The Office of Planning and Institutional Research

Surveys

UBC is committed to improving educational outcomes for our students. One important method for gathering data on educational outcomes is through surveys. Through the use of surveys we can learn a great deal about the experiences of our students which would be impossible to learn in any other way. Years of research have shown that students' responses to surveys can provide reliable, honest, and meaningful information.

Surveys can help us move towards the goal of improving outcomes. How? First, valid and credible empirical measures are essential to set priorities, trigger change, and identify problems. Second, they set a baseline for determining whether we are making progress in enhancing teaching and learning at UBC. Third, the results are many-faceted, and analysis of the data can provide insight into very specific issues of teaching and learning at a local level. Surveys help us to determine what works and what does not work in enhancing engagement and learning.

Finally such surveys represent a strong desire on the part of faculty and administration to communicate with our students on a very large scale about the most important aspects of their academic lives. Surveys represent the only viable and scientific means for dialogue and communication with large groups of students, and for comparing those students with students at other universities.

Use the links above (under "SURVEYS") to access UBC Survey reports.