We know that you want your voice heard. So, fill out the State of the Academy (SOTA) survey. We are here to stifle any rebuttals you might have.
“We don’t have enough time.”
Andover students are busy. We acknowledge that the survey will take up your time, but only about twenty minutes of it (or even fifteen minutes depending on how quickly you click)! We encourage you to fill it out with friends, and turn it into something fun. You may learn things about one another.
“We’re going to get tracked.”
The SOTA is 100% anonymous. Pinky promise.
“Who cares?”
Many students may believe that the SOTA is not impactful. Why spend twenty minutes of your time if your data is going nowhere? Yet, SOTA data has a larger influence on your Andover experience than you may realize.
Faculty and administration regularly look to SOTA data when making decisions about programs, policies, and initiatives. This data is one of the few structured ways wider student perspectives can formally enter such conversations. Past responses have helped guide initiatives at places like the Brace Center, informed the design of new student programs, and supported applications for your fellow students’ Abbot Grants that fund new opportunities on campus. Every year, new questions are added and modified to make sure that they address concerns that are actually relevant to you. This time around, we’ve asked questions about the recent cell phone policy, perceptions of grading standards, the effectiveness of task forces, and thoughts on having student voices in the Head of School search.
Moreover, participation itself matters. Higher SOTA participation demonstrates that our student body cares about having its voice heard, and makes it harder for our voices to be overlooked. The more people participate, the more compelling the data is.
To the 25.8% of you who passed on the SOTA last year, if you are still at this school, this is your chance to turn over a new leaf. The other 74.2% of you who filled out the SOTA, you have our deep gratitude. Thank you all.
