Senior Survey—Spring 2002—IHUM-Specific Supplemental Questions—Summary

 

Total number of responses = 317 (comprising respondents who took IHUM, CIV, SLE, and other)

Percentages have been rounded.

 

 

I. Supplementary Questions 31-45

 

The following questions are designed to provide us with information specific to your experiences at Stanford. The Faculty Senate has mandated a formal review of the Area One requirement next year. Your responses to questions 31 to 45 will be used to inform that review.

 

31. Relative to other courses that met University requirements (i.e., Writing, GER’s), how challenging and rigorous was your Area One experience in Autumn Quarter?

 

Much less	A little less	The same	A little more	Much more	No response	Other
16	46	104	88	51	11	1
5%	15%	33%	28%	16%	3%	0%

 

 

32. Relative to other courses that met University requirements (i.e., Writing, GER’s), how challenging and rigorous was your Area One experience in Winter and Spring Quarters?

 

Much less	A little less	The same	A little more	Much more	No response	Other
15	54	127	73	37	10	1
5%	17%	40%	23%	12%	3%	0%

 

 

33. To what extent was your Area One experience a valuable part of your Stanford education?

 

Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great	Very great	No response	Other
56	98	80	39	32	11	1
18%	31%	25%	12%	10%	3%	0%

 

 

34. To what extent did your Autumn Quarter Area One course develop skills and perspectives applicable to your Winter/Spring Area One courses?

 

Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great	Very great	No response	Other
58	86	92	47	23	11	0
18%	27%	29%	15%	8%	3%	0%

 

 

To what extent did your Area One courses meet the objectives of the Area One Requirement listed in 35-39 below?

 

35. (for Autumn Quarter Area One courses) To acquaint you with the diverse ways humanists think and the different kinds of topics they think about.

 

Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great	Very great	No response	Other
30	83	109	57	19	19	0
9%	26%	34%	18%	6%	6%	0%

 

                      

36. (for Winter/Spring Area One courses) To introduce you in a sustained way to specific significant themes, ideas, imaginative constructs, and values concerning human existence.

                         

Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great	Very great	No response	Other
21	66	113	71	32	14	0
7%	21%	36%	22%	10%	4%	0%

 

 

37. To engage you with works of intellectual importance.

                      

Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great	Very great	No response	Other
11	39	90	111	52	14	0
3%	12%	28%	35%	16%	4%	0%

 

 

38. To develop your ability to bring standards of evidence to bear in making critical judgments.      

                                                                                                                    

Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great	Very great	No response	Other
33	71	115	58	25	15	0
10%	22%	36%	18%	8%	5%	0%

 

 

39. To improve your skills in oral and written expression.                       

       

Not at all	Slight	Moderate	Great	Very great	No response	Other
33	62	114	65	28	15	0
10%	20%	36%	21%	9%	5%	0%

 

 

 

 

How important do you think the following characteristics are for first-year Area One courses?

 

40. Coherence/continuity among multiple quarters.      

                                      

Unimportant	Of little importance	Somewhat important	Very important	Essential	No response	Other
33	59	104	70	22	29	0
10%	19%	33%	22%	7%	9%	0%

 

 

41. In-depth analysis of texts.      

                                                                                     

Unimportant	Of little importance	Somewhat important	Very important	Essential	No response	Other
4	21	85	130	54	22	1
1%	7%	27%	41%	17%	7%	0%

 

 

42. A common set of texts.           

                                                               

Unimportant	Of little importance	Somewhat important	Very important	Essential	No response	Other
26	95	106	53	12	24	1
8%	30%	33%	17%	4%	8%	0%

 

 

43. A lecture component.

Unimportant	Of little importance	Somewhat important	Very important	Essential	No response	Other
14	27	94	122	39	21	0
4%	9%	30%	38%	12%	7%	0%

 

44. A discussion-section component.

Unimportant	Of little importance	Somewhat important	Very important	Essential	No response	Other
7	17	49	117	105	22	0
2%	5%	15%	37%	33%	7%	0%

 

 

45. Residence-based format.

       

Unimportant	Of little importance	Somewhat important	Very important	Essential	No response	Other
170	68	35	16	5	22	1
54%	21%	11%	5%	2%	7%	0%