Mobility of Concordia Students

It is not possible with an electronic on-line survey to ensure equal participation from all students. However, there was proportionate representation from all undergraduate class levels (Table 8.1). The sophomore class had the highest representation with the senior class being the lowest class level represented.

Table 8.1 Survey Response Distribution Compared to Acutal Class Distribution

Student employment status has a vital impact on student responses regarding public transportation. Almost one-forth of the students were unemployed (Figure 8.1). Nearly half of respondents work on-campus, while less than 30 percent work off-campus. There are noticeable differences in the behaviors of employed and unemployed students that will be discussed throughout this report.

A further breakdown shows that on campus there are more women employed than men (Figure 8.2). This is also true of off-campus student employment. However, more males are unemployed than females. There is no survey information available to explain this difference.

Whether students live on or off-campus was also evaluated. Nearly three-fourths of students surveyed indicated they live on-campus. We received a good distribution across many categories. The class distribution was within nine percentage points and the students living on and off-campus was within seven percentage points. We were unable to get off-campus employment numbers for that comparison.

Movement Demands of Students on Campus

This section will show movement patterns of Concordia students, to, from, and around campus. Survey results in this section tell how far students live from campus, where they are coming from, what time period they spend on campus, how they most often travel to campus, how many have access to motor vehicles, what determines their mode of travel and whether their mode of preference changes in the winter. This information is helpful in determining what services can be offered that will fit into the normal travel activity of the student body.

Students live at various distances from campus (Figure 8.3). Nearly half of student respondents live within one-fourth mile from campus. This illustrates the tight-knit Concordia College community. However, almost 30 percent of respondents indicated they live greater than two miles from campus showing an untapped market sector for public transportation.

Almost 87 percent of respondents indicated they normally travel to campus from home (Figure 8.4). About 5 percent travel to school from work and the remaining 8 percent arrive from other places. This shows that most Concordia College students follow a traditional college schedule with classes in the morning and early afternoon and work in the evening as nearly 30 percent indicated they work off-campus, but very few come from work to school.

The majority of student respondents indicated they are on campus between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m, following the normal semester class schedule (Figure 8.5). Between 10 a.m. and noon represents the highest concentration of students on campus. One-third of students indicated they are on campus between noon and 2 p.m.

Almost 82 percent of respondents indicated they have access to motor vehicles. Concordia College is well above the national average according to Independent Insurance Agents of America and College Parents of America who have indicated that nearly 70 percent of college students have either their own or use of their parents' car at school.

The majority of respondents travel to school twice (four one-way trips) a day (Figure 8.6). A large number of students also go to school once a day (two one-way trips). Fifteen percent of respondent indicated they make three trips (six one-way trips) to school each day. The proximity of many students to campus allows for the movement from campus to home often for classes or on-campus jobs.

Convenience, time, and parking availability are the three top influences on student modes of travel (Figure 8.7). Convenience as an influence on travel mode received the highest rating as 63.5 percent of respondents consider convenience very important when choosing their mode of transportation. More than 50 percent of respondents indicated that time and parking availability were very important in choosing their mode of transportation.

Students who live on campus were asked why they most often leave campus. General shopping, grocery shopping, visiting family and friends, and eating out at restaurants were the main reasons students indicated they leave campus (Figure 8.8).

The majorities of student respondents either walk or drive to campus, 83 percent (Figure 8.9). Almost 10 percent of students carpool, which leaves only a select few riding bike, taking public transit or getting to school by some other means. Students previously indicated that convenience, time and parking availability were main factors in choosing their means of getting to and from campus. Therefore, a relationship exists between respondents indicated walking, driving, and carpooling as transportation modes, all which provide convenience, short travel times, or a relief from parking congestion.

If a student has a car, he/she can travel any time of the year regardless of the outdoor temperature. Results show that more than 34 percent of students choose their mode of travel because of weather (Figure 8.10).

Students were asked how far is too far to walk to campus in differing temperatures. Weather had a large influence on walking distance (Figure 8.11). Almost 40 percent of respondents indicated one-half to one mile was reasonable walking distance in above freezing temperatures, whereas less than 7 percent of respondents considered the same distance walkable in below freezing temperatures.