Every semester, scores of online research surveys flood inboxes, prodding students to consider topics ranging from CTools to casual sexual encounters.

But since 2009, the University has distributed an undergraduate survey of a different kind — one hoping to provide administrators, colleges and departments with a wider window into the student experience. The appeal stated on the “University of Michigan Asks You” or UMAY survey’s website is simple. “Tell Michigan what you’re thinking.”

The survey, which went live late last month, asks students to respond to questions gauging their University experiences in areas such as diversity, academics, campus life and affordability.

Now in its fourth round after being offered in 2009, 2010, and 2011, the University joins many other public research universities, in addition to the nine campuses of the University of California system, in conducting this type of survey.

The cost to the University of participating in the survey is $20,000 per year, in addition to the costs associated with data collection and other administrative aspects. The survey is sponsored by the Office of Provost and administered by Will Greenland and Karen Zaruba, who work in the Office of Budget and Planning.

After its start at University of California, Berkeley, the University was one of the first schools approached to join a consortium of universities administering the survey. Though the survey is nearly identical at all campuses, it includes a fourth module that can be customized by each participating university.

Each year, member universities convene to discuss potential questions and adjust previous survey forms. Zaruba said that in 2010, the universities decided to add a module concerning financial topics to address the recent economic downturn.

Greenland said the University often uses the data gained from the survey to spur conversations among multiple University departments, offices and colleges.

“One of the best uses of the data is you can look at two different populations on campus and see how their population is different,” Greenland said. “One number doesn’t tell you a lot. If you look at two populations and they have a different number, that can tell you something.”

Engineering Prof. James Holloway, associate Engineering dean for undergraduate education, said he and Engineering Dean Dave Munson often face stacks of hundreds of pages of data on their desks when the survey data is released.

Holloway said the survey data is important for sparking conversations within academic units. For example, after comparing survey results on academic advising throughout departments, engineering advisers started to consider ways to improve their own advising program.

“We really do look at this data and try to make changes and create conversations,” Holloway said. “We really appreciate students taking the time to fill it out.”

Additionally, the consortium of other schools administering the survey allows the University to compare its results to the collective responses at the other universities.

Zaruba said the nationwide comparison factor is also crucial in effectively using the data, allowing the University to indicate whether problems or successes are specifically relevant at the University or nationwide.

“It is a little bit like going out and talking to a lot of students,” Greenland said. “You start to get a feel what issues are on people’s minds or this is an issue students face in their daily lives.”