Applying Design-Based Thinking to Surveys to Foster Institutional Change

Session Abstract: Given the many pressures on higher education, how can we increase organizational flexibility within our institutions to evolve to meet the needs of our current and future students? Student surveys are a longstanding tool for institutional researchers to use to foster understanding and change. At Bowdoin College, the Office of Institutional Research, Analytics and Consulting partnered with the Office of Inclusion and Diversity to create an experimental survey program, the Polar Bear Feedback Team, to hasten the survey feedback loop. With the concepts from human-centered design thinking, such as empathy and prototyping, the Polar Bear Feedback Team works with campus partners to improve the experiences, services, and programs for students.

Keywords: surveys, innovation, institutional effectiveness, organizational change, student engagement

Contributing Authors: Christina Finneran – Senior Vice President for Institutional Research, Analytics, and Consulting, Senior Office of Institutional Research, Analytics, and Consulting, Bowdoin College