Each year, along with hundreds of institutions of higher education across the nation—including the University of Idaho, Bridge Idaho administers the CIRP (Cooperative Institutional Research Program) Freshman Survey to all graduating seniors in our partnering high schools. Covering a wide range of student characteristics including parental income and education, ethnicity, financial aid, secondary school achievement and activities, educational and career plans, and values, attitudes, beliefs and self-concept, this survey allows Bridge Idaho to get a “snapshot” of what our graduates are like before they experience college. In turn, the results of the survey assist Bridge Idaho with improving and refining our services.
By participating in the survey, Bridge Idaho receives an institutional profile of our students, which includes results broken out by the Higher Education Research Institute’s Core Constructs for College Success as well as Theme Reports, a data file of responses, a Graduation Rate Calculator, and a monograph summarizing the national results. These reports include important information regarding students’ academic preparedness, expectations of college, values and goals, and concerns about financing college—all which are extremely important in assessing Bridge Idaho’s effectiveness in assisting low-income, first generation students with college access and attainment.
More information about the CIRP Freshman Survey can be found at:
http://www.heri.ucla.edu/cirpoverview.php