Ohio State University
Graduate Student Survey
Academic Year 2002-2003


On behalf of the Ohio State University, The Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium is soliciting your responses on several issues related to graduate education at Ohio State.  This survey has been designed in a collaborative effort to assist Ohio State to learn more about the experiences of its graduate students.  Your answers will be used by Ohio State to evaluate existing services and programs, to design new ones, and to advise current and future students.  In all cases, all information on this survey will be kept confidential.  The survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.  Please remember to answer any supplemental questions provided by Ohio State.  Thank you in advance for your help with this important project.



I. Educational status
         
1. What is your current degree program?
  Bachelors/Master's
  Master's
  Ph.D.
  Master's/Ph.D.
         
2. In what department or field are you pursuing your degree?
 
         
3. What was your age when you began this graduate program?
 
         
4. What was your primary activity immediately prior to this program?
  Undergraduate student
  Graduate student
  Volunteer/Community Service
  Cared for a family
  Employed in a field related to that of current study
  Employed in a field unrelated to that of current study
  None of the above
         
5. What is your current status in your graduate program (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY):
  I am still taking courses
  I have completed coursework
  I have passed qualifying exams/paper
  I have had my dissertation/thesis proposal accepted
  I have defended my dissertation/thesis
         
6. What is your current official enrollment status:
  Full-time
  Part-time
         
7.  What is your best estimate of how many years TOTAL it will take to obtain your degree, from the time you started your current program until you complete it?
 
         
  Name, and state or country, of your undergraduate institution:
8. Input here if not found in list to left: 
9. Input here if not found in list to left: 

II. Academic Program
               
  Rate the following dimensions of academic quality.
        Very      
      Excellent Good Good Fair Poor
1.   Academic standards in my program
2.   Integration of current developments in my field
3.   Program space and facilities
4.   Overall program quality
               
  Rate the following dimensions of the  intellectual environment in your graduate program.
        Very      
      Excellent Good Good Fair Poor
5.   The intellectual quality of the faculty
6.   The intellectual quality of your fellow graduate students
7.   The relationship between faculty and graduate students
               
  Rate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements concerning your graduate program.
      Strongly       Strongly
      Agree Agree Ambivalent Disagree Disagree
8.   Program activities foster a sense of intellectual community
9.   Program content supports my research or professional goals
10.   Program structure encourages student collaboration or teamwork
11.   Program structure provides opportunities to take coursework outside my own department
12.   Program structure provides opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary work
13.   Amount of coursework required seems appropriate to the degree
               
  Rate the extent to which the following academic facilities and services are adequate to your needs. If you have not used the facility or service, please indicate this.
      More than     Very Did not
      Adequate Adequate Inadequate Inadequate Use
14.   Library facilities/buildings/space
15.   Library hours
16.   Library holdings
17.   Other library services (interlibrary loan, databases, etc.)
18.   Laboratory facilities
19.   On-campus computer facilities
20.   Ease of accessing on-campus computer facilities
21.   Web-based campus computer services (e.g., for registration)
22.   Ease of accessing web-based campus computer facilities from on campus
23.   Ease of accessing web-based campus computer facilities from off campus
24.   Availability of help with campus computer facilities
25.   Services of the Office of Graduate affairs/studies/dean
26.   Dissertation Office (if separate office)
27.   Registrar

III. Support for Professional Development
                 
A. Teaching experience
1. Check here if you have held a teaching appointment while in graduate school
    If yes: (if NO then please skip to question 4)
2.   For how many quarters/semesters have you assisted in a faculty member's course?
3.   For how many quarters/semesters have you been the primary course instructor yourself?
                 
4. Does your department or program provide training in teaching skills?  YES  NO  NOT SURE
                 
        Very       Received no
      Excellent Good Good Fair Poor Training
5.  How useful have you found your training in basic teaching skills? (e.g., syllabus development, lecturing, leading discussions, creating and/or grading assignments, writing examinations)
6. Check here if you have taught any courses that you developed yourself.
                 
      Increased Made no Decreased
      my interest difference my interest
7. How has your overall experience affected your interest in teaching?
                 
B. Research experience
8. Check here if you have conducted independent research since starting your graduate program. (If no, go to Part C)
    If yes:
          Not applicable/
      Yes No No opinion
9. Do you feel you received adequate training before beginning your own research?
10. Have you received adequate faculty guidance in formulating a research topic?
11. Have you conducted your research in collaboration with one or more faculty members?
12. Have you at any time received research funding from a faculty grant?
13. Have you assisted in writing a grant proposal?
14. Have you published one or more research papers as sole author?
15.   As co-author?
16. Have you attended a professional conference?
17. Have you presented a paper or poster session at a professional conference?
                 
C. Career counseling and job search
          Not applicable/
      Yes No No opinion
18. Did you enter your degree program intending to pursue a career in academia?
19. Have you received advice about employment opportunities inside academia?
20. Have you received advice about employment opportunities outside academia?
21. Have you received advice on how to search for a job?
22.   On how to prepare a resume or curriculum vitae?
23.   On preparing for an interview?
                 
                 
IV. Advising
                 
          Seldom/ Not applicable/
      Usually Sometimes never No opinion
  A. All graduate students
1. Is information on degree requirements available?
2. Is information on degree requirements clear?
3. Are faculty and staff well-informed about degree requirements?
4. Have you had input into the design of your individual program of study?
                 
  B. Doctoral students only
5. Have you received adequate advice on preparing for oral examinations?
6. Have you received adequate advice on preparing for written examinations?
7. Have you received adequate advice on developing your thesis proposal?
8. Was the process required to select a thesis advisor clear?
9. Have you received adequate feedback on your research from your thesis advisor?
10. Have you received adequate advice on the standards for academic writing in your field?
11. Have you received adequate advice on how to avoid plagiarism and other violations of the standards of academic integrity?
12. Have you received adequate feedback on your thesis drafts?
13. Have you received adequate advice on preparing for your final defense?
                 
      Four or more times One to three times Less than Not applicable/
      (at least once/week) (at least once/month) once/month No opinion
  On average, how often per month do you meet or communicate with your thesis advisor about:
14.   Your ongoing research and results
15.   Your writing of the thesis draft

V. Student Life
                     
  A. UNIVERSITY RESOURCES
                     
  Please rate the following university resources based on the two scales provided: first, your level of use of the resource, and second, the quality you have experienced in using them. Please answer regarding your most recent year's experience in graduate school at this institution.
                     
      Usage   Quality
      Frequent Rare Never   Excellent Average Poor N/A
1. Health care services  
2. Health insurance  
3. Child care services  
4. Financial Aid Office  
5. Career and Placement Services  
6. Student Counseling & Resource Center  
7. Bursar or student accounts  
8. University Police/Security  
9. Athletic Facilities  
10. Office of International Students  
11. Housing Assistance  
12. Student Activities Office  
13. Ombudsperson's Office (if applicable)  
14. Availability of parking for students  
15. Shuttle bus service  
16. Dining Services  
17. Bookstore  

  B. QUALITY OF LIFE
                     
  Please indicate your level of satisfaction with each of the following. Choose "Not Applicable" when appropriate.
                     
            Very Somewhat Somewhat Very Not
            Satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Applicable
  General
18.   Availability of child care
19.   Cost of child care
20.   Availability of transportation to campus
21.   Graduate student office
                     
  Social Activities
  How often do the following social activities occur on campus, and how often do you attend them (mark one in each column)?
                     
      How often do they presently occur?   How often do you attend them?
      Frequently Rarely Never   Frequently Rarely Never
22. Organized university-wide social activities  
23. Organized social activities within your department  
24. Organized social activities within your advisor/research group  
                     
      Frequently Rarely Never
25. If your campus has a graduate student center, how often do you use it?
26. If your campus does NOT have a graduate student center, do you think one should be created (check if yes)?
                     
  Housing
            Very Somewhat Somewhat Very Not
            Satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Applicable
27.   Availability of housing
28.   Cost of housing
                     
29. Which of these housing situations best describes your CURRENT residence?
  On-campus student housing (no dorm responsibilities)
  On-campus student housing (with dorm responsibilities)
  Off-campus housing owned by this university
  Off-campus housing not owned by this university
                     
  Safety
How safe do you feel under each of the following circumstances?
              Very Reasonably Somewhat  
              Safe Safe Unsafe Unsafe
30.   Walking alone by day on campus
31.   Walking alone at night on campus
32.   Walking alone by day off campus
33.   Walking alone at night off campus
34.   Alone in your current home or residence
35.   Parking your car on or near campus
36.   Using public transportation to/from campus
                     
37. If at a multi-campus university, on which campus are the majority of your classes located?
 
                     
  Prejudice
  Please indicate if you have witnessed or personally experienced prejudice in the following areas (indicate both below):
                     
      Have witnessed:   Have been the target of:
      Frequently Occasionally Never   Frequently Occasionally Never
38. Gender  
39. Race or ethnicity  
40. Country of origin  
41. Religion  
42. Sexual orientation  
43. Disability  
44. Other (specify)  
 
                     
45. If you answered Frequently or Occasionally to any of the questions regarding prejudice, did you take any action? Please select all that apply:
  Spoke with perpetrator(s) of prejudice
  Spoke with victim(s) of prejudice
  Discussed incident with friends
  Spoke to faculty or staff
  Contacted Affirmative Action Office or Ombudsperson
  Other (specify action taken)
   
                     
  C. FINANCES
  Using the following scale, please indicate the approximate number of terms you have received each type of support:
                     
    More than 9 quarters/ 7-9 qtrs/ 4-6 qtrs/ 1-3 qtrs/      
    More than 6 semesters 5-6 sems 3-4 sems 1-2 sems None    
46. Teaching assistantship    
47. Research assistantship    
48. Non-service Fellowship    
49. Traineeship or grant    
50. Need-based financial aid/loans    
51. Personal/family funding    
52. Other funding    
                     
        Seldom/    
    Usually Sometimes Never    
53. Are the criteria for eligibility for financial support within your program clear and available?    
                     
54. Estimate the amount of undergraduate educational debt you will have to repay when you have completed your graduate degree here
 
                     
55. Estimate the amount of graduate educational debt you will have to repay when you have completed your graduate degree here
 
                     
  D. GENERAL ASSESSMENT
  Rate the overall quality of your experience at this university
        Very            
      Excellent Good Good Fair Poor      
56.   Academic experience      
57.   Student life experience