FAQ
- What if we don’t use the Social Change Model of Leadership Development on campus? Is participation still valuable?
- What if we don’t have a formalized leadership program? Is participation still valuable?
- Should schools participate every year?
- Can we add more cases to our sample size for the survey?
- How much work is participation for the school?
- Is there a longitudinal option?
- Do all schools need to obtain IRB approval? What if our school doesn’t have an IRB?
- Can I view a copy of the full survey?
- Can we set the dates students receive the email invitations to participate?
- Who will have access to our data?
- Are there issues involved in sharing student email addresses for the study? Wouldn’t that be a violation of student privacy? Can I participate without providing email addresses?
- When will I know if my school has been selected to participate?
FAQ Answers
What if we don’t use the Social Change Model of Leadership Development on campus? Is participation still valuable?
Yes. Many of the institutions that participated in the first iteration of the study did not use SCM directly and still found participation in the study incredibly useful.
Institutions that use SCM will be able to interpret and use their findings most directly. However, the 8 values used by SCM to measure leadership outcomes are consistent with most other relational leadership approaches.
What if we don’t have a formalized leadership program? Is participation still valuable?
Yes. Student leadership capacities are developed in a variety of contexts; from residence halls and athletic groups to academic advising and student employment experiences.
In fact, scholars of leadership development believe that everyone in the college environment is responsible for helping students become leaders. Not just the educators involved with dedicated leadership programs.
You may use your MSL findings educate all faculty and staff about student leadership development, and to create evidence-based guidelines for all personnel interacting with students.
Should schools participate every year?
That depends on how you intend to use your data. If you are interested in monitoring trends over time, you may opt for yearly participation. Your institution’s assessment agenda may call for less frequent data collections. If so, collecting data once every three to four years may be more appropriate.
Can we add more cases to our sample size for the survey?
Yes. The recommended sample size can be increased for an additional cost. For additional information, please contact Scott Crawford, MSL Project Director.
How much work is participation for the school?
MSL was designed to expedite and streamline your role. You are not responsible for administering, collecting, and returning survey instruments. We also provide comprehensive respondent support, a customized sample management system, and daily response–rate monitoring during data collection.
Your role is to prepare for MSL on your campus —such as securing IRB approval, selecting a sample, and customizing e–mail templates for corresponding with students. We will assign a dedicated School Coordinator to walk you through this process.
The total work load will depend on your institutional policies. It will also depend upon whether you choose to customize MSL with custom questions, a comparative sample, and a comprehensive incentive plan.
Is there a longitudinal option?
MSL is offered as a cross–sectional study only. A longitudinal version is under development.
Do all schools need to obtain IRB approval? What if our school doesn’t have an IRB?
In order to comply with increasingly complex and stringent regulations regarding research using human subjects, MSL will be authorized by a "master" national IRB. We also require each participant to obtain local IRB approval.
Your School Coordinator will provide templates and other information to expedite the process of obtaining local IRB approval. In some cases, local IRBs will expedite or waive the approval process when presented with proof of national IRB review.
If your institution does not have an IRB, you will be asked to submit written approval for participation in the MSL from a senior administrator authorized to approve such studies.
Can I view a copy of the full survey?
MSL is copyrighted. So we can’t release the full questionnaire until you have completed the registration processes. But information about the instrument is available here. You may also review the national report from the first MSL. It provides detailed information about the instrument and variables of interest.
Can we set the dates students receive the email invitations to participate?
We will work directly with you to determine a three–week window for data collection. This date should not overlap with the first full two weeks of your spring term, spring breaks, or mid–term testing periods.
Who will have access to our data?
The MSL Research Team and the Center for Student Studies will prepare your data for the final report. Data will also be aggregated into a national dataset for the purposes of analysis. At no point will institutional data be shared with anyone outside the research team in a way that identifies a particular school.
Are there issues involved in sharing student email addresses for the study? Wouldn’t that be a violation of student privacy? Can I participate without providing email addresses?
That depends on your institution. Each college or university has a unique policy about distributing student contact information.
Under federal law, it is NOT a violation of FERPA to share student email addresses for MSL, since your school is contracting with the Center for Student Studies. You are sharing information to enhance your educational practice.
We are happy to speak with institutional representative about this and can share the significant privacy measures we have in place to protect respondent confidentiality.
Unfortunately, we can’t accommodate institutions that aren’t permitted to share their student’s e–mail addresses.
When is the last date I can enroll in the study?
We encourage campuses to sign up as early as possible for the MSL so that they have the benefit of time to prepare for the study. Additionally, as the study fills up, we may reach a point where we have to limit schools that enroll so we can ensure we have enough staff to accommodate all enrolled schools, so again we encourage schools to sign up as early as possible. As long as the enrollment from is active you may enroll in the study.
Latest News
Enrollment Still Open Through October!
October 2011 Enrollment for MSL 2012 is still open! Schools may enroll through the month of October. To learn more about the benefits of participating, please go HERE. To enroll now, please fill out our Enrollment Survey.
STEM School Coalition Started for MSL 2012
Catholic Schools Coalition Expands Significantly for 2012 MSL
MSL Announces New Three Year Research Cycle
Recent Publication
March/April 2011 Article based on MSL data now available examining leadership across US and Mexican cultures published in the Journal of College Student Development.
Recent Publication
March/April 2011 Article based on MSL data now available! Published in the Journal of College Student Development.
Recent Publication
Spring 2011 The 2nd edition of The Handbook For Student Leadership Development, is published.
Measuring Quality Inventory
MSL Co-PI Honored by NASPA
MSL Receives NASPA Award
National MSL Benchmark Dataset
Student Leadership Research Award
ILA Board Appointment
Example Custom Report
8.10.2009 An example of the complete MSL custom report is now available for download.
Recent Publication
NASPA Certificate
4.6.2009 MSL PIs recognized by NASPA. Read more »
MSL 2012 Timeline
May 31 and June 30, 2011
Early enrollment and payment deadlines
October, 2011
Final enrollment deadline
July - December, 2011
Schools prepare for data collection
January - April, 2012
Data collection
Summer, 2012
School reports distributed
View the full MSL Timeline »
