In 1991, Open Campus recognized the need to gather more specific, detailed information on its distance learners in order to allow for continuous program improvement. Since customized student information was not available, Open Campus staff were given the task of designing survey instruments and a survey implementation process. In order to answer this question, Open Campus designed a Student Withdrawal Survey. This survey is one page, mailed to each student who has withdrawn from a telecourse, and accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped business reply envelope. Students need only circle the appropriate response, add any written comments, and return it to Open Campus.
All surveys are anonymous and confidential.
This survey has been sent to students who have withdrawn for the past four years. Students are asked the following 6 questions. Since this electronic format makes it difficult to present information in tables and charts, this paper will focus on the student withdrawal survey of Winter Term 1995, the period January-May 1995. All 355 withdrawals were sent surveys. If one student withdrew from 2 telecourses, that student received one withdrawal survey for each course.