New freshman and transfer student survey

The Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) survey instrument collects information on what students are like before they experience college.  CIRP is a program run through the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI)  at the University of California, Los Angeles.

For over 50 years, the survey has collected information on students at participating institutions across the country. The University of Nevada, Reno participates every few years to examine changes in student preparation for college, related academic and social experiences, and plans for the future.

CIRP 2019

The most recent survey was conducted during new student orientation in 2019.

  • 3,476 new students took the CIRP survey and institutional supplemental survey
  • 78% of new students took the new student survey
    • 85% of first year, first time students
    • 51% of transfer students

Key sections of the CIRP 2019

  • Established behaviors in high school
  • Academic preparedness
  • Admissions decisions
  • Expectations of college Interactions with peers and faculty
  • Student values and goals Student demographic characteristics
  • Concerns about financing college

Institutional supplemental survey

In addition, an institutional supplement collected information on the following status and experiences:

  • Housing and transportation
  • Family and work
  • Parent and University involvement
  • Sexual consent information
  • Experiences with exclusionary conduct (based on race, sex, sexual orientation, age, etc.)
  • Alcohol drug use and perceptions of risk

Available summaries from Office of Persistence Research

First time, first year freshmen frequency tables

Transfer student frequency tables

CIRP mini-conference: New student survey highlights

CIRP mini-reports

Mini-reports dig into topics of interest to our campus constituents and support the trends shared at the CIRP mini-conference.

  • New Student Survey: Response Rates and Demographic
  • Profile of Participants (Measurement information for the topics and concepts reviewed at the mini-conference)
  • Civic Engagement and Campus Involvement 
  • Financial Issues and Concerns Food and Housing Insecurity (A compilation of multiple surveys including the CIRP)
  • Political Orientation and Political Views