Strategic Goals

Strategic Goal #1

Reach national prominence as an academic source of high quality survey research practice and services.

Objectives and Strategies

1. Improve existing methods of conducting CSBR research to advance the quality of the data generated.

   1. Review training materials and procedures bi-annually to determine areas needing improvement or revision.

   2. Review and disseminate survey methods research on an ongoing basis and incorporate demonstrated best practices into both design and data collection procedures.

2. Improve capacity for conducting large data collection efforts.

   1. Locate additional space for potential expansion of the Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) facility.

   2. Identify 2-3 academic survey research organizations with whom CSBR could partner on large projects.

3. Provide ongoing training and education for all staff to ensure high quality research design, data collection and analysis.

   1. Disseminate key research findings to all research support and field supervisors on a regular basis.

   2. Support annual attendance at professional conferences and training for all key staff.

   3. Support bi-annual attendance of the field supervisor to the national conference of survey field directors.

4. Identify and develop relationships with potential collaborators inside and outside the University to learn about their survey research needs and how we can best assist them.

   1. Collaborate with at least 1 previously unaffiliated UNI faculty or staff member on a research proposal or project annually.

   2. Respond to at least 2 national, regional, state or local agency RFPs each year.

   3. The Director and/or Assistant Director will attend at least one statewide research and/or policy conference annually.

   4. The Director and/or Assistant Director will attend at least two national research and/or policy conferences annually.

5. Develop an outreach strategy to disseminate information about CSBR's research capabilities to faculty and other external research partners.

   1. Revise the CSBR logo to be used on all communication tools.

   2. Revise the CSBR web site.

   3. Develop a paper brochure to be used for dissemination of CSBR's mission and research capabilities.

   4. Develop a set of display materials for conferences.

Strategic Goal #2

Help guide the University of Northern Iowa in educating the next generation of survey research professionals.

Objectives and Strategies

1. Serve as a campus-wide resource for undergraduate and graduate education in survey research methods.

   1. Contact all appropriate departments via email with a description of CSBR's facilities and potential for training and support of research assistants.

   2. Develop a structure for a programmatic approach for training of RAs in basic survey methods and analysis.

2. Achieve national prominence as a source of innovative scholarship in survey methods.

   1. Incorporate experiments and tests of survey methods as a regular part of data collection activities.

   2. Make annual presentations of survey methods findings at the AAPOR national conference.

   3. Disseminate findings via survey methods journals and books.

   4. Mentor CSBR students in making presentations at conferences and meetings.

3. Integrate faculty skills and expertise across disciplines and fields contributing to their professional development, research, and educational goals.

   1. Develop an electronic listing of faculty expertise in both content and methods that relate to current areas of interest and potential future areas of interest for proposals.

   2. Contribute to the enhancements of the University's Office of Sponsored Programs.

4. Enable the University of Northern Iowa to serve as a leading voice in state and national survey research scholarship and policy.

   1. The Director and/or Assistant Director will play an active role in national organizations that represent and support survey research - primarily the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the Academic Survey Research Organization (ASRO).

Strategic Goal #3

Maintain and enhance CSBR's reputation as a leading provider of comprehensive survey research services in the state of Iowa.

Objectives and Strategies

1. Identify the current and potential users of CSBR services within the state of Iowa.

   1. Develop a listing of past and current clients, contacts and project names.

   2. Review state and local organizations to develop a listing of potential clients.

2. Evaluate current activities and continuously develop new activities to effectively serve our statewide users' needs.

   1. Develop a brief quality assessment tool for clients at the close of projects.

   2. Review responses to the quality assessment and revise practices as indicated.

3. Try new technologies, educational tools, mechanisms of outreach, and forms of stakeholder interaction to enhance the opportunities for education and consultation and to enhance our standing as a leading provider of quality survey research services for units of state and local governments.

   1. Investigate new vendors or software to expand capacity to conduct web surveys.

   2. Mail a CSBR informational brochure to key state agencies and local organizations.

Strategic Goal #4

Maintain a sustainable, diverse and productive social research center at The University of Northern Iowa.

Objectives and Strategies

1. Achieve sufficient and stable funding to support CSBR’s core activities.

   1. Advocate for CSBR’s continued funding at the college and university level.

   2. Increase external funding by 10% annually.

   3. Identify and maintain internal funding sources that provide bridging during periods of low external funding.

2. Achieve a critical mass of personnel able to carry out CSBR’s mission.

   1. Hire and train interviewers early in their UNI career to reduce turnover.

   2. Provide wage increases based on merit to increase commitment and reduce turnover of all staff members.

   3. Increase professional staffing to adequately support research activities and to assure high quality outcomes.

3. Provide leadership and oversight within CSBR on a continuum from daily operations to long-term planning and resource generation.Utilize technology to enhance CSBR operations and distribute information.

   1. Administrators will maintain an “open-door” policy for staff to communicate concerns and suggestions for improvements in daily operations.

   2. Review and revise as needed the strategic plan annually.

4. Utilize technology to enhance CSBR operations and distribute information.

5. Review and update the CSBR web site annually.

6. Maintain a search-enabled electronic listing of all reports and manuscripts.