CSUN RECEIVES MIXED GRADES.

Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer

Nearly two-thirds of CSUN students study less than 10 hours a week and classroom boredom afflicts nearly everyone but 87 percent are satisfied with their college experience and 65 percent said they would choose the campus again.

These seemingly contradictory attitudes of California State University, Northridge, students surfaced in a survey of 1,226 students that was part of a 161-page draft report discussed Monday in preparation of the reaccreditation process by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

One thing was clear: Interest in the accreditation process was low. On Monday, two public forums on campus on the first draft drew just three people.

Other findings in the report showed:

70 percent of students spend less than five hours on campus outside of class each week.

20 percent are dissatisfied with preparation for their future careers.

67 percent report having gained stronger knowledge of other cultures.

98 percent say they communicate with students during on-campus office hours.

67 percent of graduates feel the overall quality of general education was good.

Joaquin Macias, president of Associated Students, who sits on the steering committee, said most CSUN students hold jobs, taking time away from studying. He was surprised and disappointed students said they are often bored in class.

``Wow, that's unfortunate. You come here and you invest your time. A lot of it is what you put into it,'' Macias said.

Cynthia Rawitch, department chairwoman of journalism and accreditation coordinator, said most encouraging is the overall level of satisfaction.

``What we seem to do best is teach in the classroom, it's what we seem to get very high marks on,'' she said. ``Students like the size of classes, the availability of faculty.''

Rawitch said areas of concern include graduation rates. Of the first-time freshmen who entered in the fall of 1991, only 26 percent graduated within six years or less, according to the CSU system. The rest might have taken longer, dropped out or transferred.

More than 60 people have been meeting regularly for more than a year collecting self-study data. Surveys of 484 faculty members, 1,226 students and 1,150 alumni were taken last year.

The report has been posted on the university's Web site since March 1. Copies are available through the library, the offices of each dean and President Blenda Wilson. Wilson declined to comment on the report until it is completed, said Larry Cox, director of public relations.

For the first time, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges offered campuses the option of selecting three themes of their own to examine. CSUN chose student achievement, assessment and the utilization of technology.

Accreditation is necessary for students to receive government financial aid or to transfer their credits to other colleges. In November an association team will visit the campus for three days. Its report is due out by the end of the year.

The draft self-study is available online at: www.csun.edu/-wascreac/.