New Findings from the Representative Survey Platform

The Representative Survey Platform: An Overview  

In January 2023, WUSA launched the Representative Survey Platform (RSP) whereby a group of undergraduate students are randomly selected to answer two surveys each term. The main goal of this program is to have quality data readily available to advocate and make impactful decisions for the students we represent. So far, we have completed surveys on affordability, advocacy and engagement, physical health and wellness and student connectedness. We provided an update on these survey results in October 2023 and have now completed two new reports since then. 

Student Safety and Mental Health Survey 

Survey Date: October 16 to 27, 2023 

Responses: 606 students (65% response rate)  

Sometimes, the relationship between an RSP Survey and student concerns evolves in a way we never could have predicted. Although we planned to create a survey on safety in the Fall 2023 term, the hate-motivated attack related to gender expression and identity that occurred on campus in June 2023 shifted our approach. We were able to develop the survey in a way that allowed us to breakdown certain questions by different identity characteristics and thus understand the nuanced experience of safety for different students.  

A few key findings:  

• In general, 71% of respondents indicated they feel safe and secure on campus, followed by 17% who said very safe 

• However, racialized students, students with disabilities, and students grouped as gender non-conforming experience heightened concerns for their safety on campus compared to the general population 

• 41% of racialized students agree that UW prioritizes their safety vs. 51% of non-racialized students 

• 33% of students with a disability agree that UW prioritizes their safety vs. 47% of students with no disability 

• 10% of students grouped as gender non-conforming felt very safe on campus vs. 24% of cisgender men who felt very safe on campus 

• Safety concerns at night are more pressing than during the day, with 16% of students feeling unsafe at night compared to only 1% during the day   

• Theft (52% of students) and verbal harassment (31%) were top safety concerns for students  

• Bus stops/parking lots (44% of students) and walking paths (43%) were top areas of concern 

• Most students (81%) said that concerns about safety did not negatively impact their mental health. So while the entire population experienced relatively low negative impacts (19%), the negative impact is higher for students with disabilities (42%), those grouped as gender non-conforming (45%), international students (38%) and racialized students (21%).  

The results from this survey have been crucial to informing our conversations with the University in the wake of the attack on campus. We have also shared the report with various stakeholders to help continue the dialogue about student safety on campus and work on the recommendations outlined in the report. Read the full report on the Research and Consultation page. 

Student Academic Success Survey 

Survey Date: November 13 to 24, 2023 

Responses: 614 students (66% response rate)  

Not only can surveys be proactive, but they can also be reactive to issues and concerns brought forward by students. When it comes to academic success, we had been hearing from students, especially since COVID-19, that they were struggling to keep up with their academic responsibilities. So, we wanted to develop a survey that would help us understand exactly where students are struggling and what supports they need to improve their academic experience at UW.  

A few key findings:  

• Most students either strongly agreed (58%) or agreed (36%) that achieving academic success was important to them 

• Most students are either very satisfied (18%) or satisfied (50%) with the level of academic success they have achieved 

• First-year students are the least satisfied, with 8% selecting very satisfied and 46% selecting satisfied  

• Fourth-year students are the most satisfied, with 27% selecting very satisfied and 54% selecting satisfied  

• The tools and strategies that students found most helpful in achieving academic success were:  

• Attending class regularly (76%) 

• Completing practice question sets (64%) 

• Studying alone (64%) 

• Taking notes in class (50%) 

• 48% of students either strongly agreed or agreed that they rely on used and/or reduced cost textbooks to support their academic success 

• The aspects of courses that students struggle with the most were:  

• Keeping up with readings/assignments workload (67%) 

• Studying for tests and exams (59%) 

• Balancing assignment deadlines (51%) 

• Good exam prep strategies (47%) 

Our next steps will be to work with campus partners to address recommendations and work specifically within WUSA to enhance awareness among students about the importance of work-life balance when it comes to their academic success. Read the full report on the Research and Consultation page on wusa.ca.