The Temple University Survey Coordinating Committee (TUSCC) aims to ensure that surveys are administered to members of the university community in a fair, timely, clear and efficient manner so as to maximize the usefulness of the information collected. TUSCC employs standards, criteria, and procedures with the intent to:

• provide guidance on best practices for survey design and administration,
• promote strong participation and response rates by monitoring the number and timing of survey administrations, particularly to a defined population,
• ensure that administrations do not occur during critical points of the academic year including, opening weeks of the semester, study days, exam periods, and the administration period for end of semester course evaluations (Student Feedback Form, SFF) ,
• protect student and employee populations from unsolicited survey requests,
• reduce redundancy across surveys and when possible refer individuals to already publically available information,
• track the level of survey research imposed on various university constituencies,
• ensure that survey objectives and items align with the university’s or administering unit’s mission, goals and values,
• encourage the communication and use of survey results within the Temple community and that information is used for continuous improvement.

Do you really need to conduct a survey? The Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (IRA) at Temple University frequently administers university-wide surveys to the student body each academic year. The data collected evaluates students’ collegiate experience, informs planning, and decision-making, assessment of student learning, and aspects of institutional effectiveness. In addition to these large surveys, the Temple community (students, faculty, and staff) also receive survey requests from schools/colleges, administrative departments, and students fulfilling internship and coursework requirements. Every survey request received by a Temple community member, may increase survey fatigue and decrease participation rates, which diminishes the power of all survey results. In order to ensure adequate response rates for all surveys, please consider the following questions:

• Is there another way you can gather the information you need? For example, can you collect the information you are seeking through focus groups, interviews, or in an observational setting? Are the data available in Banner, Canvas, institutional reports, or other existing data sources?
• Has the information you are seeking already been collected through a previous survey?
• Can the information you are seeking be collected at another location other than Temple?

If you answered NO to every question above, a survey might be the way to go. Your next step may be to submit a survey application to be reviewed by the TUSCC

When administering surveys at the University, you will need to get the necessary approval. Please note this approval process is separate from IRB approval. The following surveys require review by the TUSCC:

• Surveys that would be administered to students in more than one school or college.
• Surveys that cross college boundaries (e.g., a study of science education programs that crosses College of Liberal Arts and College of Science and Technology).
• Surveys that would be administered to employees in more than one department or division.
• Requests from external (non-Temple) parties to survey Temple students, faculty, and/or staff.
• Surveys that are referred to the TUSCC by IRB.
• Surveys for which directory information is needed from IRA, HR, Faculty Affairs, ITS, etc.

Note: Except under rare circumstances, survey research requests from students will not be approved. An exception may be made if the research meets the relevant good practices requirements and is approved by the TUSCC, and the survey is approved by the student's Dean and is sent out under the Dean's auspices.

The following surveys require review by the school/college or administrative unit:

• Surveys focused on a small, defined population (for example, a survey of the members of a particular course) with which the survey sponsor has an academic relationship.
• If a survey is administered within one school/college. The survey sponsor must adhere to the school/college’s survey guidelines.
• Surveys that are distributed in public places (and don’t utilize directory information in their method of distribution).

Note: While these surveys do not require review by the TUSCC, we are available to consult on survey design and administration best practices. We recommend you consult with the survey calendar to assure that your survey does not overlap with another major survey initiative.

Additional requirements for all survey administration:

• The sponsor of any survey must have the support or approval of relevant senior administrators.
• Student sponsored surveys:
  • Should always be under the auspices of a faculty or staff advisor/mentor. The faculty or staff advisor/mentor must have the approval of the relevant department chair and school/college dean.
  • Surveys sponsored by a registered/recognized student organization or activity, the process should be under the auspices of a faculty/staff advisor and must have the approval of the Vice-President for Student Affairs.
• Surveys sponsored by faculty must have the approval of the relevant department chair and school/college dean.
• Surveys sponsored by administrative departments must have the approval of the director of the department and the vice president of the area.
• Surveys sponsored by external (non-Temple) parties must be under the auspices of an office/department at Temple.
• Depending on the intended respondents, the survey will also need appropriate approval the following university leadership.
  • Surveys of Undergraduate Students: Senior Vice President for Undergraduate Studies, Dean of Students (and Deans, as appropriate)
  • Surveys of Graduate Students: Dean of the Graduate School (and Deans, as appropriate)
  • Surveys of Faculty: Vice Provost for Faculty, Associate Vice President for Human Resources Associate o Surveys of Staff: Associate Vice President for Human Resources

If an office, department, or individual is interested in administering a survey to a large group or sample from the Temple community, the survey representative must first complete an application, specifying the purpose, design, and timeframe of the proposed survey. Click here to begin the survey application.

Click here to view a sample of the survey application.