Dear Student:

When you first entered Portland State University, you responded to the Campus Life in America Student Survey (CLASS). On behalf of Portland State, I am writing to encourage your continued participation in this important study of undergraduate student life at colleges and universities in the United States. Everyone who completes the survey will receive a check for $10.

The main purpose of the follow-up survey will be to assess how students’ opinions and perceptions have changed after two years of college enrollment. Your responses will serve as a vital resource for college administrators, educators, and policymakers as they address issues concerning:

• how campus life and learning are affected by changes in the composition of student bodies; and
• how institutional policies and programs can best be organized to maximize the benefits of a diverse student population.

I hope you will be willing to participate in the follow-up survey. It will be administered on-line, and it should only take about fifteen minutes of your time to respond to the questions. Enclosed you will find an instruction sheet and a set of Commonly Asked Questions, both designed to facilitate your easy participation in the survey. In a few days, you will receive an e-mail message with a website link and access codes and can take the survey at that time.

This project is funded by the Ford Foundation and conducted by a research team at Princeton University. The project has the full support of Portland State University. If you have any questions, please visit the CLASS Project website at http://class.princeton.edu, or feel free to call the Project office, toll-free, at 1-866-386-0477.

Stringent measures are in place to safeguard the confidentiality of participants. Data will be combined to produce statistical reports. No individual data will be reported. Your participation is strictly voluntary and you may discontinue you participation in the project at any time without penalty. However, we do need your help in collecting these data, as you were selected to represent thousands of other students like yourself. Your responses are necessary to make the results of this study accurate and timely.

I hope that you will be willing to contribute to this worthwhile effort. Thank you in advance for your participation and best wishes for a successful and rewarding semester.

                                                                                    Sincerely yours,
                                                                                    Roy W. Koch
                                                                                    Provost
                                                                                    Portland State University