- What is AAMC StandPoint™ Surveys?
StandPoint Surveys is a collaboration between the AAMC and medical schools to ensure that academic medical centers are great places to work by providing tools and resources to help medical schools improve faculty engagement, retention, and ultimately enhance institutional culture. The StandPoint Faculty Engagement Survey is evidence-based and designed to aid academic medical centers in developing talent management practices to attract and retain excellent faculty. Through this program, we will be able to determine the changes you would like to see in the workplace and develop a plan to create those changes.
- Why should I fill out the AAMC StandPoint Faculty Engagement Survey?
Simply stated, we need to know what you think of your work experience so administrators can identify areas that can be improved. Because the survey directly addresses issues that can impact policies and strategic planning at the college, the survey is an important opportunity to provide your feedback. Ultimately, your answers will not only help improve the medical school, but also the academic medical community overall.
- Are you surveying my institution only?
To date, more than 70 U.S. medical schools have participated in StandPoint Surveys. A full list of participating schools can be found here.
- I get surveyed all the time. How is this survey different?
The AAMC StandPoint Faculty Engagement Survey provides participating institutions with tools that can be used to understand and improve the quality of work life for faculty, as each section of the survey is designed to generate a report of actionable data. The survey was developed and reviewed by experts in survey design, statistics, economics, psychology, and education, and based on in-depth focus groups with medical school clinical and basic science faculty members.
- Why don’t you ask someone else?
The AAMC StandPoint Faculty Engagement survey takes a census approach to surveying; it surveys all full-time and part-time faculty members, not just a sample. Every response impacts the survey results. Therefore, it is important that all medical school faculty members invited to participate go on to the complete the survey.
- Is there a paper version of the survey available for submission?
No, the AAMC StandPoint Faculty Engagement Survey is only administered electronically. All respondents must complete the survey online. If for some reason you are unable to complete the survey online, please contact StandPoint@aamc.org.
- How long will the survey take?
The survey typically takes 15-20 minutes to complete; however, this may vary. We recommend allotting time to complete the survey all at once, but it is possible to save your results and finish it later.
- How long will I have access to the survey?
It is best that you start the survey as soon as you receive it; however, you will have access to the survey for approximately one month. Faculty who have not completed the survey will receive reminders by email.
- If I have to stop while completing my survey, will I have to start all over again?
You do not need to begin the survey again. However, you will be sent back to the beginning of the survey the next time you log in. By clicking the “Next” button on the bottom of each page, you can review the answers you previously entered as well as navigate to the place you last left off.
- I am having trouble opening the survey link. What should I do?
The problem may be caused by your web browser’s pop-up blocker. Although our survey is designed not to be hindered by the default settings of such pop-up blockers, the more stringent blockers may cause a problem like the one you are describing.
To temporarily disable your pop-up blocker, hold down the CTRL button as you click the link that begins the survey. If you are still having problems, disable your pop-up blocker in your browser’s “Tools” menu under “Pop-up Blocker” (if using Internet Explorer) or under “Options” (if using Firefox). If you are using a third-party pop-up blocker, such as Google Toolbar, you will have to temporarily disable that too.
If trouble persists, contact our Help Desk at 202-828-0646 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET.
- I am worried about the confidentiality of my answers. Will my institution be able to trace my responses back to me?
Confidentiality is assured in all StandPoint Surveys analyses and reports. Your name and email address are retained solely for the sake of reminding respondents to begin or complete their survey. When StandPoint Surveys submits the survey report to UFCOM, only the aggregate data will be included in the report. No identifiers are matched to reported responses, and no disaggregated data will be presented for any subgroup with fewer than five respondents. In addition, any personally identifiable information will be removed from all responses to open-ended questions.
- What will the AAMC do with the data?
Your responses to this survey will be combined with those of other faculty at your medical school and will be analyzed and summarized in the aggregate. StandPoint Surveys will provide UFCOM with a survey report that compiles all the quantitative findings from your medical school. The report will:
- Compare survey results from UFCOM with several other peer medical schools.
- Highlight major findings relative to peer medical schools and the entire cohort.
Additionally, UFCOM will receive an electronic file with the survey’s qualitative data in a de-identified and redacted format to protect the identities of respondents.
- What will my institution do with the data?
Medical schools use the information in different ways, including:
- Sharing the results in summary form with faculty members, academic administrators, hospital administrators, and other groups who need to understand levels of faculty engagement.
- Analyzing information from the report to use in long-range institutional planning.
- Sharing the results with others to help recruit new faculty members.
- Understanding where they can focus attention and resources to make workplace improvements for you and your colleagues.
- Will I be apprised of the results of the survey, and if so, when and how?
Survey results will be compiled in a report for UFCOM and directed to your medical school’s leadership. Your administration and survey task force will share the information with your medical school faculty.
- Are research data stored securely? What data will be destroyed at the end of the study?
Yes! The AAMC will store data on secure servers and will destroy all identified data within two years of survey administration. Data security is of great importance, as is ensuring confidentiality and the safety of all participants. AAMC StandPoint Surveys takes great effort to protect human subjects in all research programs. Surveys, such as the StandPoint Faculty Engagement Survey, require (through laws governing human subjects’ research) that the AAMC disclose collection procedures, data storage plans, and analysis and reporting expectations to participants prior to participation. Creating confidence in the integrity of the survey is beneficial both to participants and to each institution. As with all employee surveys, faculty members are more likely to participate and provide candid responses if they know their identity will be protected.