1996 1997 1998 1999 # of entering Master's students 19 28 30 39 # of states represented 4 7 8 6 # of foreign countries represented 1 1 2 3 Average age of entering students 29 29 28 27 % of North Carolina residents 63% 50% 45% 43% Average GRE scores 1275 1248 1222 1200 Average undergraduate GPA 3.3 3.2 3.38 3.32 # of students with other advanced degrees 6 2 3 10 # of different undergrad degree institutions 16 23 26 27 # of different undergrad majors 12 18 24 30
1996 1997 1998 1999 # of entering Master's students 51 76 69 62 # of states represented 16 19 17 16 # of foreign countries represented 1 2 3 3 Average age of entering students 28 29 30 29 % of North Carolina residents 35% 46% 41% 31% Average GRE scores 1215 1214 1200 1201 Average undergraduate GPA 3.4 3.11 3.45 3.35 # of students with other advanced degrees 8 8 21 21 # of different undergrad degree institutions 44 71 47 54 # of different undergrad majors 23 37 31 35 Student
Demographics
The School consistently attracts high-caliber students. The two tables
below provide comparative demographic data for entering master's students
in the MSIS and the MSLS programs over the past four years. The data come
from the School's ACCESS database. For each of the years provided,
admission data is shown for students entering in the spring, both summer
sessions and the fall of the year shown.
Master of Science in Information Science |
1998 |
1999* |
External support |
$29,671 |
$35,408 |
# of student awards |
10 |
7 |
University support |
$61,780 |
$86,142 |
# of student awards |
7 |
15 |
School support |
$66,667 |
$81,048 |
# of student awards |
24 |
17 |
Total Financial Aid Awarded |
$158,118 |
$202,598 |
Total Student Awards |
41 |
39 |
* Note: These figures do not include additional awards that will be made in Spring 2000 and in Summer Session I 2000.
Master of Science in Library Science |
1998 |
1999* |
External support |
$228,494 |
$128,400 |
# of student awards |
43 |
16 |
University support |
$251,574 |
$324,940 |
# of student awards |
37 |
38 |
School support |
$159,178 |
$118,078 |
# of student awards |
30 |
25 |
Total Financial Aid Awarded |
$639,246 |
$571,418 |
Total Student Awards |
110 |
79 |
* Note: These figures do not include additional awards that will be made in Spring 2000 and in Summer Session I 2000.
Professional Associations
The
Information and Library
Science Student Association provides a forum for
discussion and
action relating to school policies and issues and plans social events and
career investigation opportunities. ILSSA informs
students and faculty of current activities and issues. All SILS students
are automatically ILSSA members.
Four other associations are student chapters of national professional societies. These are:
The school's alumni association has as its primary mission the goal of fostering positive and productive relationships between the school (including students) and its alumni. The association's activities focus on the three areas - communication, recognition of achievement, and financial support. Some of its activities include publishing the ILS Informer newsletter, sponsoring an annual Alumni Day and reunions at major professional meetings, hosting a new student and a commencement reception each year. The alumni association sponsors a student award each year and selects the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. It provides funds for publications, receptions and awards and encourages contributions to the funds and endowments that support the School.
Beta Phi Mu (National Headquarters) . The Epsilon Chapter of Beta Phi Mu, the international information and library science honorary society, is located at UNC-Chapel Hill and takes its members from the graduating class of the School of Information and Library Science. This group, as well, provides recognition and scholarship support for students.
Students graduate three times during an academic year -- August, December and May. The table below provides the number of graduates by various degree categories for the past four years and the August 1999 figures.
95-96
96-97
97-98
98-99
Aug 99
# of MSIS degrees awarded
14
12
20
25
6
# of MSLS degrees awarded
53
70
51
67
20
# of CAS degrees awarded
2
1
4
0
0
# of PhD degrees awarded
4
0
4
3
1
Total Graduate Degrees
73
83
79
95
27
# UG minors completed
--
3
24
34
4
Assessment of Students in Relation to ALA/COA
Standards
"The school formulates recruitment, admission, financial aid, placement, and other academic and administrative policies for students that are consistent with the school's mission and program goals and objectives; the policies reflect the needs and values of the constituencies served by a program. The school has policies to recruit and retain a multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual student body from a variety of backgrounds. The composition of the student body is such that it fosters a learning environment consistent with the school's mission and program goals and objectives." | The admission requirements for the School are as follows: |
"Current, accurate, and easily accessible information on the school and its program is available to students and the general public. This information includes announcements of program goals and objectives, descriptions of curricula, information on faculty, admission requirements, availability of financial aid, criteria for evaluating student performance, assistance with placement, and other policies and procedures. The school demonstrates that it has procedures to support these policies." | Information about the school and its programs is made available to students in a variety of ways. Chief among them are the School's catalog and its website (http://ils.unc.edu). Student listservs are popular. The students-l listserv is used for general announcements of special interest to students; the announce-l listserv is used for announcement of general interest to all members of the School. In addition, each student association maintains its own listserv, as do virtually all classes. The school has a reputation as a heavy email culture. All students have email accounts and typically check them at least once a day if not more frequently. |
"Standards for admission are applied consistently. Students admitted to a program have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; the policies and procedures for waiving any admission standard or academic prerequisite are stated clearly and applied consistently. Assessment of an application is based on a combined evaluation of academic, intellectual, and other qualifications as they relate to the constituencies served by a program, a program's goals and objectives, and the career objectives of the individual. Within the framework of institutional policy and programs, the admission policy for a program ensures that applicants possess sufficient interest, aptitude, and qualifications to enable successful completion of a program and subsequent contribution to the field." | Information about the admission policies, procedures, and process is outlined above. We believe that students admitted to the school are well qualified to make a success of the program and to the field. | "Students construct coherent programs of study that allow individual needs, goals, and aspirations to be met within the context of program requirements established by the school. Students receive systematic, multifaceted evaluation of their achievements. Students have access to continuing opportunities for guidance, counseling, and placement assistance." | Descriptions of how the advising process works to allow students to select a coherent program of study that will best fit their needs and their interests is described above in Chapter 4 within the sections on the Master of Science in Information Science and the Master of Science in Library Science. Many specializations are offered and others can be developed collaboratively between the student and his/her advisor. The students appear well satisfied with the advising process as the information from the most recent student survey attests (see Appendix F: Quality of Academic Advising). |
"The school provides an environment that fosters student participation in the definition and determination of the total learning experience. Students are provided with opportunities to form student organizations and to participate in the formulation, modification, and implementation of policies affecting academic and student affairs." | The seven student organizations are active and contribute to the intellectual and social life of the school. |
"The school applies the results of evaluation of student achievement to program development. Procedures are established for systematic evaluation of the degree to which a program's academic and administrative policies and activities regarding students are accomplishing its objectives. Within applicable institutional policies, faculty, students, staff, and others are involved in the evaluation process." | In formal and informal ways, faculty discuss results of data received from students in classes and on surveys to consider if there are ways the programs can be made more responsive to their needs. Students are encouraged to express opinions about all aspects of the school -- curriculum, classes, lab and library policies, administrative policies. Problems uncovered are examined by standing and ad hoc committees composed of faculty, staff, and students. Recommendations for change are brought to the faculty or directly to the dean. |
Revised 10/25/99