Toolkit Instructions

NSSE Communications Toolkit: Instructions for Use

Available online at: http://nsse.info.yorku.ca/nsse-toolkit/

This document, along with the talking with students and the Faculty templates, form a unit.

In order to get the highest participation rates possible on the 2014 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) at York, we need every faculty member and administrator to encourage first- and final-year students in four-year undergraduate programs, other than law and education, to take the survey. Having a faculty or staff member outline the value of NSSE for York could help students see that the survey is worth completing.

To give you the information and resources needed to effectively promote participation in the survey, we’ve created this Communications Toolkit. Designed to support conversation between peers as well as between faculty/staff and student groups, the Toolkit also sets out UNacceptable promotional practices as per the NSSE Institute regulations.

 

Toolkit elements

Letter from the Vice-President Academic & Provost

Rhonda Lenton explains why NSSE is important and why the support of faculty members and administrators is critical to increasing York’s participation rate.

Talking with Students: The DOs and DON’Ts of promoting NSSE

There are strict rules governing what can and CANNOT be done to promote the survey. This document spells those out for you. Also includes talking points – the key messages to share with students, staff and faculty members. It’s what you’d use as an “elevator pitch”, to include in speeches where NSSE is one of many topics, or when there isn’t enough time for the full PowerPoint presentation.

PowerPoint presentation

To support presentations to staff, faculty and students. Contains top level background information, strategic planning, contest details and how York will use the data.

Promotional templates for Faculties

Templates that each Faculty can use, and customize as needed, to promote NSSE participation with their respective students, professors and staff via Twitter, Facebook, websites and newsletters.

FAQs

Everything you need to know about NSSE, its importance for York and how we’re going to use the results.

Easel-back sign

These 11” x 17” posters, promoting participation in the survey, are intended for posting in highly visible, high student-traffic areas, such as service-area desks. Available for print out, as an 8.5x11” poster, at: http://nsse.info.yorku.ca/nsse-toolkit/.

Postcards: 250 included in this Toolkit

Easily-portable promotional tools intended for distribution via high student-traffic areas, such as advising centres and libraries. You can order more at http://nsse.info.yorku.ca/2013/12/09/order-form/.

 

Fast facts

NSSE survey period at York begins: February 11, 2014.

NSSE survey period at York ends: March 31, 2014

Eligible participants: All students in the first and final years of four-year undergraduate degree programs, except law and education.

Length of time to complete the survey: 20-30 minutes

 

What is being done centrally at York to increase participation rates

  • Comprehensive print and electronic communications campaign
  • Involving the community: A planning committee of 15 members, which includes representatives from Faculties, central administration and the York Federation of Students
  • Video: A video promoting participation in NSSE is being created to play on all LCDs
  • Inter-Faculty competition for the highest response rate
  • Incentives for students to participate
  • Promotion at student events
  • Communications Toolkit to help campus leaders provide a consistent message.
  • Social and other electronic media (blogs, screensavers, Student Portal, Moodle)
  • Outreach to student groups and faculty members to help encourage participation.
  • NSSE postcards will be available at key student service points.
  • Centralized website to house NSSE information: yorku.ca/nsse
  • Web presence on appropriate and high-traffic student web pages
  • Features on YULink and in YFile

 

For more information visit yorku.ca/nsse

If you have any additional questions, suggestions or concerns, please contact one of the following NSSE steering committee members:

·   Richard Smith, richard.smith@yorku.ca

·   Clara Wong, cmwong@yorku.ca

·   Donna Cope, dcope@yorku.ca