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Institutional researchers and others at East Carolina University have been concerned that requiring students to complete a survey, the institutional evaluation form, will have a negative effect on the ratings that students give the university. The responses to electronic forms of this survey completed by seniors and by sophomores are grouped with responses from other universities and colleges in the North Carolina state system, so a high response rate is desirable. To study the effects of the mandatory survey, survey responses were tabulated by the dates they were submitted, on the assumption that students who responded late in the process did so because they felt forced. Students were also given the opportunity to register their comments about the survey. Very few comments about the survey requirement were recorded, although more than 3,000 students completed the surveys. There was little evidence that the mandatory nature of the survey depressed rating on the sophomore survey or on the 1999 graduating senior survey. However, the later responses for spring 2000 graduates were clearly and consistently lower for most of the questions on the survey. The results are somewhat counter-intuitive because sophomores were more "forced" (unable to register without completing the survey) than seniors, and the differences may result from the way students were informed of the requirement. Sophomore requirements were well publicized, but seniors were informed through a letter attached to the application for graduation, and most late responses were the result of sending lists of students who had not completed the survey to the departments. An appendix contains some comments about the surveys. (Contains 10 tables.) (SLD)

This study surveyed graduating seniors of East Carolina University relative to employment status immediately prior to graduation in the spring of 1974. The purpose of the study was to determine the number of graduating seniors who had accepted employment, the location of their work, and whether or not they were satisified with the employment offer. Other variables investigated were: (1) students who had offers but were still seeking employment; (2) students seeking employment but having no job offers; and (3) students not seeking employment due to further studies, military obligations, etc. These variables were categorized by degree level, sex, race, and marital status in a summary table, and by discipline and degree level in other tables. (Author)

A study was undertaken of the relationship between performance of the North Carolina State Board Test Pool Nursing Examination and grades in university courses of study of 441 nursing students (1974-78). Data were collected for each of the Ss and factor analysis was used to determine independent variable groupings. For each independent variable and its respective dependent variable grouping a step-wise multiple regression procedure was performed. Tables are used to compare the findings with 1964-68 nursing graduates, which show, among other things, that average scores in each area have declined but class means have increased for a high proportion of the undergraduate course grades measured. Overall the average course grades received by the 1974-78 graduates were higher, indicating possible grade escalation. However, the eight specific course grade measures (selected by factor analysis) used in various combinations as predictor variables for estimates of Board Examination scores did not show the general tendency (two increased, two decreased, four did not change significantly). The data collection sheet is appended. (PHR)