Whereas, September 25 is recognized nationally as National Research Administrator Day, first celebrated in 2015 to honor the work that enables evidence-based decision-making and institutional operations,
Whereas, Cornell’s student experience and wellbeing efforts rely on high-quality survey and assessment data to identify needs, allocate resources, and evaluate whether services are working as intended,
Whereas, SCL units (including Cornell Health and Housing & Residential Life) depend on timely, representative student feedback to improve service delivery and student wellbeing outcomes,
Whereas, survey fatigue, decentralized outreach, and competing academic obligations can lower participation and skew results toward students with greater time and capacity, weakening the equity and usefulness of findings,
Whereas, creating one highly visible annual window for completing essential surveys can reduce noise, coordinate campus messaging, and increase participation across residential communities,
Whereas, the Student Assembly formally recognizes September 25 each academic year as a campus day emphasizing the importance of research, assessment, and evidence-based decision-making, consistent with the national observance of National Research Administrator Day,
Be it therefore resolved, the Student Assembly establishes an annual three-hour “Survey Service Window” on September 25, during which undergraduate students are strongly encouraged (but not required) to complete a curated set of SCL-critical surveys necessary for campus operations and student support,
Be it further resolved, the Survey Service Window shall run from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time on September 25 each year (or the nearest weekday if September 25 falls on a weekend), as coordinated by the Office of the Assemblies in consultation with SCL and Campus Pulse,
Be it further resolved, participation is voluntary and this initiative does not create an academic holiday, mandate class cancellation, or compel instructors to alter course requirements,
Be it further resolved, the Student Assembly requests that Cornell academic units and instructors, where feasible, avoid scheduling prelims, mandatory synchronous quizzes, or major assignment deadlines during the 2:00–5:00 PM window on September, to promote equitable participation,
Be it further resolved, the Student Assembly Campus Pulse Committee shall serve as the central coordinating body for this initiative and will:
1. Convene an annual planning check-in with designated SCL partners (e.g., Cornell Health, Housing & Residential Life, relevant assessment offices) no later than September 1;
2. Publish a unified “Survey Service Window” landing page containing all designated survey links, estimated completion times, and privacy/anonymity notes as applicable; and
3. Provide an annual public-facing report-out to the Student Assembly no later than November 15 summarizing participation indicators (as available, privacy-preserving), lessons learned, and “what changed because of student feedback.”
Be it further resolved, SCL survey owners seeking inclusion in the Survey Service Window must meet the following eligibility criteria:
-Operational necessity: the survey is required to support core SCL functions (health, housing/residential life, wellbeing, student services).
- Feedback loop commitment: the owner commits to publishing a short student-facing summary of results and actions taken (“you said / we did”) within the academic year.
- Data minimization: the curated set should avoid redundancy and prioritize the smallest set of questions needed.
- Time budget: the curated set should be designed so most students can complete all surveys in 30–45 minutes, unless a longer survey is clearly justified and labeled,
Be it further resolved, Campus Pulse, in consultation with SCL partners and in compliance with University policies, shall implement a modest incentives strategy to improve response rates without coercion, which may include:
- A raffle for a set of low-dollar prizes (e.g., Cornell Store gift cards, dining credits, wellness items);
- Residence hall or house-level friendly competitions with small community rewards; and/or
- Non-monetary recognition (e.g., “Survey Service Window Champions” acknowledgment for participating communities),
Be it further resolved, Campus Pulse shall implement equity measures to ensure the Survey Service Window is accessible and representative, including:
- Access points: establishing at least two staffed “Survey Stations” (e.g., one on West Campus and one in/near Collegetown) with laptops/tablets and QR codes during the 2:00–5:00 PM window;
- Outreach: targeted outreach to groups historically underrepresented in survey response (including but not limited to off-campus students, transfer students, international students, first-generation/low-income students, and students with disabilities), using student org partnerships and accessible communications;
- Accessibility: ensuring the landing page and materials follow accessibility best practices and clearly list a contact for alternate formats or troubleshooting; and
- Time equity: encouraging (non-binding) campus partners and residence life staff to offer light-touch reminders and optional facilitated “survey hours” in common spaces,
Be it finally resolved, Campus Pulse shall present a brief annual update to the Student Assembly including:
- Which surveys were included and why (eligibility justification);
- High-level participation indicators provided by survey owners (aggregated and privacy-preserving);
- A summary of incentives used and equity measures implemented; and
- A consolidated “what changed” list from SCL partners within the academic year.
