were asked to rate each choice using a scale
ranging from 1 to 5, with 1 being something students need “least”
and 5 being something students need “most.” See Table 4 for the results
from this battery of questions.
|
Table 4: Students' "Need"
Ratings of Nine Items
|
||||||
|
|
Students Need Most
|
|
|
|
Students Need Least
|
Average Rating
|
|
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
| More parking on campus |
54.7%
|
21.1%
|
16.5%
|
5.1%
|
2.6%
|
4.20
|
| Better maintenance of auditoriums and lecture halls |
43.3%
|
26.8%
|
22.5%
|
6.0%
|
1.4%
|
4.04
|
| More ATM locations |
35.0%
|
21.2%
|
24.1%
|
13.8%
|
6.0%
|
3.65
|
| More photocopier locations |
16.9%
|
28.1%
|
33.2%
|
16.9%
|
4.9%
|
3.35
|
| Better academic support services |
29.8%
|
32.1%
|
28.4%
|
8.3%
|
1.4%
|
3.80
|
| Increased user-friendliness of administrative services |
41.2%
|
31.0%
|
21.9%
|
3.4%
|
2.6%
|
4.04
|
| Better promotion of community service opportunities for students |
15.7%
|
32.2%
|
37.0%
|
11.4%
|
3.7%
|
3.44
|
| Centralized Info Center |
31.3%
|
32.8%
|
27.4%
|
6.8%
|
1.7%
|
3.85
|
| Better maintenance of campus grounds |
17.9%
|
23.6%
|
33.0%
|
17.9%
|
7.7%
|
3.26
|
