Survey FAQs

Effective Spring 2023, Baylor has instituted a new Survey Policy.

Baylor faculty, staff, and students are frequently asked to participate in surveys administered by parties ranging from outside agencies to internal population surveys from administration, faculty conducting research, and students running opinion polls. The Office of Institutional Research maintains the approval process for surveys of Baylor faculty, staff, and students, in order to ensure that surveys are conducted effectively and within the guidelines of the University.

The Office of Institutional Research does not assist with the administration of surveys for academic research.  Faculty, staff, or students conducting academic research may contact the Office of Research Compliance.  The Department of Statistics also offers consultation services for those who need assistance with data analysis for academic research.

See the Survey Policies and Procedures page for more information.

Departments requesting to conduct a survey to be administered to Baylor faculty, staff, or 100 or more students should complete and submit a Survey Request form, attaching a copy of the survey items if available. All surveys on topics identified within the survey policy should be submitted for approval. This includes surveys administered by departments as well as those that will be administered through the Office of Institutional Research. Survey requests must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the proposed start date of the survey.

See the Survey Request Form page for more information.

Use the following timeline as a guide when considering the administration of a survey.  Keep in mind that all surveys must be completed before the start of finals; no surveys are permitted during finals.

Survey requests must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the proposed start date of the survey.

The University's regularly scheduled student surveys include a survey to entering undergraduates (New2BU), a faith and character survey (new students and seniors), a survey of enrolled undergraduates (3-year rotating cycle), a senior survey (3-year rotating cycle), an exit survey to graduate students, a campus diversity climate survey (3-year rotating cycle), and a social climate survey (3-year rotating cycle).

See the Survey Calendar page for current survey dates.

The Office of Institutional Research regards the confidentiality of survey data to be of utmost importance. See the Survey Anonymity and Confidentiality page for more information.

The Office of Institutional Research produces reports from campus-wide surveys.  See the Survey Results page for more information.

• Resources for writing survey questions and survey design methods
• Question-type flow-chart
• Tips for writing effective survey invitation emails