If you received this letter via your LUC email, you have been randomly selected to participate in the 2012 Core Survey.  Only students who received this letter are eligible to participate.  Your participation is greatly appreciated as the data you provide helps shape the health and well-being of Loyola's community.  You also have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a chance to win 1 of 20 prizes!
 

INTRODUCTION LETTER

Dear Student,

Tomorrow an invitation to participate in the Web-based Core Alcohol and Drug Survey (Core) will be sent to you via email from The Core Institute. Today I would like to give you information about the upcoming survey and explain why I hope you will participate.

You have been randomly selected from a list of undergraduate students at Loyola University Chicago. If you choose to participate you will be eligible to enter a prize drawing for one of 20 prizes including a $200 airline ticket to anywhere in the continental US, $100 Best Buy gift cards, $100 Apple Store gift cards, $50 Target or Starbucks gift cards, $25 AMC Theater, DSW, GAP, American Eagle, Old Navy gift cards, or $15 iTunes or Starbucks gift cards.

The Core is designed to help researchers understand student behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions about alcohol and other drugs in order to provide better services and support for college students. You may benefit by knowing that you have assisted in providing accurate information that will be used to develop health programs, services, and other resources for students at Loyola. In addition, survey results may be used in current and/or future studies conducted by the Wellness Center.

Your participation is completely voluntary and anonymous. The Core is completed online and takes about 25 minutes. We encourage people to complete the survey in one sitting, but it is not necessary to do so. 

There may be some personal discomfort with the content of certain questions. For example, there are questions regarding behaviors such as illegal substance use and sexual behavior. Your name and e-mail address will never be associated with your responses. You may choose to answer only some questions, or you may choose not to participate in the survey at all. If, after completing the survey you feel you need help with a health, substance use, or emotional problem, confidential services are available to you at the Loyola University Chicago Wellness Center at 773-508-2530.

To access the survey, a web link and a 5-digit school code will be provided in tomorrow’s invitation. If you choose to link to the survey web site you are acknowledging that you are 18 years of age or older, and you are agreeing to participate in the Core. Once you have accessed the web page, log in using the 5-digit school code, which will connect you to Loyola’s Core survey. Your email address or other personal information is never associated with your survey responses. You will be given a password that is known only by you in the event you need to re-access the survey to complete it at a later time. Data transmission is encrypted and firewall securities are in place.

After you submit the survey to the secure server you will be able to enter your name, email, and phone number and be entered into the prize drawing. Again, your contact information is never linked to your survey responses. The final survey responses will be housed at the Core Institute where individual student responses will be compiled in aggregate. The aggregate data set that is forwarded to the Wellness Center will not include personal identification such as e-mail addresses.

Questions and concerns you may have regarding participation in this survey can be directed to me at 773-508-3196. You may also contact Loyola’s Compliance Manager at 773-508-2689 if you have questions about your rights as a research participant.

Watch for the survey tomorrow and thank you for your participation!

Diane Asaro, MSN, RN

Director

Loyola University Chicago Wellness Center