About Us
The Assessment & Research office in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union works with Stamp units to conduct program assessment and learning outcomes assessment. We support units wishing to undertake original research as well as lead a department-wide Assessment & Research Committee. Below is a list of research projects previously undertaken by our office and corresponding archived reports.
Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership (MSL; 2018, 2021)
The MSL is a national survey exploring students' socially responsible leadership skills and attitudes administered every three years. Data from this study are used to improve leadership and service programming as well as enrich the campus conversation on best practices for producing socially responsible citizens. The most recent administration of the MSL was Spring 2021. The University of Maryland administered this study in conjunction with other BigTen institutions, which afforded us the opportunity to share de-identified data and ask collective questions of students. BigTen reports from 2018 can be found online, with UMD specific reports from past administrations posted below.
Reports from 2021 Administration
COVID-19 Pandemic Report - Fall 2021
Climate & Belonging Report - Fall 2021
First Generation Students & Leadership Report - Fall 2021
LCSL: Leadership Efficacy Report - Fall 2021
LCSL: Socially Responsible Leadership Report - Fall 2021
Terps After Dark Report - Fall 2021
STAMP Student Employees Report - Spring 2022
MICA Participants Climate and Belonging Report - Spring 2022
Reports from 2018 Administration
Student Organization Leaders Report - Winter 2019
Sense of Belonging Report - Spring 2019
Student Employees & Leadership Report - Summer 2019
Leadership Training Report - Summer 2019
First Generation Students & Leadership Report - Summer 2019
Longitudinal Narrative of Student Involvement (2017- 2021)
STAMP collected data for a qualitative research study seeking to understand the influence of co-curricular involvement on students' growth and development. Participants were interviewed once per semester over the course of their undergraduate career at the university, providing a unique opportunity to understand students' involvement choices, influences, and outcomes over time. Data collection started in Fall 2017 and concluded in Spring 2021.
Year 1: Barriers to Involvement Report - Fall 2020
Year 1: Social Support Report - Fall 2020
Interfaith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey (IDEALS; 2015-2019)
IDEALS is a national research project coordinated through the Interfaith Youth Corps (IFYC) in which the University of Maryland participated. A sample of students were randomly selected and surveyed three times throughout their enrollment at UMD regarding their experiences exploring faith, views and knowledge of different faiths and spirituality, as well as their intentions to work towards a more pluralistic society.
Interfaith Summary Report - Fall 2017
Center for Collaboration and Partnership- Resident Life Survey (2019)
In early 2019, the Department of Resident Life partnered with STAMP and others in the Division of Student Affairs to understand students' awareness of certain resources on campus. STAMP included items regarding the Centers for Collaboration and Partnership (i.e., TerpZone, Memorial Chapel, and Studio A/STAMP Gallery).
Centers Summary Report - Summer 2019
Veterans Needs Assessment (2017)
Veteran Student Life conducted a research project in Fall 2017 exploring the needs of student veterans. Specific topics of exploration included child care, financial stress, campus resources, health, and community, among others.
Financial Stress Report - Summer 2018
Involvement & Belonging Report - Summer 2018
Demographics Report - Summer 2018
Graduate Student Quality of Life Survey (2017)
In Spring 2017, Graduate Student Life partnered with the Graduate School, the Graduate Student Government, and Graduate Legal Aid to administer a Quality of Life survey to all graduate students.
Graduate Student Life Survey Summary Report - Fall 2017
International Student Comparison Report - Fall 2017
Student Demographic Data
We are working to expand and deepen our understanding of the student experience and how Stamp contributes to student learning, development, and the academic experience in an effort to improve the programs, services, and courses that we provide. We value transparency around the uses of these data and value student engagement and feedback regarding data practices.
The data Stamp collects is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which allows institutions to analyze student data while also protecting privacy. For more information, please see the Office of the Registrar's website on student privacy (FERPA).
The types of student data that Stamp collects may include:
- Co-curricular activity involvement and enrollment in academic courses offered through Stamp offices.
- Student employment (i.e., the office in which a student works; only Stamp Human Resources and supervisors have access to employment records such as performance reviews).
- Use of Stamp resources such as room reservations and technology resources such as TerpLink.
These data points may be combined with other data points on a student collected by other campus offices or entities, such as student demographics, whether a student lives on/off campus, and academic success measures.
Stamp will collect this information through:
- Web-based platforms and systems such as TerpLink’s Event Pass, Zoom, and other program applications and systems.
- Handheld electronic scanners or sign-in sheets.
- Selected surveys.
The majority of the data collected are analyzed within Stamp's Assessment & Research Office and reported out in aggregate, de-identified summaries to understand, for example, the demographics of the student population Stamp served over the previous academic year. Stamp does grant individual student data access to employees with an “educational interest.” These individuals may include the following:
- Dean of Students Office
- Other Division of Student Affairs staff
- Advisors
- Faculty
- Office of the Registrar staff
For questions about the use of your data, please send an email to Pearl Lo (pearllo@umd.edu), Assistant Director for Assessment & Research.