Document Type

Report

Publication Date

5-1-2006

Keywords

WELS, Transfers, Transition, Fall, 2005, Students, Academics, WWU, Coursework, Exams, Orientation, Lecture, Student Life

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The Western Educational Longitudinal Study (WELS) was conceived as a process to obtain data more relevant to Western and its mission than survey data had been able to obtain previously. Rather than continuing to rely on outside survey forms, researchers developed a Western-specific survey form. Development of this survey took about three years, with researchers soliciting input from dozens of individuals, departments and offices. Along the way, WELS researchers also noted where data was already being collected so that doubling up on survey questions was minimized. The final survey form was considered by all participants to be as thorough and Western¬ specific as it could be. In the inaugural WELS survey, 1580 in-coming 2003 freshmen participated. These respondents became the baseline cohort. From this baseline and also from the general population of Western students samples have been and will continue to be drawn for subsequent WELS surveys. The fall, 2005, transitions survey was administered to all 1029 transfer students who entered Western in the fall quarter, 2005.Of those students, about 85% had taken the WELS baseline in the summer, 2005. Students were emailed the transition survey at the end of fall quarter and several reminders followed through the beginning of winter quarter. On a limited basis, students were called to take the survey over the phone.Of the transfer students who took the survey, 480 took it online and 19 took it over the phone. A total of 499 transfer students took the survey yielding a response rate of 48%. General topics covered in the late fall/early winter, 2005, survey included: initial perceptions and expectations; academic self-perceptions; college preparedness, concern, and motivation; high school experiences; and personal self-perceptions.

Identifier

403

Publisher

Digital object produced by Office of Survey Research, Western Washington University, and made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Transfer students--Washington (State)--Bellingham--Longitudinal studies; College students--Washington (State)--Longitudinal studies

Title of Series

Technical and research reports (Western Washington University. Office of Institutional Assessment and Testing) ; 2006-03

Genre/Form

Reports

Type

Text

Rights

This resource is provided for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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