After low response rate, some UA members question student-priorities survey

The Undergraduate Assembly made it a priority this spring to find out what students want by polling students with the Survey of Undergraduate Priorities. However, only a small percentage of undergraduates actually responded, leaving some UA members to question the findings.

When the UA's former vice chairman of executive affairs and College junior Zac Byer presented the results of the survey at the final UA meeting of the semester on April 5, however, he explained that the survey intended to help connect the UA and its work with the student body.

"I think I can speak on behalf of Wilson [Tong, Wharton and College senior and former UA chairman] and say that outreach of [this kind] - to actually reach out and solicit forms both quantitatively and qualitatively - was something never done before," said Byer.

Covering everything from academics and sector requirement revisions to working with libraries and financial aid, the survey covered a broad spectrum of issues.

At the UA meeting, however, a number of members expressed concern with the small percentage of respondents - and with the fact that those students who did read and respond to the UA survey request may have different priorities than those who simply deleted the original e-mail.

Additionally, others pointed to the large number of both UA and non-UA related surveys students receive on a regular basis.

At this past Sunday's election session, newly elected vice chairman of external affairs and College sophomore Matt Amalfitano acknowledged the general perception that the student body is over surveyed. "We don't need to spam people in the general public," he said.

However, Byer said he sees the survey as an important step forward in connecting with students and is concerned that the newly elected executive board may not be as supportive of the project as previous UA leaders.

He pointed to the potential for facilitated dialogue between students and UA members, especially on important topics such as financial aid.

Byer views the survey as a way to directly tap into student concerns that may not yet be on the UA's agenda.

"One of the things the UA hasn't really been involved in but is certainly interested in is financial aid," he said, noting that the UA has the potential to directly help students who may find the financial-aid application process daunting.

One such project he proposed during his candidacy for UA chairman was the creation of a "financial aid czar," who would act as liaison between students, student government and administration for financial-aid issues.

And while some UA members have expressed reservation about the low numbers of responses to the survey, Byer was confident in the survey's utility.

"That we could get almost 7 percent of the student body ... to respond is something that cannot be ignored," he said, comparing the success of the Undergraduate Priorities survey to past UA surveys. "It pushed the UA forward."

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