Frequently Asked Survey Questions

Who can request a survey?
College units and individuals who are planning and/or conducting surveys for the purpose of evaluating or assessing college functions/services/programs may request assistance with a survey project by filling out the Survey Submission form (link here)

Can I just create and implement my own survey?
No, all proposed surveys must be approved by the SPIFE sub-committee on Research prior to being implemented with the exception of surveys that fall under the exempt category of the WNC College Policy on Research shown below. However, it is suggested that you notify the Office of Institutional Research for planning and implementation purposes to prevent redundancy.

Exempt

1. Regular classroom examinations, research assignments, or test studies
2. Faculty research protected by academic freedom
3. Survey of academic faculty by their students
4. Survey of administrative and executive faculty by academic faculty, students or classified employees.

How will the college ensure that guidelines for the treatment of human subjects in research are followed?
IR staff will review the proposed survey questions and email/letter announcing the survey to ensure the following guidelines have been followed:

• If the results of the research are to be published or presented at a conference, the approval of the college-sponsored research subcommittee of SPFIE is required.
• If assessment results can be classified under the exempt categories above, and the results will not be published and the respondents remain anonymous, formal approval by the research subcommittee of SPIFE is not required, but the purpose of the research and the fact that participation is voluntary must be explained to participants.
• Under an exempt category, if assessment results will not be published and the survey responses will be linked to an individual, individuals must be notified of the purpose of the research, the fact that participation is voluntary, and actions to ensure confidentiality must be explained to participants.
• If data from student records are used in assessment research, all requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) must be met. Non-public student data can be used without the student's consent by university employees for "legitimate educational" purposes provided the data is not reported in such a way that individual students can be identified. All other users must receive written consent from the student(s) to access non-public student data.