By default, the BCSSE web survey is designed for the student to provide their student ID and name upon logging into the BCSSE survey. This identifier carries through the entire survey session and is reported back to the institution as a means of tracking individual results of the survey administration, generating personalized advising reports, and more.
Each campus will receive an institution-specific URL for their survey. However, institutions have the option to distribute individual URLs to their students which will allow BCSSE to capture an identifier directly from the URL itself. This will allow for reduced matching issues and more accurate identifiers captured upon login. Students will still be asked to provide their first and last names.
New in 2022. The BCSSE survey utilizes "cookies" to reduce duplicate submissions from the same student using the same device. This cookie will allow the student to return to the survey using the same device/browser within two weeks and complete the survey from where they left off if. The student will see a message that they already completed if they try to return after completing. See the Qualtrics support page for more details.
URL Format
The institution URL will look like something like this:
https://bcsse.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5c0fECxaZ80Zd5P?UNITID=-1234567
The bold section is the school ID (IPEDS number) that is assigned to the specific college or university. This URL with the school ID is provided at the time of registration approval and is located in the BCSSE Portal.
To make the student-specific URL, you will need to append the bolded section below. In this example, '1234' is the student ID. You can ask your IT department for assistance. You can also do this using concatenate function in Excel. Here is an example showing how to do this.
https://bcsse.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5c0fECxaZ80Zd5P?UNITID=-1234567&bstudid=1234
It is critical that you do not re-order or sort your columns after you create the URL’s. Each URL is now assigned to a specific student. You need to make sure that the correct URL is being sent to the correct student and email.
NSSE also provides guidance that may be useful.
Important
The accuracy of the student identifier in the URL is critical– the survey will record whatever identifier is passed through the URL. If, for example, there is an identifier mismatch in the URLs you distribute, that mismatch will carry through to the data output and advising reports.
BCSSE strongly recommends testing prior to launching your BCSSE administration. BCSSE can open your survey early, allowing you time to send test emails with embedded URLs to testers. You can review and delete test submissions. Do not attempt this option unless you run test and are sure that everything is accurate. BCSSE is not responsible for any student ID matching errors.
Last updated: April 23, 2021