University Senate                                                                                     

Proposed: April 4, 2014

Adopted: April 4, 2014 without dissent but with 3 abstentions

RESOLUTION TO FUND AND INSTITUTIONALIZE
A UNIVERSITY-WIDE STUDENT QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY

WHEREAS, the Student Affairs Committee designed, funded, executed, and analyzed Columbia’s first University-wide student quality of life survey over the course of 2012-2014; and

WHEREAS, the Student Affairs Committee partnered closely with researchers from the Behavioral Research Lab at Columbia Business School, the Board of Trustees, the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, fellow Senate committees, the Department of Statistics, school deans, student organizations, and many other members of the Columbia community in this University-wide effort; and

WHEREAS, Columbia University and its affiliate institutions have found significant value in the quality of life survey’s unique breadth of data and its accompanying analysis; and

WHEREAS, the quality of life survey can inform decision-making at multiple institutional levels and would enable longitudinal tracking of trends as well as qualitative sentiments; and

WHEREAS, Columbia University and its affiliate institutions recognize that a sustainable quality of life survey requires institutional resources including but not limited to financial, technical, and logistical support;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Columbia University institutionalize a University-wide student quality of life survey that, from 2015 onward, will be directly sent to the student body every two academic years in partnership with the Student Affairs Committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:

• The survey dataset and accompanying institutional analysis will be as open to the Columbia community as possible within the limitations of institutional review board (IRB) guidelines; and
• The Student Affairs Committee determine final survey questions after consulting with institutional partners; and
• The Student Affairs Committee have unconditional access to the survey’s raw data and analysis conducted by units of the University; and
• Columbia provide the resources necessary to administer the survey, including support for dataset cleaning, dataset analysis, and incentivizing responses.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the resolution be forwarded to the Trustees of Columbia University for their approval.

Proponents:
Student Affairs Committee