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Q: What is Institutional Research?
Q: I need data for a report I am writing for a class. Where should I start?
Q: I just received a survey. Now what do I do?
Q: I have a question about something not available on your website. Who should I contact?
Q: What is a Census Date? Can I get information before official data is available?
Q: What is the schedule for annual enrollment planning?
Q: Where do I find the enrollment targets for my college?
Q: How do I apply for financial aid and how much is available?
Q: What is the preferred method of applying to Cal Poly?
Q: Where can I find student demographic data?
Q: How many applications were selected for my major?
Q: Where can I find student enrollment-related data?
Q: How many students are enrolled this term?
Q: How many Cal Poly students change their majors?
Q: Where do Cal Poly students come from?
Q: Where can I get information on the diversity of Cal Poly students?
Q: What reasons do Cal Poly students give for not completing their degree requirements?
Q: How can I obtain the required federal reporting data? (awkward sentence?)
Q: How many degrees are awarded in my major?
Q: Where can I find Cal Poly student graduation rates?
Q: Where can I find Cal Poly student retention rates?
Q: Which majors at Cal Poly are currently impacted?
Q: Are there any majors that offer more of a chance of being accepted than others?
Q: How can I find out about the curriculum of a major I am interested in?
Q: How do I find out my chances of being accepted into the major I apply for?
Q: How many people are employed through Cal Poly?
Q: How many faculty teach at Cal Poly?
Q: Is there any documentation available to help me verify my faculty data on the FAD report?
General Questions
Q: What is Institutional Research?
A: The scope of the Office of Institutional Planning and Analysis includes strategic planning, coordination of planning and analysis with other University offices, establishing baseline data, and preparing analytical reports. Read more here.
Q: I need data for a report I am writing for a class. Where should I start?
A: There are several options available for finding data. For enrollment related data click here. Another great option is the Common Data Set. The CDS includes information on Enrollment and Persistence, Freshman Admission, Transfer Admission, Student Life, Annual Expenses, Financial Aid, Instructional Faculty and Class Size, and Degrees Conferred. You may also contact the IP&A office for information from the Quarterly Enrollment Report.
Q: I just received a survey. Now what do I do?
A: There are several options available for finding data. For enrollment related data click here. Another great option is the Common Data Set. The CDS includes information on Enrollment and Persistence, Freshman Admission, Transfer Admission, Student Life, Annual Expenses, Financial Aid, Instructional Faculty and Class Size, and Degrees Conferred. You may also contact the IP&A office for information from the Quarterly Enrollment Report.
Q: I have a question about something not available on your website. Who should I contact?
A: You may contact the IP&A office via email at ipa@calpoly.edu
Q: What is a Census Date? Can I get information before official data is available?
A: Census date is the 28th instructional day of each quarter when University data is officially reported. Preliminary data is available for Fall quarter only. We archive on or near September 1st to maintain comparable point-in-time data.
Q: What is the schedule for annual enrollment planning?
A: Annual enrollment planning involves making projections and establishing targets for each discipline and overall enrollment, and setting new student admission targets for the subsequent college year. This data contributes to budget development as a basis for projecting fee revenues. Refer to the Targets page for more information.
Q: Where do I find the enrollment targets for my college?
A: Table 3 in the Official Enrollment Targets section.
Q: How do I apply for financial aid and how much is available?
A: For specific details on Financial Aid, visit the Financial Aid website: http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_finaid/
Q: What is the preferred method of applying to Cal Poly?
A: The preferred and REQUIRED method of applying to Cal Poly for domestic undergraduates is our online application located at www.csumentor.edu. Applicants with problems accessing the Internet may contact the Cal Poly Admissions Office for specific help in completing their application.
About Students
Q: Where can I find student demographic data?
A: Student demographic data can be found from three sources available on our website. Visit PolyViews, the Cal Poly Fact book, or InfoBriefs.
Q: How many applications were selected for my major?
A: University and college level information is available in the Fall Applications Infobrief. Contact the Office of Admissions for specific departments’ admissions decisions.
Q: Where can I find student enrollment-related data?
A: You can access information about student enrollment-related data by visiting the Publications and Reports section.
Q: How many students are enrolled this year?
A: Data is published quarterly and can be found in the Enrollment InfoBrief section.
Q: How many Cal Poly students change their major?
A: Students are required to choose a major when they apply to Cal Poly. Some choose to change their major during their undergraduate career. Statistics are available in the Executive Summary of the Retention and Graduation Report.
Q: Where do Cal Poly students come from?
A: The top "feeder" public schools are San Luis Obispo High School, Arroyo Grande High School, and San Ramon High School (Danville); the top "feeder" private schools are Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), St. Francis High School (Mountain View), and Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose); the top three community colleges are Cuesta College, Allan Hancock College, and Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill). More information on origins can be found in PolyViews.
Q: Where can I get information on the diversity of Cal Poly students?
A: You can access data on diversity at Cal Poly from a number of sources on our site. Try looking at the annual PolyTrends, PolyView, Fact Book, or InfoBriefs.
Q: What reasons do Cal Poly students give for not completing their degree requirements?
A: Institutional Planning and Analysis has conducted a longitudinal survey of non-returning students to determine the major reasons that students do not complete their degrees at Cal Poly. The data is published in the Non-returning Student Survey Report.
Q: Where can I find the public federal reporting data?
A: See the Federal Higher Education Act Reporting section.
Q: How many degrees are awarded in my major?
A: Check the Fact Book under the Degrees Awarded section for a listing of degrees awarded by major.
Q: Where can I find Cal Poly student graduation rates?
A: Student graduation rates are available in the Retention and Graduation section.
Q: Where can I find Cal Poly student retention rates?
A: Retention rates can be found in the Retention and Graduation section or the PolyTrends section .
Q: Which majors at Cal Poly are currently impacted?
A: All Cal Poly majors are impacted. Cal Poly is an oversubscribed campus, and the term "impacted" means that more applications are received than there are spaces available. Please note, applicants are evaluated for admission through a point-based system that scores and ranks them against other students applying for the same major, applicants "compete" to be selected. Therefore, the difficulty level involved in an applicant being selected for admission is determined by whom the applicant applies against for a specific major for any quarter.
Q: Are there any majors that offer more of a chance of being accepted than others?
A: Cal Poly's unique selection criterion prohibits the ability to forecast an applicant's chances of being selected to any major. The applicant pool determines the level of competitiveness in being selected. Applicants are advised to apply for the major from which he/she would like to graduate with a bachelor's degree in that field. If an applicant cannot decide upon a major at the time of application, he/she is advised to delay applying until a decision can be made.
Q: How can I find out about the curriculum of a major I am interested in?
A: View the curriculum of any major offered at Cal Poly by going to the online catalog at Academic Programs website and click on ‘Curriculum Displays.’ Then choose the major in which you’re interested at the appropriate level (undergrad or grad).
Q: How do I find out my chances of being accepted into the major I apply for?
A: Cal Poly's unique selection criterion prohibits the ability to forecast an applicant's chances of being selected to any major. The applicant pool determines the level of competitiveness in being selected. Applicants are advised to apply for the major from which he/she would like to graduate with a bachelor's degree in that field. If an applicant cannot decide upon a major at the time of application, he/she is advised to delay applying until a decision can be made.
About Staff
Q: How many people are employed through Cal Poly?
A: About 2,343 people are currently employed through Cal Poly in either Faculty or Staff (including Management) positions. Not included in this amount are Foundation or ASI employees. More data can be found in the 03-04 Fact Book under the Faculty/Staff section.
Q: How many faculty teach at Cal Poly?
A: Currently, 1,227 faculty teach at Cal Poly. More data can be found in the 03-04 Fact Book under the Faculty/Staff section.
Q: Is there any documentation available to help me verify my faculty data on the FAD report?
A: See the Faculty Assignment by Department (FAD) section.
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Last Updated: February 11, 2004
Email us: ipa@calpoly.edu
The web pages for Institutional Planning and Analysis are "Bobby Approved"
