As the name implies, the Cooperative Institutional Research Program’s (CIRP) Freshman Survey is a survey administered periodically by the College to newly entering Freshman early in their first semester enrolled at the College. Managed by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, the instrument collects information that allows for a snapshot of what incoming students look like before they begin their college experience. Key sections of the survey examine:

• Established behaviors in high school
• Academic preparedness
• Admissions decisions
• Expectations of college
• Interactions with peers and faculty
• Student values and goals
• Student demographic characteristics
• Concerns about financing college

The CUNY Experience Survey (SES) is administered bi-annually to undergraduate students 18 years of age or older at each of CUNY’s 23 colleges. The questionnaire is designed to provides each College with a profile of their students as well feedback on how well each College is meeting the needs of students. Key sections of the survey examine:

• Home life
  
• Work experience
  
• Ease of enrolling in desired classes
  
• Satisfaction with student services
  
• Satisfaction with academic support services

Like NSSE, every few years Lehman administers the Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI). The SSI measures student satisfaction and priorities, showing colleges how satisfied students are as well as what issues are most important to them. Key sections of the survey examine:

• Student services
• Advisement
• Facilities
• Environment
• Faculty

The City University of New York follows a performance management process (PMP) that links planning and goal setting by the University and its colleges and professional schools, measures annual progress towards key goals, and recognizes excellent performance.

Each year, CUNY’s Chancellor states the University’s performance goals for the upcoming academic year, guided by the University’s Master Plan. CUNY presidents and professional school deans, working with their executive teams and college communities, establish performance targets for their institution for the coming year reflecting plans for existing or new initiatives.

At the end of each academic year, each college’s progress on university and college goals is assessed, and strengths and ongoing challenges are identified. The Chancellor meets with each college president or dean annually to review institutional performance, recognize successful performance, and identify future priorities. College presidents and deans then lead their respective campus communities to advance the University and college goals.

The purpose of the PMP is to:

• To ensure clarity about University and college priorities and expectations for the year
• To recognize and acknowledge progress at all levels
• To unite a diverse set of colleges into an integrated University
• To ensure that the Master Plan guides the plans and priorities of the colleges while each retains its own identity, mission, and governance
• To introduce more accountability into the system