Internal Communications Usage to be Surveyed

Northwestern students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on the University's internal communications efforts, as well as the effectiveness of publicity for campus events, in an online survey that will be available starting April 28.

Results from the survey will be used to develop ways to communicate more effectively with students, faculty and staff, said Alan Cubbage, vice president for University Relations.

"Northwestern's internal audiences communicate through a variety of media, ranging from print to e-mail, to text messaging. We interested in finding how audiences use those different media in regard to getting information about the university."

A key part of the online survey will also ask people how they find out about events on campus.

"For some people, it may be that an online calendar managed by their school is the most effective way of finding out about events; for others, it may be the old-fashioned way of flyers taped to sidewalks," Cubbage said. "What we want to know is what are the best methods of publicizing the many events occurring on Northwestern's campuses."

The survey for students will be available at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dfodCn2SzAEuqQbb04jLzg_3d_3d

The survey for faculty and staff will be available at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ArSVNeRxPNm0pN17porXOA_3d_3d

The survey is a follow-up to a similar effort undertaken in 2004 when the University studied its internal communications. The results of that initiative led to the creation of NewsWire, the weekly campus e-newsletter, changes to the Observer and efforts to improve emergency communications.

"We hope that we get a number of people responding to the survey this year," Cubbage said. "What students, faculty and staff tell us will guide us in making further changes to our current communications or adding new methods of doing so."