Spring Break
Univ. offers incentives for completing survey
SAM STEINBERG
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: News
University administrators want freshmen and seniors to participate in the National Survey of Student Engagement Thursday when it goes online.
The survey is used to measure the quality of the University, but it is an uphill battle for researchers to get students to take it.
The past three times the University administered the survey, a majority of students at the University did not take it.
The problem is not just at the University.
"We definitely know part of the problem is survey fatigue. Students are getting a lot of these things," Alexander C. McCormick, director of the national survey, said in a phone interview.
Last year, 21 percent, or 1,015 out of 5,000 University students, took the survey.
To increase response, the University is offering incentives, including a one-day parking pass on campus for any of the pay lots to the first 2,000 participants.
All participating students will be entered into a drawing for a free year-round parking spot, gift cards to local restaurants and a luncheon with some of the University's top officials.
Ann Crowther, associate vice president for instruction, oversees the survey. She said the low response for last year's sample can be traced to e-mails that said, "Dear Salutation" instead of the survey respondent's name.
"I knew immediately our response rate was going to be way down because I know with all the e-mail students get and all the survey requests they get, if something looks like it can be potentially spam there would be no chance," Crowther said. "Although 21 percent was very low, to be honest about it, given what happened I am not surprised."
Last week, more than 4,000 freshmen received an e-mail under the signature of University President Michael Adams, telling them to be on the lookout for the survey.
Crowther said the same students will receive an e-mail Thursday linking them to the survey.
This year's sample size of 8,000 students is 3,000 more than last year's group.
The University will pay an extra $4,500 for the additional 3,000 surveys. The Board of Regents, which mandated every institution in Georgia use the survey, will pay for the initial 5,000.
Findings from the 2003 report were used to revamp the University's core curriculum.
The survey is used to measure the quality of the University, but it is an uphill battle for researchers to get students to take it.
The past three times the University administered the survey, a majority of students at the University did not take it.
The problem is not just at the University.
"We definitely know part of the problem is survey fatigue. Students are getting a lot of these things," Alexander C. McCormick, director of the national survey, said in a phone interview.
Last year, 21 percent, or 1,015 out of 5,000 University students, took the survey.
To increase response, the University is offering incentives, including a one-day parking pass on campus for any of the pay lots to the first 2,000 participants.
All participating students will be entered into a drawing for a free year-round parking spot, gift cards to local restaurants and a luncheon with some of the University's top officials.
Ann Crowther, associate vice president for instruction, oversees the survey. She said the low response for last year's sample can be traced to e-mails that said, "Dear Salutation" instead of the survey respondent's name.
"I knew immediately our response rate was going to be way down because I know with all the e-mail students get and all the survey requests they get, if something looks like it can be potentially spam there would be no chance," Crowther said. "Although 21 percent was very low, to be honest about it, given what happened I am not surprised."
Last week, more than 4,000 freshmen received an e-mail under the signature of University President Michael Adams, telling them to be on the lookout for the survey.
Crowther said the same students will receive an e-mail Thursday linking them to the survey.
This year's sample size of 8,000 students is 3,000 more than last year's group.
The University will pay an extra $4,500 for the additional 3,000 surveys. The Board of Regents, which mandated every institution in Georgia use the survey, will pay for the initial 5,000.
Findings from the 2003 report were used to revamp the University's core curriculum.
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