GSC/WEST Survey Results
These are reports on the information gathered using the 2002 GSC/WEST quality of life survey instrument (available here). The survey was designed to measure graduate student quality of life. Graduate student response rate was 57%, corresponding to 678 respondents. Reports will be released throughout the 2003-2004 academic year. A list of proposed reports can be found here. Reports already released can be found below, as well as a report on the survey methodology employed.

These reports have been approved by the GSC's Board of Directors and by WEST's Steering Committee. The reports were created by the survey committee. The primary author is listed after each report.

Current Reports:
Survey Methodology
Gender Harassment
Cost of Living
Dining Services
Honor Code

  Survey Methodology (Heather Cox)
Read the report: Survey_Methodology.pdf (84 Kb)
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  Gender Harassment (Steve Pracko)
Partial Abstract
The results of the May 2003 GSC/WEST Quality of Graduate Student Life Survey suggest that a large number of Caltech graduate students have been subjected to gender harassment at the Institute. Many graduate students express a low opinion of how well the climate at Caltech supports gender diversity.

Among other findings, we report that:

  • 63% of graduate student women and 15% of graduate student men say they have occasionally or frequently experienced at least one of four specific forms of gender harassment during their enrollment at Caltech.
  • . . .

Read the report: Gender_Harassment.pdf (312 Kb)
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  Cost of Living (Heather Cox)
Partial Abstract
We find that most (71%) graduate students at Caltech make between $17,700 and $22,200 in pre-tax income each year. We find a significant difference between stipends earned by U.S. citizens and those earned by visa holders. This difference cannot be explained by the availability of lucrative fellowships for U.S. citizens. Approximately 25% of students have a supplementary source of income greater than $1000.

The average amount paid by graduate students for rent each month (per person) is $574, and the modal amount is $500. Students living on campus pay an average rent of $500 per month, while students living off campus pay, on average, $648 per month.

Read the report: Cost_of_Living.pdf (354 Kb)
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  Dining Services (Heather Cox)
Abstract
Graduate Students are typically willing to spend $4-$6 on their on-campus lunches. 25% of respondents did not eat lunch at a Caltech dining facility; of those who did, the average number of times they ate at such a facility ranged from once a week to four times a week. Although graduate students generally give Dining Services high marks on food choice, food quality, and service, they are dissatisfied with the prices at Caltech dining facilities.

Read the report: Dining_Services.pdf (65 Kb)
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  Honor Code (Marissa Mock)
Partial Abstract
The results of the GSC/WEST Survey on the Quality of Graduate Student Life indicate a serious problem with the functioning of the Honor Code among graduate students. A total of 23% of the survey respondents (160 individual students), admit to breaking the Honor Code in one of the following academic areas: 1) Referring to materials not allowed on an exam/assignment, 2) Taking more time than allowed on an exam/assignment, or 3) Collaborating with another student on an exam/assignment when individual work was required. If the data are extrapolated to the general population, we estimate that approximately 270 current graduate students have broken the Honor Code in one of these three ways. A further issue occurs in the case in which students are sure whether they are following the Honor Code or not; 28% have felt that that a Caltech course collaboration policy was unclear.

Read the report: Honor_Code.pdf (449 Kb)
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