Any survey that meets one of the following conditions should undergo the IUPUI Survey Committee review process:
- Surveys that request a random sample of IUPUI students, faculty, or staff.
- Surveys that will generalize to the broader IUPUI population of students, faculty, or staff.
- Surveys that target specific subpopulations such as enrollment status, gender, ethnicity, etc.
- Surveys used for institutional measures and improvement.
Small scale or focused intent surveys, such as academic faculty research surveys, assigned course work, focus groups, participants' event evaluations, or point-of-service surveys targeting specific users that do not meet one of the above conditions are not subject to this process or the survey approval form.
If you have questions about whether your survey needs IUPUI Survey Committee approval, please contact Robbie Janik at 317-278-0640 or rjanikii@iupui.edu.
Survey Approval Timeline
For fall administration: July 1
For spring administration: November 1
For summer administration: March 1
Decisions are made within a month of the submission deadline. For late submissions or special cases, decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. While it is always our goal to assist with the collection of data through surveys, late submissions may require revision to the instrument, requested population/sample, or administration timeline.
We understand that some survey topics are focused on urgent issues and need to be expedited. We will take this under consideration if you are not able to meet the deadlines. Please try to meet deadlines for less urgent and time sensitive topics.
The following describes the process by which the IUPUI Survey Committee coordinates all surveys that target the IUPUI student, faculty, and staff populations.
The IUPUI survey approval process is outlined below:
- Survey Approval Form
The Survey Approval Form should be submitted to the IUPUI Survey Committee by the appropriate deadlines.
- Review existing survey results to determine redundancies or enhance existing knowledge
IRDS, in collaboration with the IUPUI Survey Committee, will maintain a list of all known surveys for inclusion on the University Survey Calendar. We can help review those surveys with you to ensure that your survey does not duplicate any existing surveys.
- Sample and Administration Time Frame
The IUPUI Survey Committee will assess the request and contact you if further actions are necessary. When approved, the survey will be added to the University Survey Calendar, a sample population for the survey (if needed) will be arranged by IRDS, and the administration/email dates will be provided. We are coordinating contact (email) dates so that participants do not receive more than one request per day and are not asked to complete more than two surveys per semester, when possible. Prior to sending the sample population for your survey, IRDS will require the final draft of the questionnaire and communication about the survey for review.
- Data and Results
All submitters are encouraged to provide a summary of how the results were used for campus improvement or provide articles, reports, etc. that show that the data were used in some fashion. The data and results will be shared on the approved Campus Survey page.
- After Survey Implementation
Once the survey has been administered, the IUPUI Survey Committee will request follow-up information on response rates, uses/reports, etc.
The IUPUI survey approval requirements are outlined below:
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Compliance
Researchers are required to take the FERPA tutorial before accessing student information. It is your responsibility to ensure FERPA compliance. For more information about FERPA visit the Office of Research and Compliance page on FERPA Policies & Guidance.
- IRB Approval
Ensure that you are aware of the IRB requirements for studies involving human subjects. It is not the responsibility of the IUPUI Survey Committee to confirm that IRB approval has been obtained. For more information about IRB approval at IUPUI, visit the Office of Research Compliance.
To have the committee review a request, please fill out the Survey Approval Form. For more information, visit the FAQ page. For questions about the review process or whether your survey needs IUPUI Survey Committee review, please contact Robbie Janik at 317-278-0640 or rjanikii@iupui.edu.