University Constituent Surveys
University Constituent Surveys evaluate the experiences of the university's core constituents: students, staff, and faculty. Data collected in these surveys help the university identify areas of strength and consideration that inform strategic planning and action.
In response to the Provost's commitment to survey the core constituents at least every three years, AIRE developed a new Campus Constituent Survey Process in 2022. In 2026, AIRE expanded this process to include constituents at the KU Medical Center as part of One KU and rebranded it as the University Constituent Survey Process.
Broadly, the process steers each survey through planning, administration, analysis, engagement, and the creation of actionable recommendations, while keeping campus informed throughout. AIRE oversees the planning and implementation of the survey lifecycle, working in partnership with the Survey Sponsors. The Survey Sponsors and an advisory committee lead the evaluation and assessment activities to make evidence-based recommendations for continuous improvement.
Campus Constituent Surveys have been a key process for assessing the success of Jayhawks Rising, the strategic plan for the Lawrence and Edwards campuses. University Constituent Surveys will continue to be a key assessment process for assessing the success of university-level strategic planning.
If you need the University Constituent Survey Process document in another format, please contact AIRE-help@ku.edu
University Constituent Survey Calendar
This calendar is for University Constituent Surveys administered 2022 and later. The specific survey conducted is subject to change. Each audience will be surveyed every 3 years.
If you are looking for a record of surveys administered to broad campus constituents prior to 2022, including regular surveys related to climate, sexual harassment, sexual assault and misconduct, please consult the Surveys Archive. The Archive also includes a selection of other broad surveys conducted on campus since 2010.
| Audience | Current Survey | Last Administration | Next Administration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty | COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey | Spring 2022 | Spring 2025 (Postponed) Spring 2028 |
Staff & Faculty *includes graduate student employees | Great Colleges to Work For *In 2026, the survey will only be administered to KU staff. | *Docking Institute Staff Survey administered in Spring 2022 (only includes USS and UPS employees) | Spring 2026 Spring 2029 |
| First-year Freshmen & Senior Students | National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) |
| Spring 2027 |
| Graduate Students | Graduate Student Experience Survey (GSES) *Replaced GSSS | Spring 2024 | Spring 2027 |
About the University Constituent Surveys by group
The COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey. This is a national survey administered by the Harvard Graduate School of Education that assesses faculty views on a wide range of aspects related to academic life at their institution. With over 300 participating institutions, KU receives results for our institution as well as comparative benchmarking data that helps us identify strengths and areas of concern to inform the development of programs and policies that support faculty in building rewarding careers. Learn more about COACHE or refer to the COACHE FAQs
KU last administered the COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey in 2022. KU had planned to administer the survey in 2025 in 2025 and 2028.
In 2025, Faculty Senate, United Academics of KU, and KU Leadership have agreed to delay the next iteration of the COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey, which otherwise would have been delivered during the negotiations of our initial collective bargaining agreement. All parties are committed to shared governance and are working together to address concerns raised in the prior survey as we strengthen KU for our faculty, staff, and students.
KU also administered the COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey in 2005, 2008 and 2011.
The Graduate Student Experience Survey aims to capture information on the graduate student experience across many facets of graduate education, training, and academic development.
KU last administered the GSES in 2024. KU will survey graduate students in 2027.
In previous years, graduate students completed the Graduate Student Satisfaction Survey or GSSS; this was administered in 2020, 2016, 2013, and 2009.
In 2023, KU surveyed graduate student employees via an internal 3Gs survey.
In 2026 and 2029, KU will administer Great Colleges to Work For survey. In 2025, Faculty Senate, United Academics of KU, and KU Leadership have agreed to not survey faculty as part of the survey, which otherwise would have been delivered during the negotiations of an initial collective bargaining agreement.
For the most recent staff survey, see the results from the Docking Institute Employee Satisfaction Survey 2022. The Docking Institute Employee Satisfaction Survey provides comparative data for the six Regents Universities in Kansas - Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, University of Kansas, and Wichita State University. The survey focuses on topics related to employee satisfaction.
.
KU has surveyed undergraduate students (first-year Freshmen and Seniors) via the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) every three years since 2001. The only exception was in 2016, when all undergraduate students were surveyed via the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) survey.
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is a national survey administered by the Center for Postsecondary Research within Indiana University’s School of Education. The survey annually collects information at hundreds of four-year colleges and universities about first-year and senior students' participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development. The results provide an estimate of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college. NSSE provides participating institutions with a variety of reports that compare their students' responses with those of students at self-selected groups of comparison institutions. Comparisons are available for ten Engagement Indicators, six High-Impact Practices, and all individual survey questions. Learn more about NSSE.
KU administered NSSE in 2024 and will do so again in 2027.