Association for Institutional Research
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#15Title: National Study of Faculty and Students (NSoFaS: 2004) Prepared: September 2002 Type: Informational Summary In May of 2002, the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) awarded a contract to Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to collect data on faculty and students. The 2004 National Study of Faculty and Students (NSoFaS) combines the institutional sampling and data collection efforts of the National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF) and the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). The NSOPF collects data regarding the backgrounds, responsibilities, workloads, salaries, benefits, attitudes, and future plans of both full- and part-time faculty. The NPSAS collects information on what students pay for postsecondary education, the distribution of financial aid, and the characteristics of both aided and nonaided students and their families. The primary reason for combining the two studies is to increase efficiency. Expected benefits for institutions include (1) decreased overall institutional burden, (2) increased lead-time for scheduling to prepare lists of faculty and students, (3) consistent procedures and materials, and (4) having one point of contact for questions about the studies. Endorsements The 2004 NSoFaS received endorsements from the Association for Institutional Research and 24 other organizations concerned with postsecondary education, which include the American Association for Higher Education, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, American Association of University Professors, and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Current Status Field tests for the 2004 NSOPF and NPSAS will be conducted this year (Fall 2002 - Summer 2003). The NSOPF and NPSAS full-scale collection will be conducted next year (Fall 2003-Summer 2004). NSoFaS Field Tests The NSOPF field test will consist of a survey of 1,200 faculty and instructional staff from a sample of 150 institutions. The NPSAS field test will consist of a survey of 1,200 students from a sample of 200 institutions. Approximately 150 institutions will be included in both components. Institutions selected for the field test will not be asked to participate in the full-scale study. RTI will begin contacting the institutions selected for the field tests in September 2002. Some institutions will have only students or faculty sampled while others will have both. Institutions will be encouraged to complete all phases of data collection via the Internet. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) will be asked to appoint a single coordinator for NSoFaS; however, institutions may opt to appoint separate coordinators for NSOPF and NPSAS. Fall 2002: Lists of faculty and instructional staff will be collected as of November 1, 2002, (or the fall census date) and be due December 2002. A Web-based questionnaire on institutional policies and practices regarding faculty will be due in December 2002. Spring 2003: Lists of students enrolled at the institution between July 1, 2002, and April 30, 2003, will be due two weeks after an institution completes its registration for all terms within this window, but no later than May 15, 2003. Academic information on sampled students will be requested. NSoFaS Full-Scale Studies Eligible institutions for NSOPF include those participating in Title IV student aid programs located in the 50 states or the District of Columbia that are public or private not-for-profit, two-year or four-year degree granting institutions. The NPSAS sample includes all NSOPF-eligible institutions, as well as private for-profit Title IV institutions offering an academic, occupational, or vocational program of study lasting three months or longer. It also includes institutions in Puerto Rico. U.S. Service Academies are excluded from both studies, as are institutions that serve only secondary students. Approximately 1,500 institutions will be selected for the full-scale studies, of which 1,000 will be asked to participate in both NSOPF and NPSAS and 500 of which will be asked to participate in NPSAS only. All doctoral-granting institutions (N=301) will be included in the full-scale studies. State-level estimates will be available in the 2004 NPSAS for: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas. Although the NSOPF sample of institutions will be a subset of the NPSAS sample of institutions, data will not be representative at the state-level for faculty. Implications for Institutions Institutions may be contacted as early as September 2002 for participation in one or both components of the field test. Because all doctoral-granting institutions will be included in the full-scale NSOPF sample, they will be excluded from the field test to minimize institutional burden. As early as January 2003, RTI will begin contacting CAOs to request institutional participation for the full-scale study and to identify an institutional coordinator. Shortly thereafter, information about the study, including a complete timeline for data collection activities will be provided, and in fall 2003, data collection materials will be mailed to the coordinators. NSoFaS Publications and Data Products Data collected from the component studies of NSoFaS will be disseminated to the public through descriptive reports on selected topics and through access to the Data Analysis System (DAS). Reports and data products may be accessed electronically at the NCES Web sites listed below. A wide range of reports and data products from previous cycles of NSOPF and NPSAS are currently available. Because of confidentiality restrictions, access to individual level data is only available to qualified researchers who obtain an NCES restricted data license. Timeline Field Test November 1, 2002- As of date for lists of faculty and instructional staff December 6, 2002- Due date for lists of faculty and instructional staff/ Institution Questionnaire January 2003 - Data collection begins for student enrollment lists. Lists are due two weeks after registration is completed for the term encompassing April 30, 2004 Full-Scale Study September 2003 - Coordinator is mailed data collection packet for NSoFaS November 1, 2003 - As of date for lists of faculty and instructional staff December 6, 2003 - Due date for lists of faculty and instructional staff/Institution questionnaire January 2004 - Data collection begins for student enrollment lists. Lists are due two weeks after registration is completed for the term encompassing April 30, 2004 Internet Resources http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/nsopf/ Author: Valerie Martin Conley Coordinated by the Higher Education Data Policy Committee. All opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Association for Institutional Research. |