The Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Survey of Western Washington University Freshmen: A Comparison of the 1985 and 1989 Incoming Classes
Abstract
Executive Summary: This report provides a summary of student responses to the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) survey given to Western's 1985 and 1989 incoming freshman classes. The CIRP survey is used to gather information about the characteristics, •• interests, and goals of first-time freshmen nationwide. The majority of incoming freshmen in both 1985 and 1989 were female, 18 years old, U.S. citizens, and native speakers of English. Western's 1989 freshman class was more ethnically diverse than its 1985 counterpart. The proportion of students who were Caucasian went down during this four-year period while the proportion of students from ethnic minorities went up. students in the 1989 freshman class had significantly higher average high school grades than those in the 1985 freshman class. Students in the 1989 class also planned to complete more advanced degrees than the freshmen in 1985 did. Most students in both 1985 and 1989 entered Western in the fall immediately following their graduation from high school. Almost one-third of the 1989 freshman class felt that they would need remedial work in mathematics once they entered college. There was a change between 1985 and 1989 in the types of careers students expressed interest in. Business-related careers, education, computer programming, and nursing all decreased in popularity. Social sciences, biological sciences, and Arts and Humanities were more popular in 1989 than in 1985. Most students in both 1985 and 1989 listed Western as their college of first choice and said they wanted to attend western primarily because of its good academic reputation. Almost all entering freshmen were enrolled as full-time students. other information about students that is detailed in the following report includes students' activities, future plans, and political and religious beliefs, in addition to information about students' parents.