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Systematic Survey Cycle

Villanova’s Systematic Survey Cycle is a process in which key constituent groups are surveyed on a routine basis to provide data for university-wide strategic planning, accreditation, and assessment.

Key constituent groups include Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, All Students, Faculty, All Employees, Alumni, and Parents. Surveys for each constituent group are conducted annually or on a three to six year cycle. While there is a core, unchanging component for these surveys to allow for analysis of trends, other portions of the surveys may differ over the course of the cycle to gather comprehensive information while minimizing the number of questions for survey respondents in a given year.

Surveys that are a part of the Systematic Survey Cycle are summarized below:

Undergraduate Students

  • Entering Student Survey – Provides an understanding of incoming students including characteristics, self-assessment of skills, activities and community service prior to college, reasons for selecting Villanova, and aspirations. These data also form a baseline from which to conduct longitudinal studies of a cohort during the first year and as graduating seniors. Administered annually since 1996 during New Student Orientation in the Fall semester.
  • First Year Experience Survey – Provides a comprehensive assessment of students’ first year experiences in all aspects of college life. Administered every three years since 2007 during ACS courses in the Spring semester.
  • Senior Survey – Captures graduating seniors' assessments of the extent to which skills have been enhanced as a result of their Villanova experiences. This survey also captures student involvement in academics and campus life, satisfaction with the Villanova experience, and future aspirations. Administered annually since 1994 towards the end of the Spring semester.
  • Undergraduate Learning Outcomes Assessment Survey – Assesses Sophomore and Junior student achievement of University Learning Goals in undergraduate programs. First administered Spring of 2022.

Graduate Students

  • Graduate Learning Outcomes Assessment Survey – Assesses student achievement of University Learning Goals in graduate and professional education programs. First administered Fall of 2019.
  • Enrolled Student Surveys by College/School – Captures feedback related to satisfaction with overall experience and academic offerings. Currently administered for CLAS, Law School, and Engineering.

All Students

  • Climate Survey on Sexual Violence – Provides the university with a clearer understanding of the scope and nature of sexual violence within our community. Administered every three years since 2015 during the Fall semester.
  • Climate Survey on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Provides the university with information related to how well we are doing in promoting and supporting our community's commitment to connections across our different genders, races, cultures, abilities, faiths, beliefs, and orientations. Administered every three years since 2016 during the Fall semester.
  • Climate Survey on Student Health and Well-being – Helps the university understand students’ health-related behaviors as well as their perceptions and utilization of University health and well-being resources and services. First administered in Spring 2021.

Faculty

  • HERI Faculty Survey – Provides the university with a comprehensive, research-based picture of key aspects of the full-time faculty experience. Administered every three years since 2004 during the Spring semester.

All Employees

  • Community Climate Survey – Provides university leaders a better understanding of how Villanova is doing related to communications, job satisfaction, decision making, leadership, diversity, and other areas. Administered every five to six years since 1994 during the Fall semester.
  • Climate Survey on Employee Health and Well-being – Helps the university understand employees’ health-related behaviors as well as their awareness of health and well-being resources and services. First administered in Fall of 2021.

Summary reports of all survey respondents are available to administrators and program directors within the University. Surveys with high response rates enable analysis and reporting of data by college or academic department. These reports are shared with the respective leadership only.

If you have any questions, please contact Kathleen Nazar, Director, Survey Research and Evaluation