For the spring survey of the 2011 entering cohort, we mailed hard copy letters to all eligible students (regardless of whether they participated in the fall) informing them about the upcoming second wave of data collection. We included $2 bills in the mailing as an added incentive to participate. Parallel to the fall, e-mail invitations were sent through university e-mail accounts with a link to the on-line survey. Two surveys were programmed for the spring: one was a follow-up survey sent to individuals who had participated in the fall. The other was a survey sent to individuals who did not participate in the fall, giving them a second chance to become part of the project. Their survey consisted of an abbreviated number of questions asking them to retrospectively report on items from the fall survey, and a reduced number of the spring follow-up items. In this way, their total survey length was comparable to the spring follow-up survey, since survey length was cited as a major deterrent to participation in the fall in student focus groups. We plan to follow all participants with annual surveys each spring throughout the duration of their college years and beyond (as funding permits).
