International Office
Study Abroad

Program Evaluation

In a continuing effort to evaluate and improve the study abroad  offerings at Illinois Wesleyan, the International Office asks that all returning study abroad students complete a program evaluation.   The feedback you give about your experiences will help us both to ensure the quality of study abroad at IWU and to better assist other  students who are considering an overseas experience.

This online evaluation should take you about 20-30 minutes to complete.   Please answer the questions thoughtfully, thoroughly, and as honestly as you can.

The information you provide will be used exclusively by the staff of the International Office and your responses will be confidential, except where  you give permission for its use in other formats.

We appreciate your help!

General Information
 Your name
E-mail
Semester of Study Abroad
Year of Study Abroad
Study Abroad Program
Study Abroad Location (City, Country)
Host University (if applicable)

Part I — Program Selection

1. How/where did you find out about this program? (Check all that apply)
IWU International Office
Study Abroad Information Session
Study Abroad Fair
Faculty recommendation
Class presentation
Friend or former participant
Other

2. Why did you choose this study abroad program? (Check all that apply)
Offered course work relevant to my major
Offered course work suitable for General Education
To improve my language skills
To learn more about the culture
Opportunity to do independent research or an internship
To improve my career prospects
Other

3. Overall, how would you rate your study abroad experience?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

4. Would you recommend this program to a friend? Yes No

5. If given the chance, do you think you would study abroad again? Yes No

6. Overall, from a financial point of view, was this a worthwhile program? Yes No

a

Part II — Academics

7. Did you take your classes with other study abroad (American) students?
All
Some
None

8. Did you take classes at a local university?
All
Some
None

9. How challenging were your courses compared to equivalent IWU classes?
More challenging
As challenging
Less challenging

10. How would you rate the following elements of your academic program?
(5 = Excellent, 4 = Very satisfactory, 3 = Satisfactory, 2= Unsatisfactory, 1 = Poor)

Classrooms 5 4 3 2 1
Library access 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Class lectures 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Class discussions 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Tutorials 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Exams 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Essays 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Projects (individual or group) 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Presentations 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Overall assessment of your performance 5 4 3 2 1 n/a

11. How would you rate the quality of your instructors?
Please focus on the overall quality: there will be a space at the end of this section for additional comments.
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

12. Comments

Part III — Housing

13. What type of housing did you have?
Home stay
Residence hall/collegium
Apartment
Other

14. How long, approximately, was your daily commute between your housing and classes?
0-15 minutes
15-30 minutes
30-45 minutes
45+ minutes

15. What was your principal mode of transportation? (Choose one)
Walking
Bus
Metro/subway
Train
Biking

16. How would you rate the following elements of your housing?
(5 = Excellent, 4 = Very satisfactory, 3 = Satisfactory, 2= Unsatisfactory, 1 = Poor)

Quality of your accommodations 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Your host family 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Roommate placement 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Cooking facilities 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Proximity to services (e.g., store, bank, pharmacy…) 5 4 3 2 1 n/a
Ease of commute
 5 4 3 2 1

17. Comments

Part IV — Program/Support Services

18. How effective or useful did you find your arrival orientation?
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

19. How responsive were program staff when you had…
(3 = Very responsive, 2= Somewhat responsive, 1 = Not responsive)

an academic issue or problem 3 2 1 n/a
a housing issue or problem 3 2 1 n/a
a medical issue or problem 3 2 1 n/a
a personal issue or problem 3 2 1 n/a

20. How would you rate the following elements of the program?
(5 = Excellent, 4 = Very satisfactory, 3 = Satisfactory, 2= Unsatisfactory, 1 = Poor)

Program staff 5 4 3 2 1
Program center 5 4 3 2 1
Assistance with registration 5 4 3 2 1
Non-academic program activities 5 4 3 2 1
Optional excursions 5 4 3 2 1
Computer access 5 4 3 2 1
Extracurricular opportunities 5 4 3 2 1

21. Comments

Part V — Cross-Cultural Experience

22. To what extent did you experience culture shock?
Not affected
Somewhat affected
Very affected

23. To what extent did you experience (are you experiencing) reverse culture shock?
Not affected
Somewhat affected
Very affected

24. Did the program help you experience the host culture? Yes No

25. To what extent did you find it easy/difficult to meet host nationals?
Very easy
Easy
Difficult
Very difficult

26. How much independent travel did you do while studying abroad? (Do not include any travel you did once the program was over.)
None
1-2 trips
3-5 trips
5+ trips

27. Comments

Part VI — Comments and Advice

Your responses to the following may, with your permission, be made available to students interested in studying abroad and/or in International Office publications.
I give permission for my comments to be used publicly.
I do not give permission for my comments to be used publicly.

28. If you could tell your friends only one thing about this program, what would it be?

29. What do you feel has been the primary benefit of studying abroad?

30. What was special about taking classes in another country, another culture?

31. Thinking back on what you packed,…
• What do you wish you had taken that you left at home?

• What did you take that you wished you had left behind?

32. How much spending money would you recommend that a student bring for personal expenses, including food and traveling?

33. What were the best ways to meet locals?

34. What places, activities, or sites would you recommend to others?

35. Is there any specific health or safety advice you would give a prospective participant in this program?

36. Any additional comments?

Thank you for taking the time to complete this evaluation.