Student Housing Experience Survey

Your personal information is treated confidentially, in accordance with UBC’s Privacy policies and the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (FIPPA).

Only the survey administrators and technicians have access to student names, IDs, or contact information for troubleshooting survey issues and response validation. The team consists of two to three professional staff members.

Participant responses will not be linked back to individual students in any analysis and reporting. Data will be disaggregated for analysis (see below).

Learn more about Privacy in Student Housing, how personal information is handled at UBC and the university’s Protection of Privacy information and guidance.

Certain personal information about students is not available at Student Housing. This information is gathered for disaggregated analysis.

When a data set is disaggregated, it means it has been broken down into specific, detailed sub-categories. Disaggregated data and subsequent analysis are invaluable tools to explore inequalities that may exist in Student Housing. This data helps to gather insight into residents’ experiences and inform new, strategic actions that focus on advancing equity, diversity and inclusion.

Survey participants will always be given a “prefer not to answer” option for the following data categories:

• Sexual orientation
• Spiritual and religious beliefs
• Race
• Current employment status
• History with alcohol, nicotine and cannabis

Sexual orientation, spiritual and religious beliefs and race

Historically, people of different sexual orientations, spiritual and religious beliefs, and races have experienced inequality due to differences in power dynamics and privilege.  Gathering this information allows Student Housing to amplify the voices of students belonging to underrepresented and marginalized groups.

Current employment status

Students may choose to take on employment opportunities in addition to school for many reasons. Student Housing seeks to understand how their experience in residence may be impacted regarding seeking support, maintaining personal well-being, and their sense of belonging in the community, etc.

History with alcohol, nicotine and cannabis

UBC is committed to substance use health and harm reduction.  This information allows Student Housing to identify potential gaps in our co-curricular programs.

Volunteering for Further Assessment

Participants can indicate if they are open to being contacted for a future qualitative follow-up, such as participating in a focus group or informational interview. Should consent be given, an invitation may be extended because the participant is part of a group of students from whom further insight is sought. However, individual responses will not be used to identify participants beyond the invitation.

The results of each survey provide crucial information for assessment that can lead to improvements within different operations to best serve students living in Student Housing.
View a summary of the 2024/25 survey results to see what areas of the residence experience we’re prioritizing in 2025/26 and beyond.

Each survey topic usually runs on a three to five-year cycle, focusing on different units of Student Housing and Community Services in order to identify priority areas to elevate residents’ experience. Specific questions may change as necessary.

• Survey development starts in the summer.
• Term 1 survey goes through feedback and revision in September and early October.
• Term 2 survey goes through feedback and revision in December and January.

A survey is conducted once in the Fall term, and again in the Winter term. The survey is open for two weeks.

• Term 1: October
• Term 2: February

• A report for each survey result will be made available to all relevant unit leaders in the month following survey closure.
• Key findings will be made available for students to access on this website in the summer term following the Term 2 survey closure.

Share your experience in the Spill The Bean survey.

If you have not submitted a maintenance request, please use the Online Service Centre or StarRez (Acadia Park residents). Do not attempt to fix residence property on your own.

For ongoing facilities concerns or issues, you may wish to contact your Building Services Manager.

Speak with your Residence Advisor or Residence Life Manager.

Please contact the relevant email for your residence area

information@housing.ubc.ca for general inquiries.
summer@housing.ubc.ca for Summer Session residence.
family@housing.ubc.ca for Student Family Residence.