Microsurveys - Brief Surveys to Gather Insights

Question: Do you have any suggestions for internship resources or tips that you’ve found useful?

Responses: Yes; No

• • If Yes → Please share your suggestions or tips.

Approach:The exported responses were gathered into a customized resource, which University of Delaware made available to all program participants on the Participant Dashboard.

Question: Do you have any suggestions for enhancing mentor-mentee interactions in future programs?

Responses: Yes; No

• • If Yes → What resources/support would be helpful to add to the program in the future?

Approach: Suggestions were turned into customized resources, which San Jacinto College made available to all program participants on the Participant Dashboard. These resources included referrals to on-campus offices.

Question: Do you have any feedback to share about the UM Dearborn Grad Mentor Collective program experience?

Responses: Yes; Not at this time

• • If Yes → What feedback would you like to share?

Approach:

This feedback enabled the graduate mentorship program at the University of Maryland to gather valuable insights into the student experience.

Question: What time(s) would you be most likely to attend a UCI Next Gen Pathways event?

Responses:

• • Morning (9-12pm)
  • Afternoon (12-4pm)
  • Evening (4-8pm)

Approach: University of California-Irvine used this as a way to gauge student interest and availability for in-person events, so their administrative team could strategically use their resources for when most students are available to attend.

Question: Would you be interested in an in-person event with the Lehigh mentorship program?

Responses: Yes; No

Approach: Lehigh University used microsurveys to poll students on their desires for on-campus participation. They have not previously held many/any in-person events for their mentorship program, but wondered if that should change for the following year.

Question: How would you like to connect with other mentors/mentees in the program?

Responses:

• • In person events on campus
  • Zoom/virtual events
  • A social media group (e.g. Discord, Facebook Group)
  • I'm interested in serving in a leadership position
  • I am focused on my individual mentorship(s)

Approach: Responses were analyzed to understand participant preferences for connecting with others in the program, allowing University of California Davis College of Letters & Science to tailor engagement opportunities to meet their needs.

Question: Where are you in your career journey?

Responses:

• • I have found a job.
  • I have not found a job yet, but I have several prospects lined up.
  • I have not found a job yet, and I do not have any prospects lined up.
  • I have not started looking for a job yet.

Approach: The results of these microsurveys were exported and then shared with the Career Resources Office at California State University San Marcos College of Business, so they could target outreach to students as needed.

Question: What size t-shirt do you prefer?

Responses: XS; S; M; L; XL; XXL

Approach: Eastern Michigan State University used this microsurvey to collect t-shirt sizes for mentors participating in their program.

Question: Are you an employee of Georgia Southern University?

Responses: Yes; No

Approach: The responses were used to identify whether participants were affiliated with Georgia Southern University, helping to segment data for relevant follow-up actions.

Question: How is your mentorship going?

Responses:

• • Going well, I feel like I have all the support I need
  • Not going well, I feel like I could use some additional support

Approach:The results of these microsurveys at Indiana University Online were exported and then analyzed to assess if participants were engaging well in their mentorship program. The partner was able to intervene where necessary to ensure students who wanted to participate weren’t stuck in a mentorship that didn’t meet their needs.

Question: Would you like to be rolled over to next year’s mentorship program?

Responses: Yes, sign me up!; No, not at this time.

Approach: Florida Atlantic University used a microsurvey to gauge mentors' interest in continuing in the program for the following year before the recruitment process began.

Question: How happy are you with your intern’s participation so far?

Responses: 1 (Low) - 5 (High)

Approach: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) sought to evaluate mentor satisfaction with their intern’s performance, identify areas for improvement, and assess the program’s success in meeting expectations.

Question: How happy are you with the support you are receiving from your mentor so far?

Responses:

• • Going well, I feel like I have all the support I need
  • Not going well, I feel like I could use some additional support

Approach: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) used this microsurvey to evaluate mentee satisfaction with the support they were receiving from their mentor to ensure the mentorship was meeting the mentee's needs.

Question: What was the most valuable part of your mentoring program?

Responses:

• • Career exploration
  • Exploring grad school options
  • Networking and building connections
  • Finding a job or internship
  • Getting life advice
  • Other

Approach: Responses to this microsurvey were analyzed by University of Delaware to determine which aspects of the mentoring program participants found most valuable. This feedback was used to refine program offerings, ensuring alignment with mentees' needs and priorities.

Question: Having a mentor has been positive for my mental health.

Responses: Yes; No

Approach: University of North Carolina-Charlotte sought evidence of mentors' impact on mentees' well-being to support a grant application.

Question: I am enjoying my experience as a mentor in the Pacific Connect program.

Responses: 1 (Low) - 5 (High)

Approach: Feedback from the Pacific Connect program's mentor satisfaction survey was analyzed to identify areas for program improvement.

Question: Our hearts are with Hawaii and those affected by the Maui fires. Are you in need of additional support? 

Responses: Yes; No

• • If Yes → Please reach out to Ho’o at [email]
  • If No → Great! If that changes reach out to Ho’o at [email]

Approach: After the Hawaiian wildfires in 2023, University of Hawaii-Hilo used microsurveys as a way to check if students needed aid, providing a way to connect beyond the resources already available. Leveraging the custom follow-up capabilities of microsurveys, Hawaii-Hilo suggested resources and personnel equipped to provide additional support for those asking for assistance.

Question: Could your mentee benefit from meeting with the Career Center or the college's Internship Advisor?

Responses: Yes; No

• If Yes → Did you know the Career Center has a virtual front desk? Encourage your mentee to drop-in Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm or connect via email at careercenter@ucdenver.edu!

Approach: This microsurvey was a clever way to direct mentors to encourage their mentee to utilize the Career Center.

Question: How is your semester going?

Responses:

• • Going well, I feel like I have all the support I need
  • Not going well, I feel like I could use some additional support

Approach: Indiana University Online used the results of these microsurveys to identify individual student needs, sharing the data with student success coaches who followed up directly based on each student’s response.

Question: How happy are you with the support you are receiving from educational program staff (ORISE, Office of Research Education)?

Responses: 1 (Low) - 5 (High)

Approach: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) aimed to gauge satisfaction of the support provided by educational program staff, identify any areas where additional assistance may be needed, and assess the effectiveness of staff's support in enhancing the mentee's experience.

Question: Our campus will be observing the Thanksgiving Holiday on November 23 & 24. Offices will re-open on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.

Responses: Happy Thanksgiving!; See you on Monday!

Approach: This institution leveraged microsurveys as a clever way to communicate their upcoming school closure.