Non-Traditional Student Programming Survey Results

UNC Charlotte

Karen Aman, Office of Student Activities

WHY SURVEY NON-TRAD STUDENTS?

• Campus Climate Survey did not give detailed information about this population.
• Non-Trads comprise 37% of our total student population, a significant number to look at.
• Programming and resources need to be assessed periodically and we chose to single out that assessment with this population.

HOW DID WE SURVEY THE NON-TRAD STUDENTS?

• April 1996 - Mail out survey to get general issues and topics
• September 30 - October 3 - Conducted detailed telephone survey
• Non-Traditional = Ages 25 +
• Used a random, yet representative sampling of non-traditional population of 1,400 students
• 2,066 calls were made · 427 surveys were collected

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT RESPONDENTS

• 43% Not Married 56% Married
• 58% Do Not Have Children 40% Do Have Children
• 72% Ages 25-35 22% Ages 36-45 6% Ages 46+
• 80% White 14% African American 2% Asian 2% Hispanic 1% International .5% Native American
• 58% Female 42% Male
• 65% Full-Time 35% Part-Time
• 13% Freshman 8% Sophomore 17% Junior 26% Senior 8% Fifth Year 20% Graduate 8% Other

GENERAL RESULTS

• Some events that are currently attended have a gender-bias, for example, more Males attend sports events than Females.
• Greatest barrier for Males is Work
• Greatest barrier for Females is Family and Childcare.

In general, however, barriers are barriers for all. In other words, most barriers did not differ based on gender.

• Single respondents are more likely to currently attend non-classroom activities that are geared toward entertainment and interaction.
• Respondents with children are more likely to attend non-classroom activities that are more informational, cultural or educational in nature.
• African-American students currently attend more non-classroom activities than other races of students.
• In general, single students attend the most programs and single students with children attend the fewest.
• The overwhelming majority, no matter how the population broken down (i.e., by gender, marital status, family status, race, age) agreed that knowing about a program 1-2 weeks in advance was enough time for them to plan on attending. ·
• Sports, Dance and Theater, Guest Speakers and Organization Functions were the most highly currently attended and the most widely preferred to attend if not currently doing so.
• Most indicate that they have barriers and that there is not much that the university can do to reduce those barriers overall, regardless of their desire to attend non-classroom activities.
• No more than 10% (or 15 persons) responded that they currently attend any particular program offered. In other words, in this population of students, attendance is very low at any event offered.
• 65% (278) did not respond to the question regarding activities currently attended, thus implying they do not currently attend non-classroom activities. Another 9% (39) responded "None" to this question under the "Other" category.
• Only 19% (81) did not respond to the question regarding barriers. "Other" responses to barriers included "age," "money," "health" and "transportation."
• To the question, "What can UNCC do to minimize those barriers?", 17% (74) indicated "Nothing - School is Secondary," 8% (34) replied "Nothing" under the "Other" category, and 26% (110) did not answer the question, implying that UNCC could not do anything to minimize their barriers.
• 12% did not respond when asked what programs they would attend if their barriers were reduced.
• Overall, respondents indicated the best time for them to attend programs is in the Weekday Evenings from 5pm - 8pm.
• Overall, Mailings, the University Times, and Flyers around Campus were the highest ranked publicity methods.
• 87% wanted to be put on a mailing list. They were sent an activities calendar for April/May.

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN RESPONSES (drawn from all 427 respondents)

• Currently attend SPORTS: M 12% F 3%
• Indicate that CHILDCARE is a primary barrier to attending programs on campus: M .6% F 3%
• Say UNCC could offer CHILDCARE to minimize their barriers: M 1% F 11%
• Say UNCC can do NOTHING to minimize their barriers: M 22% F 13%
• Would attend the following programs if their barriers were minimized somehow: Guest Speakers M 21% F 29%
• Dance and Theater Programs M 18% F 27%
• Sports Events M 38% F 22%

RESPONDENTS WITH CHILDREN

Married and Not Married Included (drawn from 171 respondents who DO HAVE CHILDREN)

• Of those 171 who have children: · 73% are Female · 59% are Full-Time · 26% are Seniors · 17% are Freshman · 15% are Graduate Status
• Currently attend programs on campus: Organization Functions 8% Guest Speakers 7% Dance and Theater Programs 6%
• Indicate that the following are primary barriers to attending programs on campus: Lack of Time 46% Work 31% Family 30%
• Only 8% stated that they did not attend programs due to lack of awareness · Only .6% stated that they did not attend programs due to not enough notice
• Say UNCC could offer the following to minimize their barriers: Childcare 17% Nothing 16%
• Would attend the following programs if their barriers were minimized somehow: Dance and Theater Programs 28% Sports Events 25% Guest Speakers 23% Campus Programs 17%
• Say their families would attend the following family-oriented programs if their barriers were minimized somehow: Games 32% Festivals 27% Movies 26%
• Would need the following amount of time to plan to attend a non-classroom event: 1 Week 43% 2 Weeks 34%

SINGLE RESPONDENTS

Not Married and No Children (drawn from 145 respondents who ARE NOT MARRIED and DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN)

• Currently attend programs on campus: Organization Functions 10% Sports Events 10% Workshops 6%
• Indicate that the following are primary barriers to attending programs on campus: Lack of Time 41% Work 40%
• Say UNCC could offer the following to minimize their barriers: Nothing 21%
• Would attend the following programs if their barriers were minimized somehow: Sports Events 34%, Guest Speakers 25%, Dance and Theater Programs 19%
• Indicate the best ways to inform them of upcoming events are: Mailings 53% University Times 25% Would need the following amount of time to plan to attend a non-classroom event: 1 Week 44% 2 Weeks 37%