How Can the IAA Help Me?
Surveys

The Institute for Academic Alliances (IAA) provides services in many different areas including, but not limited to: consortia and project management; inter-institutional curriculum; policies; procedures and agreement development; and proposal development.

IAA clients most often utilize our online survey services. There are many reasons for conducting surveys. They are a means of gathering information to assist collaborative institutional partners in making decisions. Surveys often help institutions understand their own inner workings and those of other institutions. Dissemination of the survey results can increase inter-institutional meeting efficiency. They can identify deficits and best practices among partner institutions. Additionally, they may provide institutions with a desire to change by comparing programs, policies and procedures with other institutions.

The IAA survey process is outlined as follows:

1. Exploration of Client Needs. This is a highly interactive process. IAA staff discuss the client’s goals and objectives with them and brainstorm about the best ways to collect information to meet their needs.
2. Proposal Preparation. IAA staff prepare a proposal for client review. The proposal is revised until an agreement is reached that is acceptable to both parties.
3. Survey Development. IAA staff transform the results of the brainstorming session with the client into an online survey instrument utilizing the K-State Survey System. The client reviews the draft survey and changes are made until the survey meets the client’s approval. A pilot survey may be conducted if time permits to ensure that questions are not misinterpreted.
4. Human Subjects Approval. IAA staff advise clients as to whether Human Subjects Approval is necessary. If necessary, the IAA staff prepare approval forms and submit them to the Institutional Review Board at Kansas State University.
5. Survey Distribution. There are a variety of ways to distribute an online survey. IAA staff work with the client to identify the best method.
6. Technical Assistance. IAA staff provide prompt assistance to any survey respondents who have difficulty accessing the online survey.
7. Analysis. Appropriate analyses are conducted to meet the client’s informational needs. The analysis includes appropriate statistics, charts, and tables.
8. Presentation. The survey results are provided in a written report. If desired, IAA staff can present the results at a meeting or conference.
9. Utilization of Survey Results. IAA staff are available to advise and assist clients in the next steps to achieve their goals and objectives.

The purpose of surveys developed by the IAA can be divided into several categories:
- Program Identification
- Institutional Interests
- Market Demand
- Partner Identification
- Program Content
- Institutional Policies and Practices

Consortia that are ready to implement a multi-institution program find the Institutional Policies and Practices Survey to be very beneficial in identifying issues that need to be resolved in order to be successful.

Sometimes surveys are designed to meet multiple purposes, such as the survey of Kansas’s high school principals regarding distance-delivered Spanish language courses. The purpose of this survey was to assess what foreign language instruction is currently offered in Kansas high schools, what needs currently exist, and what needs are anticipated within the next five years. The complete report, including the outcomes of the survey, can be found here.

For more information about surveys or other services the IAA provides, please visit our website (www.k-state.edu/iaa) or contact Dawn Anderson at 785-532-1552 or dpeters@k-state.edu

Examples of surveys can be found here: Identify Program Needs, Program Content and Market Demand, and Institutional Policies and Practices.