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The Pulse

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

 
   

January 2013

Pulse Winter 2013

The Pulse is a series of periodic publications on characteristics of GVSU students. The following data has been provided by the Office of Institutional Analysis. We hope you will find the information useful. Your comments and input are welcome.

Information on First Generation Students

Grand Valley serves a significant number of first generation students, many of whom could benefit from particular forms of support. Faculty and staff might therefore find it useful to have a clearer understanding of who these students are and what assistance they might need in order to be successful. "Profile" data below is taken from a recent study conducted by the GVSU Office of Institutional Analysis and reprinted with their permission.

 

Percentage of first generation students at GVSU
Fall 2012 data
among all students 39.5%  
among all undergraduates 44.6%  
among FTIACs 41.6%  
     
Number of credit hours taken each semester  
Fall 2012 data 1st Gen Other
all undergrads 13.1 13.5
FTIACs 14.7 14.8
     
Grades
Cumulative GPA, end of W12 1st Gen Other
Freshman 2.01 2.33
Sophomore 2.81 3.00
Junior 2.92 3.04
Senior 3.09 3.19
     
  1st Gen Other
First-year FTIAC GPA, F11 FTIACs 2.82 3.01
     
Enrollment in remedial / developmental courses  
Fall 2012 FTIACs 1st Gen Other
Took MTH 097 10.2% 3.9%
Took WRT 098 or ENG 099 (self-selected) 17.3% 8.3%
     
Graduation rate    
  1st Gen Other
% graduated in 4 yrs (2007 cohort) 25.1% 37.7%
% graduated in 8 years (2003 cohort) 55.2% 70.8%
     
Commitment to college    
  1st Gen Other
MAP-Works 2011 - To what degree are you committed to completing a degree/certificate/licensure

Ordinal Average: 1 = "not at all"; 4 = "moderately"; 7 = "extremely"
6.68 6.68
     
Percent who live on campus
Fall 2012 data 1st Gen Other
all undergrads 24.3% 29.5%
FTIACs 78.3% 88.2%
     
Participation in campus organizations
  1st Gen Other
F12 Attrition survey - "I participated in campus activities other than attending class"

Ordinal average: 1 = "disagree strongly"; 2 = "disagree"; 3 = "neutral"; 4 = "agree"; 5 = "strongly agree"
3.48 3.71
MAP-Works 2011 - During this term, to what degree do you intend to: Participate in a student organization

Ordinal Average: 1 = "not at all"; 4 = "moderately"; 7 = "extremely"
4.51 4.84
NSSE 2010 Freshmen - Hours per week spent: Participating in co-curricular activities

Ordinal Average: 1 = 0 hrs/wk; 2 = 1-5 hrs/wk; 3 = 6-10 hrs/wk; 4 = 11-15 hrs/wk; 5 = 16-20 hrs/wk; 6 = 21-25 hrs/wk; 7 = 26-30 hrs/wk; 8 = More than 30 hrs/wk
2.08 2.37
NSSE 2010 Seniors - Hours per week spent: Participating in co-curricular activities

Ordinal Average: 1 = 0 hrs/wk; 2 = 1-5 hrs/wk; 3 = 6-10 hrs/wk; 4 = 11-15 hrs/wk; 5 = 16-20 hrs/wk; 6 = 21-25 hrs/wk; 7 = 26 - 30 hrs/wk; 8 = More than 30 hrs/wk
1.77 2.00
     
Perceived isolation or integration
  1st Gen Other
F12 Attrition survey - "I was lonely at GVSU"

Ordinal Average: 1 = "disagree strongly"; 2 = "disagree"; 3 = "neutral"; 4 = "agree"; 5 = "strongly agree"
1.92 1.96
NSSE 2010 Freshmen - Quality of relationships with other students

Ordinal Average: 1 = Unfriendly, Unsupportive, Sense of allienation to; 7 = Friendly, Supportive, Sense of belonging
5.51 5.51
NSSE 2010 Seniors - Quality of relationships with other students

Ordinal Average: 1 = Unfriendly, Unsupportive, Sense of allienation to; 7 = Friendly, Supportive, Sense of belonging
5.52 5.58
     
Perceived relationship with faculty
  1st Gen Other
F12 Attrition survey - "My professors cared about my success"

Ordinal Average: 1 = "disagree strongly"; 2 = "disagree"; 3 = "neutral"; 4 = "agree"; 5 = "strongly agree"
4.16 4.08
NSSE 2010 Freshmen - Quality of relationships with faculty members

Ordinal Average: 1 = Unfriendly, Unsupportive, Sense of alienation to; 7 = Friendly, Supportive, Sense of belonging
5.27 5.21
NSSE 2010 Seniors - Quality of relationships with faculty members

Ordinal average: 1 = Unfriendly, Unsupportive, Sense of alienation to; 7 = Friendly, Supportive, Sense of belonging
5.37 5.40
     
Family responsibilities
  1st Gen Other
MAP-Works 2011 - To what degree are family obligations interfering with your ability to complete coursework

Ordinal Average: 1 = "extremely"; 4 = "moderately"; 7 = "not at all"
5.84 5.93
NSSE 2010 Freshmen - Hours per week spent: Providing care for dependents living with you

Ordinal Average: 1 = 0 hrs/wk; 2 = 1-5 hrs/wk; 3 = 6-10 hrs/wk; 4 = 11-15 hrs/wk; 5 = 16-20 hrs/wk; 6 = 21-25 hrs/wk; 7 = 26-30 hrs/wk; 8 = More than 30 hrs/wk
1.41 1.28
NSSE 2010 Seniors - Hours per week spent: Providing care for dependents living with you

Ordinal Average: 1 = 0 hrs/wk; 2 = 1-5 hrs/wk; 3 = 6-10 hrs/wk; 4 = 11-15 hrs/wk; 5 = 16-20 hrs/wk; 6 = 21-25 hrs/wk; 7 = 26-30 hrs/wk; 8 = More than 30 hrs/wk
2.09 1.89
MAP-Works 2011 - How much did the following factors contribute to your decision to go to college: My family expects me to go

Ordinal average: 1 = "unimportant"; 2 = "somewhat important"; 3 = "very important"
2.43 2.54
     
Financial resources
  1st Gen Other
MAP-Works 2011 - To what degree are you confident that you can pay for: Next term's tuition and fees

Ordinal Average: 1 = "not at all"; 4 = "moderately"; 7 = "extremely"
4.90 5.44
MAP-Works 2011 - To what degree are you confident that you can pay for: Monthly living expenses (e.g. room, board, utilities, rent)

Ordinal Average: 1 = "not at all"; 4 = "moderately"; 7 = "extremely"
4.83 5.45
     
Conflict between employment and schoolwork
  1st Gen Other
F12 Attrition survey - "It's hard to coordinate class and work schedules"

Ordinal average: 1 = "disagree strongly"; 2 = "disagree"; 3 = "neutral"; 4 = "agree"; 5 = "strongly agree"
2.89 2.67
MAP-Works 2011 - To what degree are work obligations interfering with your ability to complete coursework

Ordinal Average: 1 = "not at all"; 4 = "moderately"; 7 = "extremely"
6.04 6.13


Printed with permission from Philip Batty, Director, Institutional Analysis