Institutional surveys

Overview

The Office of Institutional Research (OIR) is responsible for the administration, analysis, and reporting of official institutional surveys of admitted students, current students, and graduates. These surveys provide critical information for institutional planning and decision-making. Survey efforts include a combination of nationally normed instruments and institutionally developed surveys, and where possible, involve benchmarking results internally and/or against peer institutions.

OIR follows best practices in survey design, administration, analysis, and reporting. Survey results are used to develop analytic reports, dashboards, and summaries for campus stakeholders. Findings are shared in aggregated form to protect respondent confidentiality while supporting transparency, interpretation, and appropriate use for institutional improvement.

Institutional Surveys Administered by OIR

OIR is directly responsible for administering and reporting on select institutional surveys.

• National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
  Administered to undergraduate first-year students and seniors, NSSE provides insight into students’ campus engagement and learning experiences. The survey was administered during spring quarter every three years beginning in 2017 (2017, 2021, 2024) and transitioned to a biennial administration cycle starting in 2024.

Additional Institutional Surveys

OIR also supports UW Bothell’s use of data from institution‑wide surveys administered by other UW units. While OIR does not administer these surveys directly, the office can help provide context, interpretation, and access to results.

• Six Months‑Out Survey of Alumni (Quarterly)
  Administered by UW Institutional Assessment & Evaluation (IAE) to alumni approximately six months after degree completion. The survey focuses on post‑graduation outcomes and reflections on the student experience.
• University of Washington Campus Climate Survey (Every five years)
  Administered by IAE to students, faculty, and staff across the UW system. Visit the UW Climate Survey webpage for more information.
• Basic Needs Survey (2022 & 2024)
  Administered by IAE across all three UW campuses. The survey measures students’ experiences in regard to basic needs, such as food insecurity, housing insecurity, and healthcare barriers. OIR collaborates on reporting and interpretation of UW Bothell‑specific results.

Survey Development and Consultation

In addition to administering and supporting existing surveys, OIR can collaborate with campus partners to develop, refine, or revise surveys aligned with institutional priorities. This includes consultation on survey design, question development, administration planning, and appropriate analytic approaches.

Contact

To access institutional survey reports or learn more about survey administration and support at UW Bothell, please contact uwbiro@uw.edu.