Fall Survey Essentials: Key Student & Faculty Surveys for a New Semester

Every fall semester feels the same in some ways: new students moving in, professors tweaking syllabi, everyone trying to settle into routines. And yet, the same big questions pop up:

• Are students actually engaged in what we’re offering?
• Do faculty feel supported?
• Is campus climate improving or sliding backward?
• Are students really ready for careers when they leave?

The tricky part is that you don’t really know unless you ask. And too often, schools are relying on guesswork instead of real data.

What happens when you don’t ask

Here’s the thing: when feedback is missing, issues don’t go away - they just pile up quietly.

• Students who feel like no one’s listening? They disengage.
• Faculty who are stretched thin without support? Burnout creeps in.
• Alumni who weren’t asked for their input? They fade away instead of staying connected.

Surveys may not sound glamorous, but they’re one of the simplest ways to get a clear picture of what’s actually happening. Skip them, and you’re running on assumptions.

Fall surveys that give you real insight

The good news is that there are plenty of tried-and-true surveys that can help you get answers without reinventing the wheel. If you’re thinking about where to start this semester, here are ten worth considering:

Fall Undergraduate Student Survey

This survey is a seasonal checkpoint for your current undergrads. It gives you insight into how students are adjusting academically and socially in the early part of the year. Think of it as a mid-course correction tool - helping you catch issues before they snowball into retention problems. Try our Fall Undergraduate Student Survey here.

Typical response rate: 30–40%

Sample size needed: 200–400 for reliable trends; more if disaggregating by class year or major

Best timing window: Late September–mid October

Complements: Student Engagement Survey, Student Success Survey

Must-have or nice-to-have: Must-have in fall (early retention signal)

Fall Survey of Admitted Students

This one is all about yield. Admitted students - especially those who haven’t officially enrolled yet- can tell you what influenced their decision to choose (or not choose) your institution. The feedback is gold for admissions teams trying to refine recruitment strategies. Check out our Fall Survey of Admitted Students here.

Typical response rate: 20–30%

Sample size needed: 150–300; more valuable with regional or demographic cuts

Best timing window: September (shortly after final enrollment decisions)

Complements: Alumni Outcomes Survey (pipeline view: admitted → enrolled → outcomes)

Must-have or nice-to-have: Nice-to-have in fall (more critical in spring for admitted pool)

Campus Climate Survey for Students

Think of this as the vibe check. Are students feeling included, respected, and safe on campus? The responses here can guide everything from DEI initiatives to student support services. Try our Campus Climate Survey for Students here.

Typical response rate: 25–35%

Sample size needed: 400+ for campus-wide validity

Best timing window: October–November (students have had time to form impressions)

Complements: Campus Safety Survey, Student Success Survey

Must-have or nice-to-have: Nice-to-have in fall; often rotated every 2–3 years

Student Engagement Survey

This one’s all about connection: are students plugged into their classes, their peers, and the wider campus community? It’s a good early indicator of retention risk. Check out our Student Engagement Survey here.

Typical response rate: 30–45%

Sample size needed: 300–500+ for actionable subgroup data

Best timing window: October (after first major assignments/projects)

Complements: Fall Undergraduate Student Survey, Student Success Survey

Must-have or nice-to-have: Must-have in fall (links directly to persistence)

Faculty Satisfaction Survey

Faculty keep the place running, but they often feel left out of the feedback loop. This survey surfaces issues around workload, resources, and morale, things you’ll want to know before problems fester. Try our Faculty Satisfaction Survey here.

Typical response rate: 40–60%

Sample size needed: All-faculty census preferred (but >100 minimum)

Best timing window: November (after midterm workload but before finals)

Complements: Teaching Effectiveness Survey

Must-have or nice-to-have: Nice-to-have in fall, stronger fit for spring planning cycles

Teaching Effectiveness Survey

Students get a direct say in how teaching is landing. Done right, this isn’t just about grading instructors; it’s about giving them useful insights they can actually apply. Check our Teaching Effectiveness Survey here.

Typical response rate: 50–70% (when integrated into course eval systems)

Sample size needed: Per course/section; 20+ responses per section for reliability

Best timing window: End of term (late November–December)

Complements: Faculty Satisfaction Survey

Must-have or nice-to-have: Must-have every term

Alumni Outcomes Survey

Alumni are living proof of how well your institution prepares people for life after graduation. Their career paths and reflections tell you whether you’re delivering long-term value.

Typical response rate: 15–25%

Sample size needed: 500+ for longitudinal benchmarking

Best timing window: Fall (target 1, 3, and 5-year cohorts post-graduation)

Complements: Fall Survey of Admitted Students (bookends admissions-to-outcomes pipeline)

Must-have or nice-to-have: Nice-to-have in fall, essential on multi-year cycles

Campus Safety Survey

Safety is always top of mind for students and parents. This survey lets you know if your safety measures are working or if students feel they’re working, which is just as important. Try our Campus Safety Survey here.

Typical response rate: 20–35%

Sample size needed: 300–400+ for valid risk perception trends

Best timing window: October–November

Complements: Campus Climate Survey

Must-have or nice-to-have: Nice-to-have in fall unless a recent incident raises urgency

Student Success Survey

This goes beyond academics and asks about advising, mentoring, and mental health support. It’s a broader look at whether students feel set up to succeed. Check out our Student Success Survey here.

Typical response rate: 25–40%

Sample size needed: 300–500+ for subgroup insights (first-gen, transfer, etc.)

Best timing window: October (before registration for spring semester)

Complements: Fall Undergraduate Student Survey, Student Engagement Survey

Must-have or nice-to-have: Must-have in fall (early warning tool)

Library Satisfaction Survey

Yes, libraries still matter a lot. This survey helps you understand if resources and study spaces are actually meeting the needs of today’s students. Check out Library Satisfaction Survey here.

Typical response rate: 20–30%

Sample size needed: 150–300

Best timing window: November (when major papers and projects are underway)

Complements: Student Success Survey (support infrastructure view)

Must-have or nice-to-have: Nice-to-have in fall

Getting people to actually fill these out

The best survey in the world doesn’t help if no one completes it. And let’s be real: students and faculty are drowning in forms already. So how do you get decent response rates?

• Keep it short. If it feels like homework, people will bail.
  

• Say why it matters. A quick note like, “Your feedback helps shape next semester’s courses” goes a long way.
  

• Pick your moment. Don’t drop a survey during midterms or finals week. Timing is everything.
  

• Mix up channels. Email is fine, but a QR code in the dining hall or a reminder through the LMS gets more eyes.
  

• Close the loop. This one’s huge. Share what you learned and what you’re doing with it. People are much more likely to respond again if they see their input has made a difference.

Wrapping it up

Surveys aren’t just checkboxes - they’re conversation starters. They tell you what students, faculty, and alumni are really experiencing, not just what you think they’re experiencing. And fall is the perfect time to get those conversations going.

If you want to make the whole process easier (and more secure), BlockSurvey can help. We support institutional research teams with the tools they need to run student and faculty surveys, protect data privacy, and focus on what matters most: listening and acting on the results.

Ready to make this fall the semester where feedback actually drives change? Give BlockSurvey a try and start turning responses into real improvements.