Survey-in-a-Box: Student Experience of the Major (SEM)

Using Evidence to Plan for Retention
Which aspects of the academic and social climate in your department should you change to retain undergraduate women and men in your major? Which initiatives make the best use of your resources?

Use Survey-in-a-Box: Student Experience of the Major (SEM) to identify conditions that are helpful or harmful for student retention and to plan actions to improve the student experience. The SEM Survey-in-a-Box includes everything you need to prepare for, administer, and act on results of the survey. NCWIT Extension Services offers guidance throughout the process.

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The SEM Survey-in-a-Box includes the components below. You will generally use them in the sequence shown.

SEM Survey At-a-Glance
This informational piece introduces the purpose and benefits of using the SEM Survey-in-a-Box. Distribute this piece to inform others about the survey.

SEM Practical Guide
This step-by-step guide supports the SEM survey process, from introducing the survey to acting on its results.

SEM Survey for Review
Examine the survey questions your students will answer. Share this survey with decision-makers and stakeholders as you seek approval and support. (Your students will see a version customized for your institution.)

SEM Messaging Support
These are four sample letters with suggested text to help you seek administrator support, IRB approval, and robust student participation. Presented in Microsoft Word format, copy and paste what you need as you communicate with stakeholders and student participants.

Script for In-Class Administration
The survey is available to students on the Web, but can be administered in class in paper form as well. Use this script to ensure uniform procedures when administering in class.

SEM Sample Results Presentation
Once your students have completed the survey, NCWIT Extension Services will supply a summary analysis of your data in a PowerPoint® presentation. This sample shows how results can be presented, and guides the action -planning process.

SEM Research Rationale
Research on the under-representation of women in information technology guided the formulation of this Survey-in-a-Box. Read the research rationale to understand these issues and find out more.

Supplementary IRB Support
In the case that your Institutional Research Board (IRB) wants you to submit a complete request or wants more information before you conduct the survey, we provide three resources for your use: an overview of the IRB process, advice for using incentives with students, and a sample application with the survey project description and other essential information.

Survey-in-a-Box: Student Experience of the Major was produced thanks to contributions from the following people and organizations: Lecia Barker, Senior NCWIT Research Scientist; Suzanne Schaefer, Ada Byron Research Center, University of California at Irvine; Assessing Women and Men in Engineering (AWE); and Jane Krauss, Education Consultant.

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