2008 New Student Survey Results
Q1a. Please indicate the highest educational level attained by your mother:
< 12th grade 24 15.58%
HS graduate 44 28.57%
Some college 38 24.68%
College graduate 48 31.17%
Total Responses 154 100.00%
Q1b. Please indicate the highest educational level attained by your father:
< 12th grade 28 19.44%
HS graduate 54 37.50%
Some college 21 14.58%
College graduate 41 28.47%
Total Responses 144 100.00%
Q2. Were you born in one of the seven westernmost counties of North Carolina?
Yes 82 53.25%
No 72 46.75%
Total Responses 154 100.00%
Q3. Did you attend high school in Jackson, Macon or Swain counties?
Yes 108 70.13%
No 46 29.87%
Total Responses 154 100.00%
Q4. Have you attended a four-year college in the past year?
Yes 10 6.58%
No 142 93.42%
Total Responses 152 100.00%
Q5a. Have you received a diploma, certificate or degree from a college,
university or higher education institution?
Yes 22 14.38%
No 131 85.62%
Total Responses 153 100.00%
Q5b. If yes, please indicate which of the following you possess:
Certificate or diploma 18 85.71%
Associate degree 2 9.52%
Bachelor's degree or higher 1 4.76%
Total Responses 21 100.00%
Q6a. What is your major at SCC?
Program #
10100- College Transfer 45
10101- Pre-Major  4
20100- Biotechnology 2
25100- Accounting 3
25120- Business Administration 7
25340- Networking Technology 1
30100- Advertising/Graphic Design 1
40140- Civil Engineering 5
40160- Computer Engineering  1
45120- Nursing 12
45340- EMS 1
45380- Human Services Tech. 1
4538E- Substance Abuse 1
45400- Medical Assisting 2
45440- Medical Sonography 1
45620- Physical Therapist 2
45700- Radiography 10
45720- Respiratory Therapy 1
45750- Therapeutic Massage 4
55140- Cosmetology 20
55180- Criminal Justice 5
5518A- Latent Evidence 2
55200- Culinary 4
55220- Early Childhood 1
5522B- Teacher Associate 1
55330- Outdoor Leadership 6
55400- Manicuring/Nail 1
60160- Automotive Systems 2
90990- Special Credit 4
Q6b. Are you currently enrolled in the program that was your first choice?
Yes 124 84.93%
No 22 15.07%
Total Responses 146 100.00%
Q6c. If No, what program was your first choice?
Code #
10100- College Transfer 1
25120- Business Administration 2
45120- Nursing 1
45360- Health Information 1
A45620- Physical Therapist 1
45700- Radiography 1
45750- Therapeutic Massage 1
55140- Cosmetology 1
55180- Criminal Justice 1
55200- Culinary 1
60160- Automotive Systems 1
Q7. Indicate your rating of SCC at the time you applied for admission:
First Choice 121 79.61%
Second Choice 24 15.79%
Third Choice or lower 7 4.61%
Total Responses 152 100.00%
Q8. Please indicate the importance of each of the following in your decision to attend college:
Not Important Somewhat  Very Total Mean
a. Well rounded education 3 19 130 152 2.84
b. Make more money 1 29 122 152 2.80
c. Be where friends are 85 54 12 151 1.52
d. Get a good job 0 11 141 152 2.93
e. Could not find a job 80 43 20 143 1.58
f.  Lead to a career 7 21 123 151 2.77
g. Please spouse/parents 71 36 38 145 1.77
Q9. What is your goal at SCC?
Complete select courses 2 1.31%
Earn a diploma 12 7.84%
Earn a certificate 9 5.88%
Earn a degree 63 41.18%
Earn a degree in college transfer 67 43.79%
Total Responses 153 100.00%
Q10. What is highest level of education you plan to obtain at any college?
Diploma 4 2.61%
Certificate 10 6.54%
Associate degree 55 35.95%
Bachelor's degree 45 29.41%
Master's degree 32 20.92%
Doctorate 7 4.58%
Total Responses 153 100.00%
Q11. Please indicate importance of following items in your decision to attend SCC:
Not Important Somewhat Very Total Mean
a. Academic reputation of SCC 18 59 76 153 2.38
b. Faculty reputation 26 58 67 151 2.27
c. Quality of academic programs at SCC 9 47 97 153 2.58
d. SCC offered program I wanted 14 26 113 153 2.65
e. Availability of single courses 38 56 57 151 2.13
f. Availability of hi-tech equipment 34 76 41 151 2.05
g. Availability of evening courses 52 51 49 152 1.98
h. Availability of financial aid 25 24 103 152 2.51
i. Low cost of tuition 9 29 114 152 2.69
j. Location of SCC 6 28 119 153 2.74
k. Physical appearance of campus 41 70 40 151 1.99
l. Student/teacher ratio 22 67 63 152 2.27
m. SCC's # 4 ranking 19 55 78 152 2.39
n. Availability of online classes 41 52 54 147 2.09
Q12. Select the ONE item from the following list which was your most important source of info about SCC.
# % (of 154)
a. Campus Visit 49 31.82%
b. Visit to high school by SCC rep. 18 11.69%
c. College Fair 11 7.14%
d. Ads on radio 0 0.00%
e. Ads in newspaper 3 1.95%
f. Ads on television  5 3.25%
g. College catalog 25 16.23%
h. Billboard 2 1.30%
i. College Website 30 19.48%
j. Radio, TV, Newspaper Websites 3 1.95%
k. Postcard mailers 7 4.55%
l. SCC information racks 1 0.65%
m. Ads at Ruby Cinemas 0 0.00%
Q13. Have you seen/heard ads about SCC in past few months?
Yes 107 69.93%
No 46 30.07%
Total Responses 153 100.00%
Q14. Which of the following are most important in financing your education?
# % (of 154)
a. Family support 77 50.00%
b. Spouse support 25 16.23%
c. Employment/savings 76 49.35%
d. Loan 15 9.74%
e. Work Study 8 5.19%
f. Scholarship/grant 81 52.60%
g. Social Security 0 0.00%
h. Veteran's benefits 2 1.30%
I. Dislocated worker comp. 1 0.65%
Q15. Please rate each of the following services at SCC:
Poor Fair Good Excellent Total Mean
a. Quality of Info received from Admissions Office 4 15 71 64 154 3.27
b. Quality of info about careers 2 22 61 67 152 3.27
c. Quality of info about SCC programs 0 15 72 66 153 3.33
d. Quality of info about financial aid 4 27 59 63 153 3.18
e. Quality/helpfulness of academic advising  5 14 56 78 153 3.35
f. Efficiency of placement testing process 6 18 73 53 150 3.15
Q16a. What radio station(s) do you listen to?
# % (of 154)
WRGC (Sylva) 17 11.04%
WWCU (Cullowhee) 16 10.39%
WNCC (Franklin) 43 27.92%
WFSC (Franklin) 2 1.30%
WPFJ (Franklin) 3 1.95%
WCQS (Asheville) 3 1.95%
WKSF (Asheville) 59 38.31%
Q16a. What radio station(s) do you listen to? (Cont.)
# % (of 154)
WBHN (Bryson City) 5 3.25%
WQNQ (Asheville) 17 11.04%
WQNS (Asheville/Waynesville) 10 6.49%
WQXI (Clayton, GA) 10 6.49%
Satellite Radio 35 22.73%
Other 0 0.00%
16b. What is the primary time(s) you listen to the radio?
# % (of 154)
 6am - 10am 54 35.06%
10am - 5pm 53 34.42%
After 5pm 66 42.86%
Q17a. What newspapers do you read?
# % (of 154)
Sylva Herald 55 35.71%
Asheville Citizen 53 34.42%
Franklin Press 51 33.12%
Cherokee  20 12.99%
Smoky Mtn. Times 20 12.99%
Cashiers CC 8 5.19%
Highlander 9 5.84%
Western Carolinian 5 3.25%
Macon Shopping Guide 13 8.44%
Smoky Mtn. News 20 12.99%
Other 14 9.09%
Never read any newspapers 16 10.39%
Q17b. Do you read the newspaper online?
Yes 41 26.62%
No 113 73.38%
Total Responses 154 100.00%
Q17c. How often do you read the newspaper?
a. Daily 20 14.49%
b. Weekly 89 64.49%
c. Monthly 29 21.01%
Total Responses 138 100.00%
Q17d. Do you read or look at newpaper advertisements?
Yes 106 70.20%
No 45 29.80%
Total 151 100.00%
Q17e. Do you read the classified ads?
Yes 108 73.47%
No 39 26.53%
Total 147 100.00%
Q18a. Which television stations do you watch for local news?
# % (of 154)
a. WLOS (Asheville) 131 85.06%
b. WYFF (Greenville) 18 11.69%
c. WSPA (Spartanburg) 6 3.90%
Q18b. Do you have cable tv service?
Yes 58 42.34%
No 79 57.66%
Total 137 100.00%
Q18b. Do you have satellite tv service (such as Direct TV or Dish Network)?
Yes 102 69.86%
No 44 30.14%
Total 146 100.00%
Q18c. What time do you watch local news?
# % (of 154)
a. Morning 50 32.47%
b. Noon 6 3.90%
c. 5pm/6pm 66 42.86%
d. 11pm 59 38.31%
Q18d. How often do you watch local news?
Daily 65 45.77%
Weekly 46 32.39%
Monthly 18 12.68%
Never 13 9.15%
Total Responses 142 100.00%
Q19. Do you access local television news online?
Yes 44 28.76%
No 109 71.24%
Total Responses 153 100.00%
Q20. Do you have a computer at home?
Yes 141 91.56%
No 13 8.44%
Total Responses 154 100.00%
Q21. Do you have home access to the Internet?
Yes 125 81.70%
No 28 18.30%
Total Responses 153 100.00%
Q22. If yes, who is your Internet provider?
Southwestern Community College 11 8.27%
Satellite 12 9.02%
Cable 26 19.55%
DSL 71 53.38%
Dial Up 13 9.77%
Total Responses 133 100.00%
Q23. Do you stay informed about SCC happenings by going to the SCC website?
Yes 109 71.24%
No 44 28.76%
Total Responses 153 100.00%
Q24. Do you communicate by:
Text Messaging 128 32.41%
Email 118 29.87%
Cell Phone 137 34.68%
I-Pods 12 3.04%
Total Responses 395 100.00%