Assessment

The American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment II (NCHA)⁸ is a national research survey created to assist institutions of higher education collect data about their students’ habits, behaviors, and perceptions of prevalent health topics. Our Health Education Resource Office (HERO) has collected NCHA data since 2003. Data collection occurs every two years in the Spring semester when HERO staff surveys a random sample of student participants. KU’s survey results can be compared with the national dataset, which includes over 100,000 students at 153 institutions of higher education. These reports summarize the latest findings:

• University of Kansas NCHA Spring 2015 Executive Summary (PDF)
• University of Kansas NCHA Spring 2013 Summary of Highlights (PDF)
• University of Kansas NCHA Spring 2013 Executive Summary (PDF)
• University of Kansas NCHA Spring 2011 Executive Summary (PDF)
• University of Kansas NCHA Spring 2009 Executive Summary (PDF)
• University of Kansas NCHA Spring 2006 Executive Summary (PDF)
• University of Kansas NCHA Spring 2003 Executive Summary (PDF)

The Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB) is the link between Watkins Health Services (WHS) and the student body. The student members of SHAB advise and make recommendations to WHS. They provide input in areas of program design, operation and policy.

Each year, the SHAB conducts an annual survey of all KU Lawrence Campus students to help gauge the perceived level and quality of services provided by WHS. The survey has questions for students who have used WHS services and for those who have not.

This survey has been performed for many years and the response rate continues to climb. And we are obtaining more input from non-users. For example:

• In 2017: 3,124 responses; 76.4% from Users, 23.6% from Non-Users
• In 2016: 2,452 responses; 78.8% from Users, 22.2% from Non-Users
• In 2015: Total of 656 responses; 89.8% from Users, 10.2% from Non-Users

WHS Administration and Management Teams utilize the data to improve services for students. Reasons students give for not using WHS are helpful. The single greatest reason is, “Never sick/never needed” (59.6%), followed by “Physician at home” (38.6%).

Some of the key data points we are looking at from the 2017 results:

• 85.3% either Agreed or Strongly Agreed with the statement, “By maintaining good personal health & wellness I am more likely to achieve my academic goals.”
• 88.0% of patients were satisfied with the treatment they received.
• 99.0% of patients believed their privacy was respected.