C.	Overview of Analysis Topics and Survey Items
The analysis topics for BPS:04/09 were outlined in the research and policy issues presented in section A.2 above. Exhibit 2 displays the proposed data elements for the BPS:04/09 full-scale student interview. For information about changes in the elements since the field test, see appendix F.
The core BPS:04/09 data elements are presented as a list of items arranged by topics. Most of these data elements appeared in the previously approved BPS:04/06 study. The data elements for BPS:04/09 cover general topics such as current enrollment, enrollment history since the last interview, current employment and employment history, educational experiences, and demographic characteristics. Most items apply to all sample members. However, in cases where items are applicable to a subset of sample members, the particular category of respondent has been specified in the list of data elements.
Exhibit 2.	Proposed data elements for the BPS:04/09 full-scale student interview
A.	Current enrollment or completion status (at time of interview)
1.	Still enrolled as undergraduate
a.	Enrolled at NPSAS or last reported institution
b.	Enrolled at another institution	
2.	Not currently enrolled as undergraduate
a.	Enrolled anywhere since July 2006 
•	Completed a program since July 2006 
•	Type of certificate/degree earned
•	Date awarded (MMYYYY)
•	Institution that awarded degree
•	Did not complete a program
•	Last institution attended
•	Date last enrolled (MMYYYY)
•	Primary reason for leaving
b.	Not enrolled anywhere since July 2006  [skip sections B and C below]	
B.	Undergraduate enrollment history since July 2006
1.	Enrollment in 2006–07 
a.	Enrolled at last school reported for 2005–06  (yes/no)
•	Months enrolled
•	Primarily full time or part time
b.	Enrolled at another school in 2006–07  (yes/no)
•	Name of institution and location (online coding of type)
•	Months enrolled
•	Primarily full time or part time
•	Transfer credits attempted/accepted
•	Reasons for enrolling here (less-than-4-year and non-degree students)	
2.	Enrollment in 2007–08 
a.	Enrolled at last school reported for 2006–07  (yes/no)
•	Months enrolled
•	Primarily full time or part time
b.	Enrolled at another school in 2007–08  (yes/no)
•	Name of institution and location (online coding of type)
•	Months enrolled
•	Primarily full time or part time
•	Transfer credits attempted/accepted
•	Reasons for enrolling here  (less-than-4-year and non-degree students)	

Exhibit 2.	Proposed data elements for the BPS:04/09 student interview—Continued
3.	Enrollment in 2008–09 
a.	Enrolled at last school reported for 2007–08  (yes/no)
•	Months enrolled
•	Primarily full time or part time
b.	Enrolled at another school in 2007–08  (yes/no)
•	Name of institution and location (online coding of type)
•	Months enrolled
•	Primarily full time or part time
•	Transfer credits attempted/accepted
•	Reasons for enrolling here  (less-than-4-year and non-degree students)	
C.	Characteristics of current or last undergraduate enrollment since July 2006
1.	Educational program characteristics
a.	Degree plans (certificate, associate’s, bachelor’s, none)
b.	Major /double major
Changes in major
	Types of courses (if no major and non-degree)
c.	Class level (if no degree)
d.	GPA	
2.	Residence, work and financial support
a.	Type of residence (on campus/off campus/with parents)
c.	Working while enrolled (most current job)
•	Primary role: student or employee?
•	Participation in work study
•	On/off campus job
•	Number of days per week worked
•	Number of hours per week worked
•	Relationship of job to studies
•	Importance of job earnings in financing education
•	Main reason for working
d.	Financial support from parents (respondents under 30)
•	none
•	pay for tuition
•	pay for other educational and living expenses	
D.	Financial aid and undergraduate student loan debt	
1.	Student loan debt
a.	Total amount borrowed in student loans (all undergraduate years)
b.	Total amount still owed
c.	Types of loans (federal, private, other)
d.	Reason for private loans 
e.	Currently repaying loans [if yes]
•	Amount of monthly payment
•	Are family or friends helping to repay loans? (respondents under 30)
f.	Consider student loan debt a worthwhile investment (very much/somewhat/not at all)
g.	Student loan debt influence enrollment/career decisions
If yes, how? 	
2.	Supplementary data from outside sources:
a.	Financial aid application data (from CPS)
b.	Annual and cumulative federal student loan amounts (from NSLDS)
c.	Annual Pell grant amounts (from NSLDS)
d.	Annual SMART grant amounts (from NSLDS)
e.	Annual full-time tuition and student budgets (from IPEDS)	
Exhibit 2.	Proposed data elements for the BPS:04/09 student interview—Continued
E.	Post-Bachelor/Graduate Education (BA recipients only)
1.	Type of post-BA enrollment
a.	Graduate degree program or post-BA certification
•	Type of degree or certification
•	Full time or part time
•	Date began (MMYYYY)
b.	Taking courses for credit, but not in a degree program
c.	Non-credit or continuing education courses	
F.	Employment – Respondents who are not currently enrolled
1.	Currently employed (yes/no)	
2.	[if yes] Description of relationship to job
a.	Searching for a career
b.	Starting a career
c.	Continuing in a career
d.	Advancing in a career
e.	In a temporary job	
3.	Current job characteristics (if employed)
a.	Number of hours worked per week
b.	Wages/salary
c.	Occupation and industry (online coding)
d.	Type of employer
e.	Held position or similar job 
•	while enrolled
•	before enrolled
•	number of years in this or similar job
f.	Related to coursework/major (closely/somewhat/not)
g.	Related to career goals (closely/somewhat/not)
h.	Degree, certificate, or license required
 	Type of certificate or license held
i.	Was this first job after leaving school?
j.	Did school helped with job placement?
l.	Difficulty of doing job without courses taken (very/somewhat/not)
m.	Did education help advance in career? (great deal/somewhat/not)	
4.	Responsibilities (yes/no)
a.	Supervise work of others
b.	Participate in hiring/firing
c.	Participate in setting salaries	
5.	Satisfaction with aspects of the job (yes/no)
a.	Pay
b.	Fringe benefits
c.	Challenge of work
d.	Opportunities for promotion
e.	Opportunities to use training/education
f.	Job security
g.	Opportunities for further training/education
h.	Overall satisfaction	
6.	Unemployment spells of more than 3 months since end of enrollment
a.	If yes, how many times 
b.	Longest period of unemployment	
7.	If not currently employed:
a.	Looking for a job
b.	Receiving unemployment insurance
c.	Date last employed after leaving school	

Exhibit 2.	Proposed data elements for the BPS:04/09 student interview—Continued
G.	Current demographics
1.	Household composition (live alone/spouse or partner/parents, children/dependents,  or others
2.	Respondent’s current marital status (single, never married/married/separated/divorced/ widowed)	
3.	Number of dependent children 
a.	Age of youngest and oldest child	
4.	Annual income
a.	Own earnings
b.	Spouse’s earnings
c.	Income from untaxed income and benefits such as TANF and food stamps	
5.	Spouse’s level of education	
6.	Amount of spouse’s student loans
a.	Spouse’s monthly repayment amount	
7.	Monthly payments 
a.	Rent or mortgage
b.	Auto loan or lease	
8.	Use any credit cards
a.	Usually payoff or carry balance
b.	Current outstanding balance on credit cards	
H.	Civic participation
1.	Current citizenship
2.	Voting (if citizen)
a.	Registered to vote
b.	Ever voted in any election?
b.	Voted in the last presidential  election?
3.	Volunteering
a.	Voluntary activities in last 12 months
b.	Type of activities
c.	Hours per month or one-time activities	
I.	Disabilities 
1.	Do you have a sensory impairment, such as blindness, deafness, or a severe vision or hearing impairment, that has lasted for 6 months or more?
2.	Do you have a mobility impairment that has substantially limited one or more basic physical activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting, or carrying, for 6 months or more?
3.	Excluding any disabilities already mentioned, do you have any other physical, mental, emotional, or learning condition that has lasted 6 months or more?	
J.	Personal goals and assessment of education
1.	Highest level of education ever expected
2.	Plans to pursue a teaching career	
3.	Would make the same choices in institution and course of study again (yes/maybe/no/don’t know)
4.	Were benefits of education in terms of work and pay worth the cost and time spent on your education (very much/somewhat/not at all/don’t know)