On Feb. 18, 10,000 students at the university received e-mail invitations to take part in the National College Health Assessment (NCHA). The NCHA, sponsored by University Health Services (UHS), is a confidential, online survey used to assess the health status of college students. The survey is used by more than 300 colleges and universities nationwide and contains questions about alcohol and drug use, sexual and mental health, weight and nutrition, and personal safety and violence. Students who complete the survey may also receive incentive prizes worth up to $100 for participating.
The survey, conducted every other year by UHS, will continue until March 7. E-mail invitations are extended to a random sample of both undergraduate and graduate students directing them to an online survey. Results from the survey are used by UHS to guide services and programs offered at the university for the next two years.
“I strongly encourage those students receiving an invitation to follow the e-mail instructions and to participate in this important survey,” says Juan C. González, vice president for Student Affairs. “Honest feedback helps to inform and empower campus staff in providing the best possible services that our students want and need.”
“Protecting and enhancing the health of students is University Health Services’ mission,” says Jeanne Carpenter, associate vice president, University Health Services. “The National College Health Assessment helps us to pinpoint and understand the most relevant health issues facing UT students, resulting in programs and services designed to meet students’ needs.”
“It’s vital that students participate and feel safe doing so,” says Sandi Cleveland, manager, University Health Services. “The survey is designed to maintain user confidentiality. There is absolutely no way an answer can be traced back to an individual participant. Students can answer honestly and safely without their confidentiality ever being at risk.”
Participating students could receive one of a variety of valuable incentive prizes. Incentives include $100 parking passes for use in any campus garage, $100 gift certificates to the University Co-op, and passes for RecSports programs such as TeXercise, Cycling, Combo, and fitness assessments. The estimated chance of being selected to receive a prize is 1 in 57.
More information:
National College Health Assessment: http://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/education/ncha.html
University Health Services: http://www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu/
The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs: http://www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa/
Division of Recreational Sports: http://www.utrecsports.org/
The University Co-op: http://www.coop-bookstore.com/
UT Parking and Transportation Services: http://www.utexas.edu/parking/index.html
