Voicing your Dalhousie experience

A new recreation facility in the planning stages. Late-night study times at the libraries near the end of term. New investment in career and co-op resources. A Dalhousie co-curricular transcript presently in development.

All of these changes were inspired by students sharing what they wanted to see improved in Dalhousie’s student services. And now it’s time to speak up again—and potentially win some prizes, including bookstore gift cards and an Apple iPad.

During the week of March 7, all Dal students will receive one of two surveys in their inbox. A random selection of 3,500 undergrads will get an invitation to take part in this year’s survey from the Canadian Undergraduate Survey Consortium, or CUSC, focusing on the overall student experience. Everyone else will receive a Dalhousie recreation survey specifically focused on campus fitness, athletics and wellness offerings.

Understanding what students need, want and expect

In contrast to the National Survey for Student Engagement—sent out to a selection of students in February—CUSC only briefly touches on the classroom. Instead, it’s focused more broadly on campus life, letting students chime in on their impressions of life at Dalhousie and what they’d like to see improved.

“These surveys are about more than just listening to students—they’re about inspiring real change on campus,” explains Bonnie Neuman, Dalhousie’s vice-president of Student Services. “What we learn is directly applied to our programs and services to help students build the best possible Dalhousie experience.”

She points the most recent edition of the Student Services Annual Report, which includes CUSC results alongside highlighting major milestones in building a more vibrant campus life at Dalhousie. She works closely with the various units reporting to her office to place survey results front and centre when considering new opportunities for students.

“They provide us with benchmarks for success: what students need, want and expect from their university.”

Improving fitness and recreation on campus

For example, in recent years, the need for better campus recreation and fitness facilities has been a common theme in Dalhousie’s CUSC results. With the new recreation facility presently set to open in 2015—supported by a new student fee that comes into effect when it’s completed—the university is also taking this opportunity to launch the largest survey on campus recreation in five years, sent to all students not receiving the CUSC survey.

“A whole generation of students have come and gone since the last survey, and with the new facility on the horizon, it’s important that we cast a wide net and hear from as many students as possible on what they expect from campus recreation,” explains Shawn Fraser, senior manager of programs with Athletics & Recreation at Dalhousie.

“But it’s not just about consulting on what students want in the new facility: we want to hear about what we can improve right now in our service offerings, recreational programs, club sports, and more.”

Each survey should take no more than 15 to 20 minutes to complete, and all students who fill out either survey will have the chance to win one of eight bookstore gift cards valued at $250 or an Apple iPad.