Lubbers calls on Indiana colleges to participate in new Gallup-Indiana survey

Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers has invited every public, private and for-profit college in the state to take part in the nation’s first statewide survey of undergraduate satisfaction through a Gallup-Indiana survey.

The survey results will provide colleges valuable feedback on the campus-level practices making the biggest difference in students’ lives long-term as well as provide the state important data to incorporate into its next Return on Investment report in 2016.

”The benefits of a college degree extend beyond economic factors, but those benefits can be more difficult to measure: job satisfaction and engagement, civic involvement and better physical health,” Lubbers said. “The Gallup-Indiana Survey will provide data about those benefits. Once combined with the data we already have about tuition costs, debt and expected salary—students, families and policymakers will have a more complete view of college value and return on investment.”

With significant funding support from USA Funds and the Gallup organization, the Commission was able to offer a discounted price for public Indiana colleges that agree to participate by August 1, 2015.

Gallup will discount its price 10 percent for all participating colleges, the Commission will subsidize another 10 percent for participating public colleges, and a USA Funds grant will provide a 50 percent subsidy of the discounted price for all participating public institutions.

“Through the Indiana College Value Index, Indiana is leading the nation in helping students and parents make better choices in the selection of a postsecondary program of study,” said Carol D’Amico, USA Funds executive vice president, National Engagement and Philanthropy. “Participation in this initiative offers Indiana colleges and universities a unique opportunity to demonstrate their value to prospective students and their families.”

View the letter Commissioner Lubbers sent to Indiana’s college presidents here as well as a pricing sheet detailing associated costs and a draft of the proposed Indiana College Value Index.

The Indiana College Value Index will combine data from multiple sources to provide a clear picture of college completion, learning outcomes, return on investment, career success and long-term college graduate satisfaction. Once fully developed, the Indiana College Value Index will be combined with existing economic data on colleges and shared publicly within the next Return on Investment report.

Widespread college participation in the Gallup-Indiana Survey is critical to bring to scale the Indiana College Value Index.

The Gallup-Indiana Survey was inspired by Gallup-Purdue Index. This partnership between Gallup and Purdue University surveyed more than 30,000 college graduates to measure the relationship between a college degree and long-term graduate well-being. Learn more about the Gallup-Purdue Index and its results online at www.purdue.edu/newsroom/gallup.

Read all of the Commission’s reports as well as its Reaching Higher, Achieving More strategic plan at www.che.in.gov.