Introduction
About the Survey Synthesis
1)
What is it?
The survey synthesis consists of 10 fact sheets that provide summaries of consolidated data from 10 years of
university-wide surveys. A wealth of data was analyzed for common trends and themes which relate to different
aspects of the student experience. These surveys cover a broad range of topics intended to give a high level overview
of student perceptions of the U of S.
The following fact sheets address different stages of post-secondary education, i.e., pre-university, first-year
transition, graduate students, and post-graduation trends; others deal with specific aspects of student life, such as
teaching and learning, the out-of-class experience, student finances, and major facilities and services. In addition, a
fact sheet summarizes survey results that are related to the unique experience of our Aboriginal students. Finally,
there is a fact sheet on overall student satisfaction. Many of these fact sheets measure how the University of
Saskatchewan performs against its peers. For more information on the peer institutions used in this survey synthesis,
please see Appendix B.
2)
Why did we do it?
The survey synthesis was developed to provide an “at-a-glance” overview of the data available and is presented in
summary format to support easier dissemination of results within and beyond the campus community. It is intended
to be updated in advance of each institutional plan every four years and can be easily adapted to provide more detail
in a specific area if needed. More comprehensive information on student surveys is available at www.usask.ca/ip.
Improving the student experience is an ongoing theme in many foundational documents at the University of
Saskatchewan. In the Second Integrated Plan: Toward an Engaged University, which was approved by Council and the
Board of Governors in 2008, one of the three top priorities was to “improve the undergraduate and graduate student
experience, both inside and outside the classroom.” Consistent with this goal, the survey synthesis was a project
initiated by the office of Institutional Planning and Assessment (IPA) to provide the university community a holistic
view of what students are saying about their experience. It was initiated to ensure the dissemination of survey
results in an easy-to-read, highly accessible format. The survey synthesis will be used to inform the development of
the third integrated plan among other activities.
In addition, institutional surveys fall within the assessment portfolio at the U of S and the survey synthesis project is
well-aligned with the principles in the Framework for Assessment: Beyond Systematic Program Review, which was
approved by the University Council in fall 2008. The framework states that “results of university-level assessment
initiatives should be made generally available to the university community and beyond”. The survey synthesis
demonstrates our commitment to the dissemination of findings and will provide a platform for dialogue between
students and university leaders in the years ahead. Through the compilation, review and analysis of such data, we are
hoping to gain a better understanding of the level of satisfaction of our students and to identify strengths and areas
that need improvement at our university.
3)
What surveys were used in this synthesis?
Over the past 10 years, the office of Institutional Planning and Assessment (IPA) has collected student data through a
number of surveys that were conducted independently, or in cooperation with external partners and other higher
education institutions. This allows for historical and inter-institutional comparisons between the U of S and our
www.usask.ca/ip
Introduction
peers. The surveys used include: the Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC), 2001 – 2010, and the National
Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), 2006 and 2008, among others. For a complete list of the surveys used in the
survey synthesis, please see Appendix A. It is estimated that over 10,000 students contributed as participants in
these surveys overall.
4) What do these findings tell us?
These findings give us a sense of students’ opinions about their experiences at the U of S. Students want to have a
voice in their educational experience. They want the university to support their diverse needs and learning styles, to
provide them with stimulating and engaging programs and activities and to prepare them for the challenges of the
modern world. This document should open a critical dialogue within the campus community and beyond about the
nature of the teaching and learning environment since decisions today will have lasting implications for future
students.
5)
Has this survey data been used before?
The first use of the major findings in several of the surveys referenced in the survey synthesis was in the Teaching
and Learning Foundational Document, approved by University Council in 2008, which is one of the university’s major
planning documents and represents institutional direction on this key planning dimension.
6) What are the next steps?
Some parts of the survey synthesis are more definitive than others; there is still more work to do. As such, these fact
sheets are a work-in-progress and will be updated periodically. The survey synthesis and results from new surveys
conducted will be shared broadly to a growing list of stakeholders at the university and beyond. It is hoped this will
provide a sense of student opinion so that decision-makers, student leaders and others across campus can work
collaboratively to ensure the U of S continues to meet the needs of our students and be among the best universities
in Canada and the world.
7)
Contact us
For more information on the survey synthesis and surveys at the U of S, please contact the office of Institutional
Planning and Assessment at ipa_assessment@usask.ca or visit www.usask.ca/ip.
www.usask.ca/ip