Compared to pre-COVID, how is your Spring 2021 academic workload? Has non-compression of the Spring 2021 semester improved your academic experience?

 

 

On March 2, we asked 739 registered student users (out of a total population of 8,941):

Compared to pre-COVID, is your Spring 2021 academic workload
1 Much lighter
2 Slightly lighter
3 Same
4 Slightly heavier
5 Much heavier
Please explain

and

Has non-compression of the Spring 2021 semester improved your academic experience?
A Much better
B Slightly better
C Same
D Slightly worse
E Much worse
Explain

We received 390 responses to the the scaled academic workload question (53% response rate):

• Much lighter: 2.1%
• Slightly lighter: 14.1%
• Same: 29.0%
• Slightly heavier: 34.4%
• Much heavier: 20.5%

We received 351 responses to the scaled non-compression of the semester question (47% response rate):

• Much better: 29.9%
• Slightly better: 41.3%
• Same: 18.5%
• Slightly worse: 7.4%
• Much worse: 2.8%

We received 102 responses yielding 121 data points (14% response rate) explaining the scaled workload response, which we analyzed and consolidated into 11 categories:

• Heavier due to course content/deadlines/format: 32%
• Heavier due to due to faculty choices/behavior: 12%
• Heavier due to expected increase in course difficulty/degree progression: 10%
• Lighter due to number of credits taken: 9%
• Workload feels the same (other/unspecified): 8%
• Heavier (other/unspecified): 7%
• Heavier due to number of credits taken: 7%
• Workload feels the same due to course content/deadlines/format: 5%
• Heavier due to increased need for self-teaching: 4%
• Lighter due to course content/deadlines/format: 3%
• Workload feels the same due to faculty choices/behavior: 2%

We received 81 responses yielding 95 data points (11% response rate) explaining the scaled non-compression response, which we analyzed and consolidated into 12 categories:

• Better pace, less rushed/overwhelmed: 33%
• Worse, Spring Break days not effective/properly implemented: 16%
• Feels the same (unspecified): 11%
• Better because able to take breaks/relax/socialize: 8%
• Better but Spring Break days not effective/properly implemented: 5%
• Better (other): 6%
• Worse, would prefer compressed semester: 4%
• Feels the same (various): 4%
• Better without reason specified: 3%
• Better, more robust academic experience: 3%
• Worse because focus/motivation are difficult: 3%
• Worse (other): 3%