Before the university makes a policy for the sake of members of the campus community, it must have a clear understanding of their needs and undergo a process of seeking their opinions. SNU is a place where people of diverse ages and status coexist, from teenage students who graduated early from high school to faculty members in their 60s. Its members are more diverse in age than most organizations in society, and their roles, ranging from student to faculty member, researcher, and staff, are nearly as varied.

For this survey, five organizations—the Office of International Affairs, Gwanak Residence Halls, Center for Campus Life and Culture, Human Rights Center, and Diversity Council—decided from the very first stage to work together to develop a questionnaire with new contents. The product of their efforts focuses on individual growth and well-being, and its goal is to gather student feedback in order to create a healthy university environment in which students can grow into mature individuals and build positive relationships with others. 

This survey distinguishes itself by approaching students’ lives holistically and placing a greater focus on each individual’s growth and well-being. This means it explores issues that can contribute to the academic problems that students feel, such as health problems, financial or interpersonal difficulties, and isolation or lack of community.

The “SNU Undergraduate Student Quality of Life Survey” was conducted over the roughly two-week period from November 5th (Tues.) to November 17th (Sun.), 2019, through the SNU web portal’s survey system. While 4,500 people participated, the responses of 17 were excluded for being incomplete, so materials collected from 4,483 people were used for analysis. At 22%, the response rate was on the high side for an online survey.

Short-term 

• Issues that students recommend prioritizing: problems with transportation (both to/from and within campus), grading methods, assistance with tuition/living expenses, dormitory/housing problems
  
• Support for university living: health management services, counseling services, improvement of the campus environment and facilities, support for international students
• Other recommended issues to address: the overall administration of academic affairs, safety problems

Mid- and long-term

• Change in the direction of undergraduate education: balanced individual growth, education about and expanded opportunities for aptitude/career path exploration, overseasexperience/extracurricular programs
• Improvement of SNU’s culture and environment: improvement in culture, expanded opportunities for communication, efforts to solicit opinions
• Promotion of diversity/human rights: opportunities for exchange with diverse fellow students, discrimination prevention and support for those who have suffered it