Boston College will launch its first-ever student experience survey on October 29 to gain a better understanding of undergraduate students and their experiences at BC.
The survey will seek input from students on a range of campus experiences, including diversity and inclusion, faculty-student interactions, and services to BC’s 9,300 undergraduates.
Sponsored by Student Affairs, University Mission and Ministry, and the Office of the Provost, and administered by the Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment, the survey, which will be confidential and take 15 minutes to complete, will provide data on all aspects of student life to help administrators ensure that the Boston College environment is as supportive as possible for all students.
“The student experience survey is a vital tool in assessing the campus environment,” said Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Joy Moore. “The feedback from students will help us to identify areas where we are doing well, as well as those areas where we should focus greater attention.”
BC administrators and Undergraduate Government of Boston College leaders agreed to conduct a student experience survey last year following several racial issues that shook the campus community, including a racist social media posting and the defacement of several Black Lives Matter signs in a University residence hall during the fall semester.
“The student experience survey is a vital tool in assessing the campus environment. The feedback from students will help us to identify areas where we are doing well, as well as those areas where we should focus greater attention.”
Vice President for Planning and Assessment Kelli Armstrong said that the survey will yield qualitative and quantitative data that will be assessed by senior leadership.
“Although we have surveyed students on many topics over the years, this is a unique survey because it covers a wide range of areas and is designed specifically for Boston College,” said Armstrong. “The Student Experience Survey was created in collaboration with a University-wide committee and asks for feedback on many elements important to a BC education, both in and out of the classroom. We hope that all students will take the time to complete the survey; it's important that we hear from as many voices as possible so that we can use the results to better understand and improve the student experience.”
Armstrong said that the initial survey data will be available this spring, followed by more segmented analysis and extensive reporting in the fall of 2019.
Provost and Dean of faculties David Quigley said the survey will be helpful in gaining a better understanding of students’ views on their interactions with faculty from an academic, personal, and vocational perspective, as well as their experiences regarding faculty research opportunities, faculty advising, and mentoring.
"We expect to learn a great deal from this inaugural administration of the Student Experience Survey as we strive to deliver on Boston College's promise of a transformative liberal arts education," said Quigley.
“In particular, I'm eager to learn more about students' experiences with faculty and the ways in which different academic programs and initiatives impact our students," he said.
UGBC President Reed Piercey, a senior in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences whose administration worked with BC administrators to help bring the survey to fruition, said he expected a strong response from undergraduate students who are pleased that the survey is being distributed and eager to share their perspectives on the BC student experience.
"It is very exciting to see our administration deliver on the idea of a Student Experience Survey that will holistically assess the wide spectrum of lived experiences at Boston College,” said Piercey. “I believe this is an important milestone in gathering specific feedback on the elements of life at BC that impact undergraduates in both fulfilling and challenging ways. I am especially grateful to the members of UGBC who worked tirelessly last fall to make this survey a reality, as well as the administrators who gave them a space to voice their concerns. It represents a major opportunity for people of all identities at BC to express their feedback directly to the top tier of University leadership.”
Jack Dunn | University Communications | October 25, 2018