The CCSEQ is designed to fit the diverse student body of the twenty-first century community college. A range of student characteristics, experiences, aims and outcomes is surveyed, making possible a composite picture of the academic, cultural and social needs and desires of students served by an institution.

Sampling Procedures

Due to differences in the amount of time spent on campus and the demand off-campus responsibilities place on students, instrument distribution by mail to a select random sample may not be advisable. The cost of this approach, coupled with the probable poor rate of return may lead to results that are of limited usefulness.

Our experience suggests that administering the CCSEQ within the context of on-campus classes yields nearly a 100% return rate. While it may not produce a random sample of enrolled students, by carefully selecting a variety of courses – daytime, evening, general education, transfer, vocational, transitional, etc. – a fairly representative sample that approximates the attitudes of the larger student body may be obtained. For example, one institution analyzed its semester course offering schedules and elected to sample every class that met on Wednesdays at 9 am, 1 pm and 6 pm.

Administering the CCSEQ

Most students will complete the instrument in 20 minutes or less; consequently, an entire class period is not required. The CCSEQ may be given by instructors within the selected courses or by a staff member and then centrally collected.

The attitude and enthusiasm of those that administer the test goes a long way towards ensuring the quality of the student participation and the validity of their responses.

Please provide students with soft No.2 black pencils. Pens, markers, crayons or ink of any sort may not be used.

To assist us in processing, please check the instruments as they are returned to you, making sure that the circles are completely filled in with a pencil and that any extraneous marks are erased. Space is provided at the end of the instrument for student identification numbers, should you desire them. Be sure to advise students that their responses are not confidential if your institution requests this information.

When preparing to ship the instruments for scoring, please do not attach, paste, clip, fold, staple or tamper with them in any way, as this prevents the scanning equipment to function properly.

Specialized Questions

The CCSEQ allows each institution the opportunity to create as many as 20 additional questions (with up to 4 response options each) tailored to fit specific areas of inquiry. Should you choose this option, please insert a copy of the questions and possible response options, as well as any instructions given to the students who completed them, with the instruments you send to us for scoring. The frequency distributions from these questions will be included in the report that is returned to you.

Aggregate Totals

Your results may be compared with the scores and percentages that are reported in the CCSEQ Test Manual and Comparative Data (3rd Ed.). The manual was prepared by Corinna Ethington, Anne Marie Guthrie and Penny Lehman and published by The University of Memphis Center for the Study of Higher Education in 1999. This edition contains responses of over 18,000 students from over 60 community colleges, as well as statistical analyses of the measures used in the CCSEQ instrument. Also this information is updated with aggregate, annual totals from all institutions that have administered the CCSEQ during a given academic year.

Privacy

The data you receive belongs solely to your institution. We will only use your data for the purpose of compiling aggregate totals. Data from individual schools will not be identified, nor their results shared.

Processing

Mailing:

Using a sturdy container, ship the completed questionnaires to us at the address listed below. Please do not fold the instruments and remember to include a copy of your CCSEQ order form, plus a copy of any additional questions, possible response option and instructions.

CCSEQ
The University of Memphis
Center for the Study of Higher Education
308 Browning Hall
Memphis, TN 38152-3340

Payment

You should receive a bill from our office shortly after your scored instruments are mailed to you. If you are working with special calendar or fiscal deadlines, please let us know, and we will be happy to adjust accordingly. Payment should be remitted to the following address:

The University of Memphis
P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 313
Memphis, TN 38148-0313

Processing Time

Instruments are usually scored and returned to you within 4 to 6 weeks from the date they are received. However, if you require quicker results, please contact us, and every effort will be made to accommodate your request. The process may also be expedited by using Federal Express as the return carrier; however, the delivery costs will be passed on to your institution.

The Materials You Will Receive

The package we return to you includes a diskette containing your results and the frequency distribution prepared for your data. This information is saved in a file that is readable by SPSS, as well as in files compatible with several additional formats, should you wish to conduct further analyses. Hard copies of two reports are also included - a frequency distribution of your data and any identification numbers your students have selected.

In addition, we are available for consultation and additional analyses (at reasonable rates). Please contact us if we can assist you in any way.