Appendices
Appendix A- Complete list of surveys used in survey synthesis
Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey (CGPSS)
Purpose: To obtain information on the graduate student experience and satisfaction on a broad range of topics in an
effort to better understand the unique perspective of graduate students on campus.
Survey Topics: Educational status, general satisfaction, professional skills development, research experience,
presentations and publications, advisor and thesis/dissertation/research paper, financial support, university resources,
student life and social life.
Response Rate: The CGPSS has been conducted twice at the U of S in 2007 and 2010. In 2010, the survey was sent to all
graduate students (2,591) and 698 students completed the survey for a response rate of 27%.
Comparator Institutions: Results are compared to a group of all participating national institutions (35 institutions in
2010).
Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC)
Purpose: To obtain information on different populations of undergraduate students in order to better understand their
experience and concerns. CUSC surveys target various direct-entry undergraduate students (first-year students,
undergraduate students and graduating students) in successive years over a three-year cycle.
Survey Topics: Reasons motivating attendance to university, experience prior to classes, perceptions of university,
current employment and financing education, academic and extra-curricular activities, skill growth and development,
university experience and overall satisfaction, future education and employment.
Response Rate: The CUSC surveys have been conducted at the U of S every year since 2001. The surveys are typically
sent to a random sample of 1,000 students and the response rate has ranged from 35% to 56% (mean=44%).
Comparator Institutions: Results are compared to a group of all participating national institutions (39 institutions in
2010) and a peer group of institutions that offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees, with most having
professional schools (10 institutions in 2010).
Graduate Outcomes Survey (Provincial)
Purpose: To determine graduate satisfaction with their post-secondary experience and graduate employment
outcomes approximately two years after graduation. For this study, graduates were defined as individuals who had
completed a program through the University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, the Saskatchewan Institute of
Applied Science and Technology, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship
and Trade Certification Commission or a private vocational school.
Survey Topics: Transitions between high school and post-secondary education, learning outcomes and satisfaction,
educational experience, employment outcomes and financing education.
Response Rate: This study was conducted from November 2006 to February 2007 with students who graduated in the
spring/fall 2004. The sample included 12,641 graduates and 5,839 completed the survey for a response rate of 46%.
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Appendices
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
Purpose: To assess the extent to which undergraduate students engage in educational practices associated with high
levels of learning and development. Specifically, first and final year student behaviours are assessed to determine an
institution’s level of engagement in five key benchmarks.
Survey Topics: Five NSSE benchmarks: Level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty
interaction, enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment.
Response Rate: NSSE has been conducted twice at the U of S, in 2006 and 2008. The surveys were sent to a random
sample of approximately 4,500 first and final year students and the response rate was 55% in 2006 and 53% in 2008.
Comparator Institutions: Results were compared to a group of all participating medical-doctoral institutions in 2006
and 2008 (10 and 13 institutions, respectively). In 2008, results were also compared to a group of all participating
Canadian institutions (46) and Western Canadian institutions (8).
Teaching and Learning Student Focus Groups
Purpose: To hear from students about their views, experiences and opinions on a variety of elements associated with
the teaching and learning environment.
Focus group populations: Graduate students, students in non-direct entry colleges, first-year undergraduate students
(direct-entry colleges), upper-year, undergraduate students (direct-entry colleges), Aboriginal students, students
pursuing distance education and alumni.
Response: A total of 18 focus groups were conducted in 2006 with 117 students.
Undergraduate Population Study
Purpose: To obtain information on educational choices and the transition experiences of four distinct undergraduate
populations: out-of-province, Aboriginal, international and non-Aboriginal Saskatchewan students (control group).
Survey Topics: Reasons for choosing to attend university, reasons for attending the U of S, experiences at the U of S,
adjustment to university life, academic preparation, non-academic responsibilities and demands.
Response Rate: The Undergraduate Population Study was conducted in 2009. A survey was sent to 3,462 students and
522 completed the survey for a response rate of 15%.
Contact us
For more information on specific surveys, please contact the IPA at ipa_assessment@usask.ca or visit www.usask.ca/ip.
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Appendices
Appendix B- Definitions of peer groups used in survey synthesis
A number of the survey synthesis fact sheets measure how the University of Saskatchewan performs against its peers.
Where possible, comparisons were made to medical-doctoral peer institutions (see peers below). Canadian peer institutions
were used as a comparator if further breakdown to medical-doctoral peers was not available (see Canadian peers below).
The institutions included in the two peer groups vary by participation each year in several surveys; however, the general
definitions apply across the 10-year time span used for the survey synthesis.
Peers
Peers: generally refers to all participating medical-doctoral universities in Canada that offer both undergraduate and
graduate degrees with a broad range of research and PhD programs. Most have professional schools (including medical
schools) and tend to be the largest universities in terms of student population in Canada.
Canadian Peers
Canadian peers: generally refers to all participating universities in Canada including medical-doctoral peers (as defined
above), comprehensive universities with a wide range of programs at the graduate and undergraduate level including
professional degrees and primarily undergraduate universities that are largely undergraduate-focused and have relatively
few graduate programs.
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