Student surveys
Collecting your feedback to improve the student experience at UCalgary
We’re listening!
Your feedback helps improve the student experience.
Hearing from students is critical in helping us improve what we do. If we don’t know about an issue, we can’t fix it. We also love hearing what's going well so we can continue with it! We're here to listen, and we act on feedback we receive.
Below are some of the surveys that are used to improve the student experience at UCalgary. We hope you will share your feedback and insights if you receive any of these surveys in the future.
If you want to provide feedback and have not had an opportunity through one of the surveys, you can always email department heads, deans or managers, who welcome the chance to hear from students. If you are not sure who to contact, please use your UCalgary email to contact [email protected].
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspectives.
Institutional surveys
University of Calgary lead: Leslie Reid, Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning)
Frequency: Every three years
Participants: First-year and final-year students in direct-entry undergraduate degree programs
Description: The NSSE survey, launched in 2000 and updated in 2013, assesses the extent to which students engage in educational practices associated with high levels of learning and development. The questionnaire collects information across five categories:
- Participation in dozens of educationally purposeful activities
- Institutional requirements and the challenging nature of coursework
- Perceptions of the college environment
- Estimates of educational and personal growth since starting college
- Background and demographic information
University of Calgary NSSE 2020 results:
University of Calgary lead: Verity Turpin, Vice-Provost (Student Experience)
Frequency: Annually since 2019
Participants: Undergraduate, first-year, middle-year and graduating-year students
Description: Since CUSC’s inception in 1994, universities across Canada have jointly implemented surveys of their undergraduate students to be able to better understand and serve their students. The surveys run once a year in the winter term and operate on a three-year cycle, alternating between first-year students, middle-years students, and graduating-year students. The three surveys contain common questions that allow universities to track changes in student satisfaction and success from their first to their graduating year. Core questions include:
- Use of and satisfaction with various facilities and services
- Experiences with faculty
- Financing education
- Whether the university experience exceeded, met, or fell short of expectations
- Assessment of the overall university experience
Recent results: 2020 CUSC survey of middle-year students (download PDF from CUSC website)
University of Calgary lead: Kevin Wiens, Interim Senior Director, Student Wellness Access and Support
Frequency: Every three years
Participants: A sample from the whole student population
Description: This survey aims to increase understanding of current health behaviours and perceptions of UCalgary students. It helps us identify the top health concerns experienced by students and provides an overview of how the data can be used to inform program/service development and research. Survey topics include general health, mental health, academic impacts, violence, abusive relationships and personal safety, substance use, sexual behavior, nutrition and exercise, disease and injury prevention, and sleep.
Recent results: Publications and Reports: ACHA-NCHA III (Fall 2019 - present)
University of Calgary lead: Robin Yates, Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies
Participants: Open to all graduate students
Frequency: Every three years
Description: CGPSS is a national survey administered by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) that was launched in 2007. Feedback from CGPSS helps UCalgary and individual graduate programs improve educational opportunities and enhance the student experience for current and future students. Key topics addressed by the survey include:
- Overall Student Experience
- Student Success & Well-Being
- Program & Coursework Quality
- Professional Skills
- Research Experience & Dissemination
- Dissertation Advisor/Advisory Committee
Recent results: CGPSS 2019 update
University of Calgary lead: Students' Union
Frequency: Every year
Participants: Open to all UCalgary undergraduate students
Description: The Students’ Union (SU) annual survey assists the SU in identifying key areas of impact and contribution to student satisfaction and engagement at the University of Calgary. The survey helps to inform the SU’s strategic planning, advocacy to university administration and the government, and service provision.
Recent results: 2019 SU annual survey
University of Calgary lead: Graduate Students' Association
Frequency: Every year
Participants: Open to all UCalgary graduate students
Description: The Graduate Students' Association conducts this survey to help ensure that graduate students’ concerns and priorities are voiced and incorporated in the university's plans.
Recent results: Fall 2020 survey
Currently open: 2022 Annual Survey
University of Calgary lead: Verity Turpin, Vice-Provost (Student Experience)
Frequency: Annually (not conducted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
Participants: Students graduating at June convocation
Description: The university conducts this survey to better understand how graduating students feel about their overall education experience and their decision to attend UCalgary.
Frequency: Annually
Participants: Students at a Canadian university
Description: This survey is an opportunity to represent your university and share your experience with future students. The results are used to inform Maclean’s annual University Rankings.