Section A. Academic and Social Climate

 

1. I agree/disagree that since coming to Caltech:

 
strongly disagree
disagree
slightly disagree
neither agree nor disagree
slightly agree
agree
strongly agree
don't know
a. my confidence in my abilities as a scientist/engineer has increased
b. my studies have left me adequate time for my personal life
c. the atmosphere of my workplace has been collegial
d. I have been satisfied with the social climate on campus

2. In the past week, I spent ______ hours/week on

a. Coursework: hours/week
b. Research: hours/week

3. Rank your top three sources of stress from 1 (most stressful) to 3.
[Type the numerals 1, 2, and 3 into the appropriate textbox.]

course work dating
family issues finances
interactions with advisor isolation
research self-image
time management world issues
  other (please specify):

Section B. Advisor/Advisee Relationship

Section A: Academic and Social Climate

If you do not have a research/thesis advisor, please check here and skip to Section C.

1. Have you changed advisors (other than during rotations) since you came to Caltech?

No
Yes, once
Yes, more than once

2. If yes, please specify the reason(s) for changing advisors that best describes your decision (check all that apply):

Change of research interests
Advisor became unavailable (death, moved elsewhere)
I was no longer able to carry out the research due to sickness or injury
Lack of progress on a research project
Difficulty interacting with the lab group
Difficulty interacting with the advisor
Gender/sexual harassment in the group or workplace

Harassment (other than gender/sexual) or hostile environment in the group or workplace

Mismatch of work style between yourself and your group and/or advisor
Project ended or lost funding
Other (please specify):

I answered "No" to Question 1.

3. Do you currently have more than one advisor?

No
Yes

4. I agree/disagree that my current primary advisor . . .

 
strongly disagree
disagree
slightly disagree
neither agree nor disagree
slightly agree
agree
strongly agree
don't know
not applicable
a. clearly conveys expectations to me
b. has realistic expectations of me
c. promotes my advancement
d. gives me constructive feedback
e. supports my career choices
f. has enough resources (funding, equipment) for me to work effectively
g. is impartial to all group members

5. On average, I meet with my advisor about my project once or twice:

Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Per term
Per year

6. I feel I meet with my advisor:

Too often
Often enough
Not often enough
Don't know

Section C. Educational Experience

Section A: Advisor/Advisee Relationship | Section B: Academic and Social Climate

1. When I graduate from Caltech, I want to be proficient in the following areas:

 
strongly disagree
disagree

slightly disagree

neither agree nor disagree

slightly agree

agree

strongly agree
don't know
a. career development skills (networking, CV and resume writing, interviewing)
b. mentoring/advising skills
c. scientific speaking (presentations and discussions)
d. scientific writing
e. teaching skills
f. technical research skills

2. My advisor supports my development in the following areas:

 
strongly disagree
disagree

slightly disagree

neither agree nor disagree
slightly agree

agree

strongly agree
don't know
a. career development skills (networking, CV and resume writing, interviewing)
b. mentoring/advising skills
c. scientific speaking (presentations and discussions)
d. scientific writing
e. teaching skills
f. technical research skills

3. I will probably spend ________ years at Caltech for my degree.

3 or fewer
4
5
6
7 or more
Don't know

4. The amount of time needed for me to graduate is:

Less than I expected
About what I expected
More than I expected
Don’t know

5. When I started grad school, I most wanted to pursue a career in:

Academia  Law
Business/Finance Science policy 
Consulting Science publishing/Science writing
Government research Teaching
Industrial research Other (please specify):
  Undecided

6. Now I most want to pursue a career in:

Academia  Law
Business/Finance Science policy 
Consulting Science publishing/Science writing
Government research Teaching
Industrial research Other (please specify):
  Undecided

8. If answer to questions 5 and 6 are different, please rank the three factors that most influenced your decision (1=most influence). [Type the numerals 1, 2, and 3 into the boxes.]

Advisor encouragement
Research success
Lack of advisor encouragement
Lack of research success and/or publications
Financial considerations
Family/childcare situation
Job market
Learning more about other career options
Visa problems
Two-body problem (the difficulty of finding two professional jobs, for yourself and your partner, in the same geographic location)
Work/life balance considerations
Other (please specify):
Section D. Honor Code

Section A: Academic and Social Climate | Section B: Advisor/Advisee Relationship

Section C: Educational Experience

30% complete

 

1. How many TA assignments have you had at Caltech?

0
1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9+

2. How many students do you think followed the Honor Code in issues pertaining to the class (e.g., homework, exams, reserved books in the library) when you were:

 
<40%
40-59%
60-79%
80-89%
90-94%
95-99%
100%
don't know
not applicable
a. taking the class
b. TAing undergraduates
c. TAing graduate students

3. At Caltech, have you ever:

a. felt a collaboration/reference policy was unclear Yes No don't know not applicable
b. referred to material not allowed on an exam/assignment Yes No don't know not applicable
c. taken more time than allowed on an exam/assignment Yes No don't know not applicable
d. collaborated with another student when individual work was required Yes No don't know not applicable

4. Does the Honor Code apply to the following areas?

a. classes Yes No don't know not applicable
b. shared resources (e.g., library, gym, rec rooms, ITS) Yes No don't know not applicable
c. research (e.g., ethics, lab equipment, publishing) Yes No don't know not applicable
d. relationships (e.g., student dating, co-workers, Caltech roommates) Yes No don't know not applicable

Section E. Cost of Living

Section A: Academic and Social Climate | Section B: Advisor/Advisee Relationship

Section C: Educational Experience | Section D: Honor Code

 

 

1. In the past year, what was your gross (pre-tax) stipend/salary?

under $15,500
$15,500- 17,750
$17,750- 20,000
$20,000- 22,250
$22,250- 24,500
over $24,500

2. In the past year, what was your primary source of funding?

Teaching assistantship (TA)
Research assistant (RA)
Outside fellowship (personally applied for)
In-house Caltech fellowship
Work at a faculty member’s company
Other (please specify):

3. How many years have you received an outside fellowship (providing more than $10,000) to support you at Caltech (excluding tuition)?

0 4
1 5
2 6
3 7+

4. Do you have a source of annual income (providing more than $1,000) other than your stipend (if yes, check all that apply)?

No
Yes, from investments/interest
Yes, from outside job
Yes, from parents/family
Yes, from partner
Yes, from other (please specify):

 
strongly disagree
disagree
slightly disagree
neither agree nor disagree
slightly agree
agree
strongly agree
don't know not applicable
5. My stipend is adequate to cover essential living expenses.

6. In the past year, my stipend:

Increased
Stayed the same
Decreased
Don't know
Not applicable

7. I currently live:

In Caltech-owned housing
In non-Caltech owned housing

8. I currently split my rent with ______ other people:

0
1
2
3
4+

9. The amount I pay for rent a month is $ (please round to dollars).

10. I buy lunch at a Caltech dining facility times a week (Avery, Broad, Chandler, Convenience Store, Red Door).
11. I am willing to spend $ ($x.xx) a day for lunch at a Caltech dining facility.

12. I am satisfied with Caltech Dining Services based on:

 
strongly disagree
disagree
slightly disagree
neither agree nor disagree
slightly agree
agree
strongly agree
don't know
not applicable
a. Food Choice
b. Food Quality
c. Price
d. Service

Section F. Experiences and Perceptions of Harassment, Diversity and Discrimination

Section A: Academic and Social Climate | Section B: Advisor/Advisee Relationship

Section C: Educational Experience | Section D: Honor Code

Section E: Cost of Living

50% complete

 

 
never
occasionally
frequently don't know
not applicable
1. To what extent have you experienced unwanted attention based on gender at Caltech (e.g., persistent pressure for dates, inappropriate touching)?

At Caltech, how often have you experienced each of the behaviors listed below (a-c) based on your:

2.