1/14/2011
Over the next two weeks, all undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Engineering are asked to complete the survey and make a difference in the student experience at Engineering at Illinois.
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Over the next two weeks, all undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Engineering are asked to complete the survey and make a difference in the student experience at Engineering at Illinois.
Graduate student survey
As a follow-up to the benchmark survey taken in 2009, this survey covers a wide range of topics including: college and departmental climate, workload, curricular flexibility, and student satisfaction.
“As a result of our analysis of the earlier study, we have been able to condense the total number of questions about educational climate and add more questions about courses and curricula,” explained Charles Tucker, associate dean for undergraduate programs. “We had a great response rate last time, and good representation across the different groups within the college. This survey is about as long as the 2009 survey and should take about 20-30 minutes to complete.”
Department and college administrators will use the results of this study to inform all levels of decision making (policies, practices, and resource allocation) within the college.
"We need to hear the students' voice,” Tucker added. “I hope everyone will invest this small amount of time to give us good direction.”
As an added incentive, there will be a drawing from the list of respondents for a $350 Best Buy Gift Card (two will be awarded).
The survey will be online at the College of Engineering website from Jan. 24 to Feb. 6, 2011.
Frequently asked questions
What is this survey?
The survey is part of a study of the academic climate for students in engineering and related curricula at the University of Illinois.
Who is conducting the survey?
The College of Engineering requested the study.
Who can participate?
All currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Engineering, plus all students enrolled in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, LAS Physics, Math/Computer Science, and Statistics/Computer Science, may take the survey.
How long will the survey take?
The survey should take 20-30 minutes to complete. We hope you will invest the time to tell engineering deans and department heads about your experience here, and how to improve it.
Will I get to see the results?
A summary of the results will be posted on the College of Engineering website. See the Executive Summary of the 2009 Student Climate Survey (2009.Exec.Summary.pdf).
Why should I participate?
Administrators are asking for your opinions. This is an excellent chance for you to influence policy decisions at the departmental and college levels about things such as courses, curricula, advising, facilities, and budgets. As an added incentive, there will be a drawing from the list of respondents for a $350 Best Buy Gift Card (two will be awarded at the end of the survey period).
Why do I need to enter my netid and password to take the survey?
Requesting your netid improves the quality of the study by ensuring that only current students take the survey, and that no one responds more than once. However, the survey is still confidential. All responses will be coded to remove all identifying information. No College of Engineering faculty or staff member will know whether or not you completed the survey, nor will they be able to associate your identity with your answers.
What if I can’t log on?
First, make sure that your netid password is valid. For help on this, go to https://passwords.cites.uiuc.edu/index.html or contact the CITES Help Desk at consult@illinois.edu or 217-244-7000. If you still cannot log on, e-mail Mercedes Mane, explain the situation, and be sure to include your netid.
Do I have to answer every question?
You can answer only the questions you choose to. The one required screen is the first one, which informs you that your participation is voluntary and tells you how the information will be used.
Can I take the survey any time?
The survey is available online 24 hours a day. It will open on the morning of January 24, 2011, and close two weeks later at midnight on February 6, 2011. You should respond during that two-week period.