Appendix 3: Student Questionnaire Faculty of Aboriginal and Islander Studies

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1. Name

2. Address

 

    Telephone

3. Date of birth:

4. Are you an Australian Aboriginal? (please circle)    YES    NO

5. Are you a Torres Strait Islander? (please circle)     YES     NO

6. Where were you born?

7. Gender: (please circle)     M    F

8. What was your level of education before entering university?

9. Last secondary school attended?

    Name:

    In what year? 19

10. Are you the first member of your immediate family to attend tertiary education (University)?

      (please circle)       YES      NO

11. Do you intend to continue your university studies in the future?

(please circle)       YES       NO

12. What was the last course in which you were enrolled in at the University of South Australia?

course:

In what year? 19


Please circle:      Full time        Part time

For students who have withdrawn from university how many months did you attend?


From                   To

13. Do you speak a language other than English at home ?

(please circle)         YES          NO

If YES, the main non-English language spoken at home is:


If NO, was the English STANDARD NON-STANDARD

14. Was the course you enrolled in your first choice?

(please circle)         YES          NO

If NO: What was your first choice?

15. Did you study on campus or by distance education? (please circle)

On campus            DEC

16. How important were each of the following issues when you decided to study at the university?       (circle the number you agree with beside each statement)

1 = extremely important


2 = important


3 = minor consideration


4 = not a consideration

   

most--------------least

important
a. to please my family

1

2

3

4
b. to get a better job

1

2

3

4
c. to gain entrance to another university

1

2

3

4
d. to be with my friends

1

2

3

4
e. to advance in my present job

1

2

3

4
f. to study in a field that interests me

1

2

3

4
g. to meet community expectations

1

2

3

4
h. other, please specify        

17. What are you doing at the present? Please tick:

18. What were you doing the five years before entering university? Please tick:

19. What were you doing immediately before entering university? Please tick:

20. Please circle the number you agree with beside each statement :

1 = strongly agree


2 = agree


3 = uncertain


4 = disagree


5 = strongly disagree


6 = not applicable

   

Strongly Uncertain Strongly

Agree----------------------Disagree

N/A
a. my study skills were appropriate for university

1

2

3

4

5

6
b. I had problems organising my study time

1

2

3

4

5

6
c. I was academically prepared for university studies (I had enough prerequisite knowledge)

1

2

3

4

5

6
d. after gaining university entrance, I was eager to begin my studies immediately

1

2

3

4

5

6
e. I found the change to (transition to) university easy

1

2

3

4

5

6
f. I had plenty of guidance as to what was expected of me in lectures and tutorials

1

2

3

4

5

6
g. I found the other students very friendly

1

2

3

4

5

6
h. I felt welcomed at university

1

2

3

4

5

6

21. Please circle the number which reflects your views about the last course you were enrolled in beside each statement :

1 = strongly agree


2 = agree


3 = uncertain


4 = disagree


5 = strongly disagree


6 = not applicable

   

Strongly Uncertain Strongly

Agree----------------------Disagree

N/A
a. the course increased my understanding of myself as a person

1

2

3

4

5

6
b. the course was interesting

1

2

3

4

5

6
c. the course was relevant to my future plans

1

2

3

4

5

6
d. the course material was easy

1

2

3

4

5

6
e. I enjoyed the course work and assignments

1

2

3

4

5

6
f. the teaching staff was generally helpful

1

2

3

4

5

6
g. I worked hard at my studies

1

2

3

4

5

6
h. I enjoyed studying

1

2

3

4

5

6
i. I generally knew what was expected of me

1

2

3

4

5

6
j. the teaching staff was fair in assessing my marks

1

2

3

4

5

6
k. I was encouraged by the teaching staff

1

2

3

4

5

6
l. it was difficult to meet deadlines for assignments

1

2

3

4

5

6
m. classes were of a size that made staff access easy

1

2

3

4

5

6
n. the teaching staff was approachable

1

2

3

4

5

6
o. I enjoyed the way the material was taught/packaged

1

2

3

4

5

6
p. the workload was appropriate

1

2

3

4

5

6
q. I like my teachers/lecturers/tutors

1

2

3

4

5

6

22. Please circle the number that is most accurate about personal issues that may have affected your studies next to each statement :

1 = strongly agree


2 = agree


3 = uncertain


4 = disagree


5 = strongly disagree


6 = not applicable

   

Strongly Uncertain Strongly

Agree----------------------Disagree

N/A
a. my family encouraged me to study

1

2

3

4

5

6
b. my friends were supportive of my studying

1

2

3

4

5

6
c. my family understood the demands of university study

1

2

3

4

5

6
d. my friends understood the demands of university study

1

2

3

4

5

6
e. there was pressure from family to study hard

1

2

3

4

5

6
f. it was easy to find time for family/social/ community Responsibilities

1

2

3

4

5

6
g. the orientation program was very helpful

1

2

3

4

5

6
h. my university studies interfered with home life

1

2

3

4

5

6
i. I worried about financial problems

1

2

3

4

5

6
j. I felt lonely while studying at university

1

2

3

4

5

6
k. I felt homesick while studying at university

1

2

3

4

5

6
l. I felt depressed while studying at university

1

2

3

4

5

6
m. I found it easy to find time for work and my studies

1

2

3

4

5

6
n. I fitted in well with other students

1

2

3

4

5

6
o. my accommodation was suitable for studying

1

2

3

4

5

6
p. most of my friends attend university

1

2

3

4

5

6
q. while at university, I had problems at home

1

2

3

4

5

6
r. the support services helped me a lot

1

2

3

4

5

6

23. How frequently did you use each of the following services? Circle the number beside each service:

1 = often used


2 = sometimes used


3 = never used

    often ------ never used        used
a. library

1

2

3
b. computer facilities

1

2

3
c. counselling services

1

2

3
d. student association

1

2

3
e. student cafeteria

1

2

3
f. sporting facilities

1

2

3
g. teleconferences

1

2

3
h. student money loans

1

2

3
i. student employment services

1

2

3
j. orientation program

1

2

3
k. study skills support

1

2

3
l. facilities for disabled students

1

2

3

24. For each service, circle the number that reflects how adequate you found the convenience of hours, availability of facilities, and helpfulness of staff:

1 = adequate


2 = barely adequate


3 = inadequate


4 = not applicable/never used

   

Adequate-----Inadequate

N/A
a. library

1

2

3

4
b. computer facilities

1

2

3

4
c. counselling services

1

2

3

4
d. student association

1

2

3

4
e. student cafeteria

1

2

3

4
f. sporting facilities

1

2

3

4
g. teleconferences

1

2

3

4
h. student money loans

1

2

3

4
i. student employment services

1

2

3

4
j. orientation program

1

2

3

4
k. study skills support

1

2

3

4
l. facilities for disabled students

1

2

3

4
m. distance education staff

1

2

3

4

25. Did you come from: (please circle)

Interstate


Country SA


Local SA (Adelaide area)

Please tick:

26.* How important were each of the following factors in your decision to withdraw from university? Circle the number next to each statement :

1 = extremely important


2 = important


3 = minor consideration


4 = not a consideration


5 = not applicable

   

most--------------least

important

N/A
a. academic preparation (eg study skills, prerequisite knowledge)

1

2

3

4

5
b. possibility of failing course

1

2

3

4

5
c. course work (not interesting, didn't pertain to life plans)

1

2

3

4

5
d. university culture and facilities (helpfulness, adequate facilities)

1

2

3

4

5
e. accommodation (noisy, unable to study, poor housing)

1

2

3

4

5
f. distance (long distance commuting, isolated from family and friends

1

2

3

4

5
g. family tension (home problems, lack of understanding)

1

2

3

4

5
h. health (serious illness, stress, pregnancy)

1

2

3

4

5
i. personal decisions (needed a break, change of life goals)

1

2

3

4

5
j. feedback on progress as a student

1

2

3

4

5
k. employment (new job, transfer, work, pressure, schedule change)

1

2

3

4

5
l. finances (not afford to study, major unexpected expenses)

1

2

3

4

5
m. wanted to be with friends who do not attend university

1

2

3

4

5
n. teaching staff unsupportive

1

2

3

4

5
o. grades/requirements unevenly applied to class

1

2

3

4

5
p. the language used in lectures was unclear, and difficult to understand

1

2

3

4

5
q. other please specify:          

* For current students or those who have completed their course, this wording was replaced by…If there was any time when you thought about withdrawing from university, which of the following factors, were influencing your thoughts/feelings at the time?

27. List the subjects you enrolled in at university Year enrolled List what you liked about the subject List what you disliked about the subject
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         

28. Would you say the staff was supportive and helpful with your studies?

YES        NO

If YES, how were they helpful? Can you give an example:

If NO, how were they not helpful? Can you give an example:

29. In general, was the university what you expected?

YES         NO

If YES, what did you expect?


If NO, what parts were different than you expected?

30. In your experience, what is the most important reason why students withdraw from university?

31. Can you provide some suggestions that might reduce or eliminate students from withdrawing?