Marie E. Zeglen, Ph.D. Assistant Provost for Institutional Planning and Research

1. Student Experience in the Research University (SERU):A New Resource for Studying UF’s Undergraduates Marie E. Zeglen, Ph.D. Assistant Provost for Institutional Planning and Research

2. SERU: Background • Survey developed by UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education for whole U California System • Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Davis, Santa Barbara, Irvine, San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside • Collaboration between academic scholars and institutional researchers to create new data sources and policy relevant analysis • Purposes : • Broadening understanding of the undergraduate experience • Promoting a culture of self improvement • Tailored to research universities • Administered regularly since 2003 to UC Campuses

3. The SERU Research Consortium • Invitation to AAU institutions to join the SERU Research Consortium in 2008 • A pilot group of AAUs signed up: • University of Florida • University of Michigan • University of Minnesota • University of Oregon • Rutgers University • University of Pittsburgh • University of Florida will participate and survey its students in 2 of next 3 years – 2008-09 and 2010-11

4. Benefits of SERU • Population survey of undergraduates – NOT a sample • Target response of 50% • Results specific to academic colleges and majors • Wildcard module • Data support many uses: • Program review • College and department goal setting and tracking • Program improvement • VSA requirement

5. Customizing SERU • Three basic modules • Time, student development, academic engagement, campus climate, satisfaction, evaluation of the educational experience • Background and personal characteristics • Academic experience • Two custom modules • Consortium agreed on common module on globalization – multi-university team will develop • Our Wildcard – ideas on sustainability, arts experiences, student services – need to develop

6. Robust and Varied Data • Institutional data • FICE code • College code • Name • Student data • Demographics • Prior educational data • Performance data • Contact data • Academic program data • Major codes • Major names • CIP codes

7. Response Strategy • UC universities average between 40 and 50% • How do they do it? • Incentives – required $3K minimum • Seven follow ups – including summer • Track and analyze what has worked – prizes, email subject lines, publicity • Involve the whole campus – academic departments, colleges, advisors, student government, student affairs, news and PR groups • Executive sponsors – multiple voices • Answer every student e-mail about the survey

8. UF Incentives • Eligibility to participate in football lottery • Buy One/Get One Free coupon for Museum of Natural History Butterfly Rainforest • UF Bookstore - $50 coupons and gifts • Recreation Center – personal training sessions • Gator Dining –lunch coupons

9. How the Football Lottery Will Work • Students eligible for survey must complete survey AND enter the lottery through UAA • SERU has to be completed before the lottery deadline • Students ineligible for SERU are NOT affected and just enter the lottery through UAA: • Undergraduates under 18 years of age • Non degree students • Correspondence study students • Graduate students • Professional students

10. Confidentiality of Results • SERU results will be aggregated in reports • No disclosure of any student identifiers without student approval – for example, to publicize reward winners • Safe, secure server for survey data • New SERU ID established for all participating institutions to enable comparisons among AAU institutions

11. Launch and Follow Ups • March 16 survey launch by email • PR campaign around event – “Give Us Your 2 Bits” • Multiple follow ups – from different people • Executive sponsors – President, Provost, VPs • Undergraduate Studies leader • Student government leader • Summer follow up – adds 10%

12. Examples of Posters

13. Examples of Posters

14. Data Analyses and Reports • By August provide link to additional student data on campus • Analyses • Query and report front end from Consortium – for instance - all English majors, specific university comparisons • Develop departmental reports for each major • Develop college and institutional reports • Develop student service and student life reports

15. How are UC Schools using Data? • Academic program review and improvement • Assessment – indirect measures of learning • Faculty Senate review on curriculum • Identification of factors affecting retention and graduation of students • Student life and student service improvements • Research – faculty publications and graduate student dissertations

16. Research • As members of the consortium: • Research data from all participants available to us • Obligation to present at annual research consortium meeting • Our faculty and graduate students are welcome to do active research using the SERU data • Must follow IRB rules and maintain confidentiality standards (similar to AAU) • Be part of a community of scholars from all the participating schools

17. Next Steps • Spread the word – encourage students to take SERU • Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs • Advisers • Student Affairs units • Student Government • Faculty Senate • Monitor the survey results • Distribute and publicize rewards • Plan and carry out technical/analytic plan • Plan how to use the data

18. Timeline • February – Module finalization • March – IRB approval • March - SERU deployment • April to July – SERU follow-ups • August – SERU data links • Fall 2009 SERU data report distribution