This paper reports the results of the Undergraduate Experience Survey at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). Conducted during the spring quarter of 1996, the survey was a collaborative effort of UC institutional research offices and the Office of the President (UCOP). With funding provided by UCOP, six UC campuses administered the pilot survey (UC Riverside and UCLA did not participate). The UCSC survey was primarily composed of the questions that were asked at all campuses. Highlights of this report include:

The three most important educational goals for UCSC students were obtaining Page 7 knowledge for employment, developing competence in their major field of study, and developing writing skills. UC students felt they made their greatest academic progress in their field of study. Page 9 Development of writing skills and problem solving skills were also rated highly. UCSC students rated their progress as high as any other UC campus on nine of the fourteen goals studied. Students who placed high importance on either academic or social competence Page 13 were far more satisfied with UCSC than were other students. Significant differences in satisfaction were found on almost every question.

Academic areas UCSC students would like to be improved were experience Page 13 through internships, knowledge needed for employment, and the development of speaking skills. Compared with students at other UC campuses, Santa Cruz students were more Page 19 satisfied with the availability of courses in their major, the flexibility of degree requirements, class sizes, and the opportunities for independent study. They were less satisfied with course content in the major, TA instruction in the major, the variety of courses in the major, and their overall social experience. Sixty-five percent of UCSC students own a personal computer. Based on a wide Page 28 range of activity, Santa Cruz students reported using computers more frequently than students at four other UC campuses. UCSC students were asked if they would prefer to have the option of a grade Page 30 in any course. Sixty percent said "yes." Comments suggested that students supported the grade option as long as narrative evaluations were not threatened.

This report was prepared by Randy Nelson. Additional copies may be requested by contacting the Office of Planning and Budget, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (408-459-2446). A copy of this report may also be found on the World Wide Web at http://planning.ucsc.edu/irps/enrollmt/#SURVEY. This report was released in Spring, 1997.