What is Student Outcomes Research?

Our mission: "To collect, evaluate and disseminate information about USC students and their university experiences."

Our responsibilities include: 1) conducting surveys of the undergraduate population and 2)  providing database analyses and analytical consulting for a variety of Student Affairs and USC Offices.

Surveys. Over a three year cycle, we conduct a variety of surveys which, together, provide a comprehensive assessment of the undergraduate experience.  A description of these surveys as well as the schedule for the 2006-2007 academic year is available here.  Although our primary focus is on assessing the undergraduate experience, we also completed a comprehensive survey of USC's graduate student population in 2002-2003.

Database Analyses.  As a service to the Division of Student Affairs, the University as a whole, and approved student organizations, Student Outcomes Research provides database analyses and offers analytical consulting services.  Some of the offices served in this manner include the Office of Residential & Greek Life, the Office of International Services, the Provost's Data Team, the Office of the President, the Student Senate, and most recently, the Office of Orientation.  Those interested in requesting this service should complete our new online data request form.

Here are some recent developments and upcoming events that may be of interest:

Fall 2007 Freshman and Transfer Surveys

Each year, USC surveys its incoming undergraduate students – both freshmen and transfer students.The Freshman survey is USC's longest-running undergraduate survey, beginning in 1974. Transfer students were surveyed beginning in 2000. Students are asked about their expectations and concerns about college, as well as their own personal histories. The current edition of Survey Insights (see below) will cover highlights of this year's survey. Detailed reports about the surveys are available here (freshman) and here (transfer).

Listening to Students Interview Project

In 2006, as part of an ongoing effort to better understand students’ perceptions of the undergraduate experience, USC’s Division of Student Affairs continued its “Listening to Students” research project, in which staff members held informal interviews with undergraduate students. Initiated in spring 2006 as a part of strategic plan objective to create a “culture of evidence,” this research focuses on one-to-one conversations between undergraduate students and key Student Affairs staff to allow the university to further understand students’ perceptions. In addition to yielding potentially valuable student data, the project would also allow students to meet and develop advisor/mentor relationships with Student Affairs staff. Between spring 2006 and spring 2007, 270 interviews were conducted; the results of this study and the full report can be found here.

Student Research Review

The Student Research Review is a newsletter created by the Division of Student Affairs to review student development, learning, and outcomes research findings of interest to faculty and other educators. The first issue of this newsletter, published in spring 2007, is available here. The next issue will be available in December.

Survey Insights (Student Outcomes Research newsletter)

Survey Insights is a publication dedicated to providing detailed results and discussions related to student surveys and other research efforts undertaken by the Student Outcomes Research office. The fall 2007 issue is available here. The next issue will be available in March 2008.

We want to hear from you!

If you are a USC student, your opinions matter to us whether you have been selected to participate in one of USC's surveys or not. If you are a USC staff or faculty member, your feedback and suggestions for research are very important. We would like to hear from you, so send your comments or questions to afahmy@usc.edu.

All reports available on this site require Adobe Acrobat to view.  Click here to download Acrobat Reader.