Academic Calendar
Survey 2006
This survey, conducted in spring 2006 on behalf
of Vice President and Provost Gene Block, asked questions
to the entire academic population at the University-all students
and faculty from the undergraduate and professional schools and
staff in the academic division. Out of a total of
23,410 in the sample, 50 respondents requested removal from the
survey
and
10,266
responded,
for a response rate of 44%, which varied signficantly depending
upon the particular respondent subgroup (faculty, staff, students).
See methodology for response rates by subgroup. The questionnaire
asked about the University community's opinions on
the academic
calendar,
including
when each
semester should begin and end, what the preferences for breaks
are, and the number of reading days for exams.
Data
Reports
Questionnaire (MS
Word doc)
Methodology
Data
(Stored in IAS Data
Catalog)
Frequencies by subgroup (instructional
research faculty, undergraduates, etc)
Bar
graphs summarizing ranking questions (top priorities) by
subgroup
Reports
None available at this time.
Methodology
A census was conducted of the entire population. The
survey population was all undergraduate students, graduate students,
faculty, professional research professional research staff, and
classified staff from the academic division.
On March 31, 2006, the population was sent personalized
emails, signed by the Provost, informing them of the importance
and general purposes of the survey, assuring them of confidentiality,
and inviting
them
to participate. The survey was conducted entirely over the web.
Respondents were tracked via an alphanumeric randomized respondent
key. Three email reminders were sent to nonrespondents on April
17, 24 and May 12, 2006. No incentives were offered for participation.
When the field period ended on June 1, 2006, a
total of 10,266 students, faculty and staff had responded to this
survey for an overall response
rate of 44%. At a 95% confidence level, the overall sampling error
for the survey was ± 0.7%. The number of respondents, response
rates and sampling errors are reported in the table
below for six subgroups analyzed: instructional/research faculty,
general/administrative faculty, classified staff, professional
research staff, undergraduate students and graduate students.
| |
Instructional/
research faculty |
General/
administrative
faculty |
Classified staff |
Prof.
research staff |
Undergrad.
Students |
Grad.
Students |
| Respondents |
875 |
608 |
1420 |
137 |
4896 |
2326 |
| Response rate |
68% |
66% |
47% |
46% |
39% |
44% |
| Sampling
error |
±3.3% |
±4.0% |
±2.6% |
±8.4% |
±1.4% |
±2.0% |
Sampling error assumes a random (representative)
sample. Analysis was conducted to determine whether respondents
differed from nonrespondents in important known characteristics
such as gender and ethnic/racial background. Women were slightly
overrepresented among respondents (51% of the population but 57%
of the sample), Whites were also slightly overrepresented (68%
and
72%), and African-Americans were somewhat underrepresented (8%
and 6%). Accordingly, the data was weighted by gender and race
to account for
these
differences.
Questions regarding the administration of the survey,
the questionnaire, or the results can be directed to Jonathan Schnyer,
Assistant Director and Assessment Coordinator, Office of Institutional
Assessment and Studies, P.O. Box 400427, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4727
(telephone: 434/924-3417 or schnyer@virginia.edu).
|
