Office of Institutional Research

Enrolled Master Survey FAQ’s

Why should I take the USC EMS?

For years we have struggled to get students to answer these surveys. See the response rates below.

Year Enrolled Students Responses Response rate
2014 18,035 1960 10.9%
2015 18,623 1790 9.6%
2016 18,490 1937 10.5%

Because of this, the credibility of survey results has been in question. This year, we’re only trying to reach a few representative students and we’ve made the survey short to minimize the burden. You were selected over thousands of other USC students. Your perspective on the USC experience speaks for others, and will shape our understanding of the academic community and inform policy decisions across campus.

What is the USC EMS?

The EMS is a student experience survey. The Office of Institutional Research worked with the Division of Student Affairs, Office of the Provost, Graduate Student Government, Viterbi School of Engineering, Marshall School of Business, Keck School of Medicine, Rossier School of Education, and the Dworak-Peck School of Social Work to create and administer the survey.  The questions cover a broad range of topics, from academic experiences to how you spend your free time—a snapshot of an enrolled master’s student’s life at USC.

Is the data gathered on the USC EMS confidential?

Yes. We do not share your individual responses, and your answers are only published in aggregated form. Any comments you provide are suppressed if it is possible to identify a person from what is written.

Who is eligible to take the USC EMS?

Master’s students enrolled at USC, who are at least 18 years of age, are eligible to take the USC EMS.

We’ve created a statistically representative sample (instead of a census). You were selected randomly based on one of the following characteristics: enrollment status, whether you have a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics major, whether you are an online student, or whether you are an international student.

How long does the survey take to complete?

The USC EMS takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

Thank you for participating in USC’s USC EMS Survey!

Ray Gonzales
Director
Office of Institutional Research
University of Southern California