Surveys
We participate in surveys that solicit student feedback. These are designed to help us improve and enhance the TRU student experience.
Students are invited to participate in several surveys during their time at TRU and to provide feedback on their outcomes after graduating.
All published survey reports are available on OneTRU. If you would like to request a customized survey report or a presentation of the results, please contact ipe@tru.ca.
Student surveys
National Survey of Student Engagement
NSSE is an internationally recognized instrument for measuring student engagement. Student engagement describes the time and effort students put into their studies, as well as how the institution supports student learning. First-year and fourth-year baccalaureate students are invited to participate in NSSE. NSSE includes over one hundred questions related to student satisfaction, activities, and perceptions of the institution's contributions to growth and development. TRU participates in this survey every three years and has participated since 2008.
For more information, visit National Survey of Student Engagement.
Canadian University Survey Consortium
CUSC is a national survey of undergraduate Baccalaureate students. It operates on a three-year cycle, alternating between first-year students, middle-years students, and graduating students. CUSC collects information about students' academic history, on campus activities, educational experiences, educational goals, use and satisfaction with various facilities and services, how they financed their education and amount of debt, post-graduation education and employment plans. TRU participates in this survey annually, and has done so from 2012 to 2019, excluding 2018.
For more information, visit Canadian University Survey Consortium.
Indigenous Undergraduate Student Survey
The IUSS invites undergraduate students who have self-declared as Indigenous and asks them about their attendance at TRU Indigenous events, ratings of TRU's progress in reaching the Province of BC's goals for enhancing the post-secondary educational experiences and outcomes of Indigenous learners, and if they have used certain Indigenous services on campus such as Cplul'kw'ten or the Williams Lake gathering Place. TRU participates in this survey every year and has participated since 2017.
Canadian Bureau for International Education
The CBIE is a national survey that invites international students to provide information on student satisfaction, post-secondary decision making, pre-arrival activities, academic experience, social integration, student housing, institutional support services, safety, finances, and employment, post-study plans, and knowledge of Indigenous topics and culture. TRU participates in this survey by request and has participated in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2018.
For more information, visit Canadian Bureau for International Education.
National College Health Assessment
The NCHA is a national research survey organized by the American College Health Association to assist college health service providers, health educators, counselors, and administrators in collecting data about students' habits, behaviors, and perceptions on the most prevalent health topics. A sample of all TRU students are invited to participate in this survey. TRU participates in this survey every three years and has participated since 2013.
For more information, visit National College Health Assessment.
Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey
The CGPSS is designed to assess graduate and professional students' satisfaction and experience. Survey topics include satisfaction with the institution, program, and faculty; satisfaction with teaching, research, and learning; financial status, and quality of the student and social life. TRU participates in this survey every three years and has participated since 2013.
For more information, visit Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey.
Fall Student Census
The FSC survey was developed in-house by IPE with consultations from other areas within the institution. The purpose of the census was to reach out to all TRU students currently enrolled in any program in the fall semester to allow them to provide their experiences and perceptions of what it was like to attend TRU. Many of our other institutional student surveys do not provide students in certain programs the opportunity to provide feedback, therefore, this survey was extended to all TRU students with the purpose to capture opinions from the whole TRU student body. TRU will use the survey results to assist with determining how to address identified issues and to build on TRU’s successes, as well as to assist specific areas on campus with developments in their processes. TRU participates in this survey annually and has done so since 2022.
For more information about FSC, please email ipe@tru.ca.
Alumni surveys
Student Outcomes
BC Student Outcomes conducts annual surveys of former students from British Columbia's post-secondary institutions. Former students have the opportunity to evaluate their education and are asked about their subsequent employment and further education.
The results help shape the future of post-secondary education in British Columbia by providing valuable information to post-secondary institutions, the provincial government, career counselors, parents, and prospective students.
- Apprenticeship Student Outcomes (APPSO) Survey is conducted with former apprenticeship students who had completed the final level of their technical training. They are surveyed approximately 18 months after completing their apprenticeship at TRU.
- Diploma, Associate Degree, and Certificate Outcomes (DACSO) Survey is conducted 18 months after students were awarded one of these credentials.
- Baccalaureate Graduate Survey (BGS) is conducted about two years after students were awarded a Baccalaureate credential.
For more information, visit BC Student Outcomes.
To view interactive student outcomes data collected and reported on from BC’s post-secondary colleges and institutes, visit BC Student Outcomes Dashboard. Here you can filter by institution, student group, program area, or program name, and view key student outcomes results such as ‘Who are they?’, ‘What did they learn?’, ‘What did they say?’, and ‘Are they working?’.
For further questions on BC Student Outcomes, or to request a customized report, please contact ipe@tru.ca.
Schedule
Fall Student Census
Population | All students |
Frequency | Annually |
Timeline | October and November |
Data delivery | February |
Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey
Population | Graduate students (masters) |
Frequency | Every three years |
Timeline | February to March 2025 |
Data delivery | Institutional Frequency Reports – End of August 2025 National Frequency Reports – End of August 2025 All the Means Comparison Files – End of September 2025 |
Canadian University Survey Consortium
Population | First-year students (2022) Middle years students (2023) Graduating students (2024) |
Frequency | Run once a year in the Winter term and operate on a three-year circle, altering between the three student groups |
Timeline | February to March 2022 February to March 2023 February to March 2024 |
Data delivery | July 2022 July 2023 July 2024 |
National Survey of Student Engagement
Population | First-year students and Fourth- year students |
Frequency | Every three years |
Timeline | February to March 2023 |
Data delivery | Institutional Report delivery and data files available for download – August 2023 Major Field Report available for download – October 2023 Annual Results delivery – November 2023 |
Faculty Survey of Student Engagement
Population | Faculty teaching on-campus baccalaureate programs |
Frequency | As requested |
Timeline | March to April |
Data delivery | Institutional Report delivery and data files available for download – August Major Field Report available for download – October Annual Results delivery – November |
BC Student Outcomes: Baccalaureate Graduate Survey
Population | Graduate from BC’s public post-secondary institutions who have completed their bachelor’s degree program two years before the survey |
Frequency | Annually |
Timeline | September 2022 to January 2023 |
Data delivery | End of July 2023 |
BC Student Outcomes: Apprenticeship Student Outcomes
Population | Former apprenticeship students who have completed the final level of their technical training. Surveyed 8 to 18 months after training |
Frequency | Annually |
Timeline | January to July 2023 |
Data delivery | End of July 2023 |
BC Student Outcomes: Diploma, Associate Degree, and Certificate Outcomes
Population | Former students from public post-secondary institutions who have completed or nearly completed their diploma, associate degree, or certificate programs 9 to 20 months before the survey |
Frequency | Annually |
Timeline | January to July 2023 |
Data delivery | End of July 2023 |