In the fall of 1999, the Task Force sent out a survey to all current Lawrence students, soliciting their opinions on a number of residence life issues. The survey was only one element in a year-long information gathering exercise that involved current students, faculty and staff, alumni, and members of the Board of Trustees. In addition to the survey, the Task Force interviewed individual students, small groups of students, and representatives of campus organizations, spoke with faculty, staff, and Trustees, and held several open forums, including a series of listening sessions with alumni. All of this input will be used by the Task Force in formulating its final recommendations for consideration by the Board of Trustees in October 2000. The survey is but one of many instruments the Task Force has used to inform its thinking.
The Task Force views the survey as providing a useful "snapshot" of student perceptions of residential life at the college and of student preferences for some of the different options the Task Force is considering. As with any survey or opinion poll, the survey results should be interpreted with some caution. Because students chose whether to complete the survey, the resulting data constitutes a "sample of convenience" and therefore does not necessarily represent opinions held by the entire student body. The Task Force's intent in conducting the survey was not to obtain a simple vote on matters of housing, food service, or campus life at Lawrence but rather to provide structure for some of the input the Task Force has received and to ensure broader student participation in the process beyond the open forums and interviews. With a survey response of 604, this "snapshot" represents the thinking of just over half the students in residence at Lawrence.
Among the findings from the survey that are of particular interest to the Task Force at this point in its work, are the following.
Food Service
Housing
Campus and Student Life
Results of the Survey of Student Opinion on Residential Life
All numbers in these tables are percentages. Totals are not always 100 because of missing or invalid data. There were 604 respondents total.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Class year
|
freshman |
30.3 |
|
sophomore |
28.5 |
|
junior |
19.4 |
|
senior |
19 |
|
super-senior |
2.8 |
Gender
|
male |
38.6 |
|
female |
61.3 |
Affiliation
|
independent |
82.1 |
|
Greek |
16.9 |
Residence
|
residence hall |
83.4 |
|
theme house |
3 |
|
small house |
6 |
|
fraternity |
6.1 |
|
co-op |
0.7 |
|
off-campus |
0.8 |
FOOD SERVICE
Rating of Food Service Venues
1=excellent, 2=good, 3=fair, 4=poor, 5=unacceptable.
Quality of food
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 | |
|
Downer |
1.2 |
16.4 |
54.5 |
23.2 |
3.3 |
|
Lucinda's |
9.1 |
50 |
27.5 |
9.5 |
1.8 |
|
Grill |
3.9 |
46.5 |
39.3 |
9.3 |
1.2 |
|
Fraternity |
31 |
36.6 |
17.6 |
0.2 |
5.6 |
|
Co-op |
64.3 |
21.4 |
4.8 |
2.4 |
7.1 |
Variety of food
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 | |
|
Downer |
6.6 |
29 |
38.4 |
22.4 |
3.4 |
|
Lucinda's |
4 |
24 |
41.3 |
27.6 |
3.1 |
|
Grill |
9.1 |
31 |
39.4 |
18.5 |
2 |
|
Fraternity |
22.8 |
30.7 |
22.8 |
17.5 |
6.1 |
|
Co-op |
64.5 |
9.7 |
12.9 |
3.2 |
9.7 |
Attractiveness
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 | |
|
Downer |
2.8 |
23.5 |
42.5 |
25.2 |
2.6 |
|
Lucinda's |
37.1 |
42 |
10.4 |
5.7 |
4.7 |
|
Grill |
3.5 |
37.6 |
43.8 |
13.2 |
1.9 |
|
Fraternity |
5.7 |
21.3 |
42.6 |
27 |
3.3 |
|
Co-op |
36.1 |
22.2 |
22.2 |
8.3 |
11.1 |
Convenience of hours
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 | |
|
Downer |
8.3 |
36.3 |
29.5 |
21.6 |
4 |
|
Lucinda's |
3.7 |
16.6 |
32.6 |
38 |
9.1 |
|
Grill |
24.4 |
44.2 |
16.5 |
9.3 |
5.6 |
|
Fraternity |
58.3 |
11.5 |
8.3 |
6.3 |
15.6 |
|
Co-op |
50 |
14.3 |
10.7 |
7.1 |
17.9 |
General opinion of food service
1=agree strongly, 2=agree somewhat, 3=disagree somewhat, 4=disagree strongly.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
|
The food service satisfies my needs. |
10.7 |
49.7 |
23.5 |
16.2 |
|
There are enough meal plan options. |
8.6 |
35.1 |
26.9 |
29.2 |
|
The meal plans are reasonably priced. |
1.8 |
21.5 |
36.3 |
40.5 |
|
There should be greater flexibility. |
69 |
26.3 |
4.3 |
0.3 |
|
Dining at Lawrence is a positive experience. |
8.1 |
48.9 |
32.5 |
10.6 |
|
Socializing at meal times is important to me. |
63.3 |
30.2 |
5.2 |
1.2 |
|
There should be more socializing with faculty and staff at meals. |
22 |
58.2 |
16.6 |
3.1 |
|
There should be better equipped kitchens for students to use. |
61.1 |
33.1 |
5.2 |
0.6 |
|
I would choose a declining balance/debit card meal plan option. |
72 |
22.6 |
3.8 |
1.5 |
What is a reasonable price for dinner at Lawrence?
|
less than $3 |
$3-4.99 |
$5.00-6.99 |
$7.00-8.99 |
more than $9 |
|
2.9 |
46.8 |
47.3 |
3.1 |
0 |
On average, how many meals do you eat off campus per week?
|
none |
1-3 |
4-6 |
7-9 |
10 or more |
|
10.9 |
59.1 |
20.2 |
5.7 |
4.2 |
HOUSING
Rating of current housing options
1=highly desirable, 2=somewhat desirable, 3=somewhat undesirable, 4=highly undesirable.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
|
double room in residence hall |
13.3 |
56.6 |
24.8 |
5.3 |
|
suite/quad |
57.4 |
33.9 |
6.4 |
2.3 |
|
single room in residence hall |
55.9 |
36.3 |
6.7 |
1.2 |
|
small house (not a theme house) |
62 |
0.2 |
31.3 |
6 |
|
theme house |
35.4 |
50.3 |
12.2 |
2.1 |
|
fraternity house |
21.9 |
28.7 |
20.2 |
29.3 |
|
block in a residence hall |
19.8 |
56.8 |
17.6 |
5.8 |
Importance of Lawrence setting aside special housing for various purposes
1=essential, 2=very important, 3=somewhat important, 4=not important.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
|
theme floors or houses |
11.3 |
19.6 |
42.4 |
26.7 |
|
foreign language floors or houses |
7.1 |
18.7 |
38.8 |
35.4 |
|
other academic floors or houses |
4.3 |
14.8 |
46.2 |
34.7 |
|
co-op living |
15.7 |
24.6 |
41.7 |
18 |
|
Greek societies |
17.8 |
16.2 |
28.9 |
37 |
|
groups with shared community service goals |
7.1 |
21.4 |
51.2 |
20.3 |
|
non-Greek social groups |
11.7 |
20.2 |
43.6 |
24.6 |
|
quiet floors or houses |
19.6 |
24.7 |
36.5 |
19.2 |
|
substance-free floors or houses |
35 |
22.8 |
22.3 |
20 |
|
smoke-free floors or houses |
50.4 |
23.4 |
15.8 |
10.4 |
|
pet-free floors or houses |
13.8 |
17.2 |
24.9 |
44.1 |
Rating of the housing experience at Lawrence
1=excellent, 2=good, 3=fair, 4=poor, 5=unacceptable.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 | |
|
range of housing options |
7.8 |
36.5 |
36.4 |
15.2 |
4.1 |
|
room allocation |
3 |
26.3 |
40.1 |
20.8 |
9.7 |
|
availability of single rooms for women |
4.1 |
19.6 |
38.6 |
28.8 |
8.9 |
|
availability of single rooms for men |
2.2 |
19 |
37.2 |
31.4 |
10.2 |
|
overall quality of housing |
3 |
42.7 |
44.4 |
7.7 |
2.2 |
How should housing be allocated?
1=agree strongly, 2=agree somewhat, 3=disagree somewhat, 4=disagree strongly.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
|
lottery by class year |
47.9 |
42 |
6.7 |
3.4 |
|
random lottery |
2.6 |
9.2 |
17.6 |
70.5 |
|
gpa |
2.9 |
18 |
19.8 |
59.3 |
|
combination of credits and gpa |
12.4 |
20.1 |
17.9 |
49.7 |
Rating prospective changes in housing
1=essential, 2=very important, 3=somewhat important, 4=not important.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
|
convert existing residence hall to suites |
10.1 |
27.5 |
41 |
21.4 |
|
increase number of single rooms |
19.5 |
35.7 |
28.2 |
16.5 |
|
increase number of small houses |
20.1 |
34 |
28.6 |
17.3 |
|
increase number of theme houses |
10.4 |
18.8 |
36.1 |
65.3 |
|
add sorority housing |
13.4 |
16.6 |
25.5 |
44.5 |
|
build new apartments |
32.1 |
33.6 |
23.1 |
11.2 |
|
expand opportunities for co-op living |
19 |
24.7 |
36.8 |
19.6 |
CAMPUS AND STUDENT LIFE
Rating of social life and campus organizations generally
1=excellent, 2=good, 3=fair, 4=poor, 5=unacceptable.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 | |
|
social life |
26.8 |
50.5 |
18.1 |
3.5 |
1 |
|
variety of organizations |
34.3 |
46.6 |
16 |
2.9 |
0.2 |
|
facilities for organizations |
16.7 |
41.8 |
30.5 |
9.1 |
1.8 |
|
funding for organizations |
9.4 |
33.1 |
41.8 |
11.3 |
4.5 |
The importance of various facilities in the proposed new student union
1=essential, 2=very important, 3=somewhat important, 4=not important.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | |
|
coffeehouse |
47.4 |
29.9 |
17.9 |
4.6 |
|
lounge/commons |
51.5 |
32.4 |
14.4 |
1.5 |
|
grill/snack bar |
62 |
29 |
7.6 |
1.3 |
|
campus pub (VR) |
36.5 |
20.4 |
23.3 |
19.8 |
|
game room |
17.4 |
22.7 |
38.5 |
21.4 |
|
centralized information area |
37.1 |
34.7 |
24.7 |
3.4 |
|
kitchen/dining space |
16.5 |
29.5 |
41.5 |
12.3 |
|
performance/program space |
40.3 |
39.3 |
16.4 |
4 |
|
food vending |
26.9 |
29.2 |
31.7 |
12.2 |
|
bookstore |
49.7 |
31.7 |
14.4 |
4.2 |
|
quiet room |
20.6 |
27.7 |
31.5 |
20.2 |
|
art gallery |
23.6 |
31.4 |
32.8 |
12.2 |
|
computer lab |
39 |
27.3 |
21 |
12.5 |
|
meeting space |
36.5 |
40.8 |
20.8 |
1.9 |
|
offices for organizations |
22.7 |
31.7 |
37.1 |
8.3 |
|
ceremonial/ritual space |
10.9 |
20.2 |
36.2 |
32.6 |
|
storage for organizational use |
18.5 |
29.9 |
38.6 |
13.1 |
|
24-hour study lounge |
43.5 |
31 |
17.2 |
8.3 |
|
centralized mailboxes |
11.6 |
10.3 |
19.5 |
58.6 |
|
post office |
37.8 |
34.1 |
22.1 |
5.8 |
Hours spent in various activities per week
|
none |
1 |
1-2 |
3-5 |
6-10 |
11-15 |
16-20 |
21+ | |
|
studying |
0 |
0.2 |
0.7 |
5.6 |
18 |
21.8 |
23.6 |
30 |
|
socializing |
0 |
0.5 |
2.2 |
14.5 |
29.3 |
26.4 |
12 |
15.2 |
|
exercise |
8.6 |
15.3 |
17.5 |
24.1 |
11.4 |
12.5 |
5.7 |
4.5 |
|
on-campus employment |
29 |
2 |
6 |
17.3 |
27 |
11.1 |
7 |
0.3 |
|
off-campus employment |
81.7 |
1 |
2.9 |
3.5 |
6.4 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
0.8 |
|
partying |
16.2 |
17.9 |
23 |
27.6 |
13 |
2 |
0.2 |
0 |
|
academic/cultural events |
2.5 |
10 |
46.3 |
35.1 |
5.5 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
0 |
|
TV/videos/games |
22.9 |
25.1 |
23.5 |
18.6 |
6.7 |
2.2 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
|
residence life activities |
21.5 |
31.3 |
37.4 |
8.1 |
1.4 |
0 |
0.2 |
0 |
|
participating in organizations |
15.4 |
11.7 |
26.4 |
29.2 |
11.8 |
4.7 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
|
total time off-campus |
9.9 |
20.1 |
31.3 |
20.9 |
9.2 |
3.1 |
1.5 |
3.9 |
Where students study
|
never |
occasionally |
frequently | |
|
my room |
3.8 |
32.4 |
63.8 |
|
a friend's room |
48.7 |
43.2 |
8 |
|
lounge in residence hall |
37.4 |
50.3 |
12.3 |
|
library |
13.9 |
43.7 |
42.5 |
|
lounge in academic building |
52.5 |
38.4 |
9.1 |
|
classroom, lab, studio, or practice room |
42.1 |
28.8 |
29.1 |
|
the Union |
75 |
21.3 |
3.7 |
|
computer lab |
50.3 |
41.3 |
8.3 |
|
gym or rec center |
94.5 |
4.7 |
0.8 |
|
outdoors |
37.3 |
56.6 |
6.2 |
|
off-campus |
68.7 |
28.2 |
3.2 |
Where students spend leisure time
|
never |
occasionally |
frequently | |
|
my room |
2.3 |
42.8 |
54.9 |
|
a friend's room |
2.2 |
36.9 |
61 |
|
lounge in residence hall |
43.6 |
43.4 |
13 |
|
library |
72.9 |
24.8 |
2.3 |
|
lounge in academic building |
77.1 |
20.3 |
2.7 |
|
classroom, lab, studio, or practice room | 73.3 | 20.6 | 6.2 |
| the Union | 18.5 | 66.2 | 15.3 |
| computer lab | 55.2 | 40.1 | 4.7 |
| gym or rec center | 32.7 | 54.2 | 13.1 |
| outdoors | 6.3 | 56.1 | 37.5 |
| off-campus in Appleton | 17.3 | 65.8 | 16.9 |
| out of town | 36.7 | 53.4 | 9.8 |
Summary observations
1=agree strongly, 2=agree somewhat, 3=disagree somewhat, 4=disagree strongly.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| participation in organizations is very important to me | 52.2 | 35.5 | 8.6 | 3.6 |
| overall, my out of class experience enhances my life at Lawrence | 76.8 | 19.6 | 2.2 | 1.3 |