May 30, 2002                  Click here to go to the survey results

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARD HIGH STREET

            COLUMBUS – Students at The Ohio State University would like to see more outdoor gathering areas, 24-hour diners and grocery stores along High Street in the University District, according to a survey conducted during the first two weeks of April.   The survey also found that more than 80 percent of the students are satisfied or very satisfied with their current housing.

The Campus Partners Student Advisory Board developed the survey to determine attitudes of students regarding High Street and its commercial activities.

All Ohio State students were invited to complete the survey on a secure Web site that required verification that the person is a student and prevented a person from completing the questionnaire more than once.  A total of 924 students completed the survey.  Students were notified about the survey through Lantern advertisements, a notice in Buckeye Net News, posters in CABS buses and in residence halls, and table tents in the dining halls.

“We developed the survey so students could express their ideas on the types of services and entertainment they would like to see along High Street,” explained Christina Morandini, chair of the Student Advisory Board.  “We are sharing the survey results with the Campus Partners board and staff, the University Community Business Association, and with people interested in business opportunities on High Street and as part of the University Gateway Center.  We think that business people will pay attention to student opinion because they depend on students to make their businesses successful.”

Mark Minor, vice-chair of the Student Advisory Board, led the survey project.  “We decided not to conduct a survey of a limited number of randomly selected students,” he said. “We wanted to open up the survey so as many students as possible could express their opinions.  The respondents to the survey include a higher percentage of students living on campus and in the adjacent neighborhood than in the student body as a whole, but these also are the students with the highest interest in High Street.”

Minor noted that many of the questions used in the current survey had been asked in survey of students conducted by Campus Partners in February 1999.  “In this latest survey, we asked additional questions about student housing, but the results of the two surveys are generally consistent in terms of student preferences,” he said.

Among the findings in this year’s survey are:

·        When asked what types of entertainment the University District needs more of on High Street, students gave their highest ratings to “outdoor gathering areas (benches, tables, etc.),” bars, comedy clubs and dance clubs.

·        When asked about restaurants, students expressed interest in more 24-hour diners and less fast food.

·        Students clearly expressed a preference for more grocery stores to serve the University District.

·        More than 6 out 10 students shop on High Street at least once a week, while two-thirds of the students eat at a High Street restaurant at least once a week.

·        Students said they would visit High Street more often if the area had a better variety of businesses, had stores where they like to shop, were cleaner, and had more parking.

·        When asked their level of satisfaction with their current housing, more than 8 out of 10 students were satisfied or very satisfied.

·        Of the students who rent an apartment or house, 44 percent said his or her share of the rent and utilities is between $300 and $399 per month.  Some 34 percent are paying $400 or more per month.

The results of the surveys conducted in April 2002 and in February 1999 are available on this web site.  Click here to go to the survey results.

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