Support Page Content
National College Health Assessment (NCHA)
Your Voice. Your Health. Your Hive.
The National College Health Assessment (NCHA) is a confidential, national survey that helps us better understand student health, well-being, safety, and campus experiences.
The survey opens on March 2, 2026 and will remain open for three weeks only.
We have a limited window to hear from as many Hornets as possible.
Your participation directly informs decisions about:
- Mental health services
- Health, wellness, and prevention programming
- Campus safety initiatives
- Student support and basic needs resources
- Policy and funding priorities
This year, the survey is being sent to all Sac State students, giving every Hornet a chance for their voice to be heard. We're calling on our whole Hive to work together to increase representation of all student demographics and reach at least 15% participation (~4,500 students). We want data that truly reflects our Hornet community across race and ethnicity, gender identity, student-athletes, first-generation students, graduate students, international students, and every corner of campus life.
Because the survey is open for only three weeks, early participation makes a difference.
It only takes about 20 - 30 minutes to impact the next four years.
Add your voice. Strengthen the Hive.
For Students
On March 2, you will have received an email invitation to participate in the National College Health Assessment.
The survey:
- takes approximately 20 -30 minutes (You do not have to complete it all at once. You can save your responses and return to complete it later.)
- is completely confidential
- will not be linked back to you
- is administered through an independent, secure national platform
Your responses help shape real change on campus.
See what the survey looks like here.
To get your link to the survey, look for your email with the subject line “Calling all Hornets: add your voice to the 2026 NCHA Survey”
Students from all backgrounds matter in this data. Black, Latinx, APIDA, Indigenous, international, first-generation students, student-athletes, graduate students, student parents, unhoused students, honors students, STEM students, commuter students, and all other Hornets — your experiences are essential to making sure campus decisions reflect reality.
How to Take the Survey
- Check your Sac State email inbox.
- Look for the email you received on March 2 with the subject line: “Calling all Hornets: add your voice to the 2026 NCHA Survey”
- If you have time, take the full survey all at once. If you only have a minute, just get it started for now, and save your responses. You can come back to it when you have more time.
- You can also join one of our “Survey & Snack Pop-Ups.” Use our Wifi and enjoy free snacks while you complete your survey.
How to Enter the Prize Drawing
Add your voice to the data before March 22
Because the survey is confidential, we cannot automatically link your responses to the prize drawing.
To enter:
- Complete the survey.
- You will receive a verification email after submitting your responses.
- Download the PDF of that email or take a screenshot.
- Upload your verification using this form
Only the verification email is required — your survey responses remain confidential.
Winners will be selected at random the week after the survey closes.
Prizes include:
- A Fall 2026 Campus Parking Permit or A Spring 2027 Graduation Package
- AirPods
- Sac State swag
- Blind boxes
- and more...
For Faculty
Faculty encouragement is critical to increasing student participation in campus-wide surveys.
You can support this effort by:
- Making a brief in-class announcement
- Posting the survey link in Canvas
- Sharing the link in a course email
- Including the survey slide in your lecture
- Offering time in class to take the survey
- Offering extra credit to students who can provide verification of their completed survey. Students have told us that of all the incentives we can offer, they are most likely to participate if offered extra credit.
Thank you for supporting student engagement in this important initiative to improve the health of our hive.
For Staff & Administrators
The National College Health Assessment (NCHA) provides essential data that informs:
- Health service capacity planning
- Counseling and prevention programming
- Policy decisions
- Resource allocation
- Campus climate improvement efforts
Strong participation ensures:
- More representative data
- Better insight into underrepresented student experiences
- More reliable decision-making
We encourage staff and administrators to:
- Share the survey in department or area newsletters, on Canvas, or on CampusGroups
- Reinforce participation during meetings
- Encourage student leaders to participate
- Promote awareness within departments and units
Our 2026 goal is 15% (~4,500 students). Achieving or exceeding this benchmark will significantly strengthen the usefulness of the data and affirm Sac State as a campus united in data-informed, health-centered, and inclusive decision-making.
About the Survey & Confidentiality
The National College Health Assessment is administered through the American College Health Association (ACHA), a national organization serving colleges and universities across the country.
Important information:
- The survey is confidential.
- No identifying information is linked to responses.
- Data will be reported in aggregate form only.
- Individual responses cannot be accessed by faculty, staff, or administrators.
Participation is voluntary but strongly encouraged.
Thank you for helping shape the future of our Hive.
Every response helps ensure our campus policies, programs, and investments reflect the lived experiences of Sac State students.
Questions about the NCHA Survey?
Contact:
Dr. Danee Pye, PhD I Health Communication Specialist
Student Health, Counseling, and Wellness Services
(916) 278-2911 | d.pye@csus.edu