NSCG Mailing Materials

APPENDIX E

Survey Mailing Materials

Page 1 – Web-First Sample - Prenotice Letters (Mailed at Week 0)
Page 2 – Mail-First Sample - Prenotice Letters (Mailed at Week 0)
Page 3 – Web-First Sample - Invitation Letter (Mailed at Week 1)
Page 4 – Mail-First Sample - Invitation Letter (Mailed at Week 1)
Page 5 – CATI-First Sample - Invitation Letter (Mailed at Week 1)
Page 6 – Thank You / Reminder Postcard (Mailed at Week 2)
Page 7 – Web-First Sample - Reminder Letter (Mailed at Week 4)
Page 8 – Web-First Sample – Mail Invite Letter (Mailed at Week 7)
Page 9 – Web-First Sample – CATI Invite Letter (Mailed at Week 12)
Page 10 – Web-First Sample – Mail Reminder Letter (Mailed at Week 18)
Page 11 – Web-First Sample – Final Letter (Mailed at Week 25)
Page 12 – Frequently Asked Questions (included on the back of every letter)

[WEB-FIRST SAMPLE - PRENOTICE LETTER]
Census letterhead

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

Dear Mr. John Doe:
I am writing to ask for your help with the 2013 National Survey of College Graduates. The National
Science Foundation (NSF), an agency of the federal government, has sponsored and the U.S.
Census Bureau has conducted this important ongoing study since the 1970s. This study enables us
to obtain knowledge about how people use their education as economic conditions change and as
they age.
In a few days, you will receive a letter that will include a user name and password to access the
survey on the web. The website will provide you with a fuller description of the study and our
reasons for contacting you. Your cooperation in this study will help to ensure the validity of the
study results.
If you do not receive another letter within two weeks or have any questions about the study, please
contact the Census Bureau between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST on our toll-free number at 1–888-2625935 or send an e-mail to .
I would greatly appreciate your participation in this important research effort.
Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Acting Director

1

[MAIL-FIRST SAMPLE - PRENOTICE LETTER]
Census letterhead

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

Dear Mr. John Doe:
I am writing to ask for your help with the 2013 National Survey of College Graduates. The National
Science Foundation (NSF), an agency of the federal government, has sponsored and the U.S.
Census Bureau has conducted this important ongoing study since the 1970s. This study enables us
to obtain knowledge about how people use their education as economic conditions change and as
they age.
In a few days, you will receive a letter and questionnaire package that will provide
you with a fuller description of the study and our reasons for contacting you. Your cooperation in
this study will help to ensure the validity of the study results.
If you do not receive a questionnaire within two weeks or have any questions about the study,
please contact the Census Bureau between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST on our toll-free number at
1–888-262-5935 or send an e-mail to .
I would greatly appreciate your participation in this important research effort.
Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Acting Director

2

[WEB-FIRST SAMPLE – INVITATION LETTER]
Census letterhead

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

Dear Mr. John Doe:
I am writing to request your participation in the 2013 National Survey of College Graduates. The National
Science Foundation (NSF), an agency of the federal government, has sponsored and the U.S. Census Bureau
has conducted this important ongoing study since the 1970s.
This study enables us to update knowledge about how people use their education as economic conditions
change and as they age. It helps us study the relationships between education and career opportunity and how
that relationship changes over time. In addition to researchers and policymakers, students making decisions
about their own education and career choices consult this valuable information, as do individuals thinking
about changing careers.
Now, we need you to help update this important information on our country’s highly educated population.
The results from earlier studies are available at the NSF’s web site at http://sestat.nsf.gov.
Because you were scientifically selected, we cannot substitute another college graduate for you. The success
of this national study rests upon your participation. Your response is needed, whether you are currently
working or not.
Complete the survey online by following the two easy steps listed below:
1. Go to https://respond.census.gov/nscg
2. Enter the following information on the opening screen:
Login ID:
Password:
Please complete the survey within two weeks. If you have any questions about the study, please contact the
Census Bureau between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time on our toll-free number at 1-888-262-5935 or send
an e-mail to [email protected].
Thank you for your participation in this important research effort. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Acting Director

3

[MAIL-FIRST SAMPLE – INVITATION LETTER]
Census letterhead

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

Dear Mr. John Doe:
I am writing to request your participation in the 2013 National Survey of College Graduates. The National
Science Foundation (NSF), an agency of the federal government, has sponsored and the U.S. Census Bureau
has conducted this important ongoing study since the 1970s.
This study enables us to update knowledge about how people use their education as economic conditions
change and as they age. It helps us study the relationships between education and career opportunity and how
that relationship changes over time. In addition to researchers and policymakers, students making decisions
about their own education and career choices consult this valuable information, as do individuals thinking
about changing careers.
Now we need you to help update this important information on our country’s highly educated population.
The results from earlier studies are available at the NSF’s web site at http://sestat.nsf.gov.
Because you were scientifically selected, we cannot substitute another college graduate for you. The success
of this national study rests upon your participation. Your response is needed, whether you are currently
working or not.
We would greatly appreciate you responding to this survey online. Filling out the survey on the web saves
money and enables us to prepare results more quickly. To respond to this survey online, please:
1. Go to https://respond.census.gov/nscg
2. Enter the following information on the opening screen:
Login ID:
Password:
If you prefer, you may respond by filling out the enclosed paper questionnaire. We have included a postage
paid envelope for your convenience.
Please complete the survey within two weeks. If you have questions about the study or the questionnaire,
then please contact the Census Bureau between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time on our toll-free number at 1888-262-5935 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Thank you for your participation in this important research effort. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Acting Director
4

[CATI-FIRST SAMPLE – INVITATION LETTER]
Census letterhead

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

Dear Mr. John Doe:
I am writing to request your participation in the 2013 National Survey of College Graduates. We will be
contacting you by telephone in a few days to ask for your help. The National Science Foundation (NSF), an
agency of the federal government, has sponsored and the U.S. Census Bureau has conducted this important
ongoing study since the 1970s.
This study enables us to update knowledge about how people use their education as economic conditions
change and as they age. It helps us study the relationship between education and career opportunity and how
that relationship changes over time. In addition to researchers and policymakers, students making decisions
about their own education and career choices consult this valuable information, as do individuals thinking
about changing careers.
Now, we need you to help update this important information on our country’s highly educated population.
The results from earlier studies are available at the NSF’s web site at http://sestat.nsf.gov.
Because you were scientifically selected, we cannot substitute another college graduate for you. The success
of this national study rests upon your participation. Your response is needed, whether you are currently
working or not.
There are two convenient ways for you to respond: by telephone interview or by filling out the survey on the
Internet. To complete the survey online, follow the two easy steps listed below:
1. Go to https://respond.census.gov/nscg
2. Enter the following information on the opening screen:
Login ID:
Password:
We encourage you to try the Internet option to complete the survey. If you have any questions about the
study or if you prefer a telephone interview and you do not receive a call within two weeks, please contact
the Census Bureau between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time on our toll-free number at 1-888-262-5935 or
send an e-mail to [email protected].
Thank you for your participation in this important research effort. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Acting Director
5

[THANK YOU/REMINDER POSTCARD]

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
1201 East 10th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47132
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Penalty for Private Use, $300
7491-4A(L) (9-2010)

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

__________________________________________________________________________
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0007
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

Last week we sent you a letter for an important national survey. If you have already completed the survey, we
thank you very much for your assistance.
If you have not yet had time to complete the survey, please do so as soon as possible. Your participation is
important for the success of this study.
If you need assistance with this request, please call us between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST on our toll-free number
at 1-888-262-5935 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Acting Director

6

[WEB-FIRST SAMPLE – REMINDER LETTER]
Census letterhead

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

Dear Mr. John Doe:
About five weeks ago, we asked you to participate in a study that helps the U.S. government decide how to
invest in research and education. The U.S. government’s funding of research and education influences the
employment and advancement opportunities of the people of the United States.
To date, we have not received a response from you. Your response is important to this study, even if you are
retired, do not work, or work in a field that differs from that of your education or training.
Completing the survey on the web is easy, convenient, and fast. The survey web site is secure, and all
information that you provide is strictly confidential and protected by U.S. law, which imposes severe
criminal sanctions if any U.S. Census Bureau employee violates these provisions.
Please complete the survey online today by following the two easy steps listed below:
1. Go to https://respond.census.gov/nscg
2. Enter the following information on the opening screen:
Login ID:
Password:

If you have questions about 2013 National Survey of College Graduates, then please contact the Census
Bureau between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time on our toll-free number at 1-888-262-5935 or send an email to [email protected].
Thank you in advance for your contribution to this valuable research effort.
Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Acting Director

7

[WEB-FIRST SAMPLE – MAIL INVITATION LETTER]
Census letterhead

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

Dear Mr. John Doe:
Recently, we asked you to participate in a study that helps the U.S. government decide how to invest in
research and education. The U.S. government’s funding of research and education influences the
employment and advancement opportunities of the people of the United States.
To date, we have not received a response from you. Your response is important to this study, even if you are
retired, do not work, or work in a field that differs from that of your education or training. All information
that you provide is strictly confidential and protected by U.S. law, which imposes severe criminal sanctions if
any U.S. Census Bureau employee violates these provisions.
We would greatly appreciate you responding to this survey online. Filling out the survey on the web saves
money and enables us to prepare results more quickly. To respond to this survey online, please:
1. Go to https://respond.census.gov/nscg
2. Enter the following information on the opening screen:
Login ID:
Password:
If you prefer, you may respond by filling out the enclosed paper questionnaire. We have included a postage
paid envelope for your convenience.
Please complete the survey within two weeks. If you have any questions about 2013 National Survey of
College Graduates, then please contact the Census Bureau between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time on our
toll-free number at 1-888-262-5935 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Thank you in advance for your contribution to this valuable research effort.
Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Acting Director

8

[WEB-FIRST SAMPLE – CATI INVITATION LETTER]
Census letterhead

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

Dear Mr. John Doe:
Recently, we asked you to participate in a study that helps the U.S. government decide how to invest in
research and education. The U.S. government’s funding of research and education influences the
employment and advancement opportunities of the people of the United States.
To date, we have not received a response from you. Your response is important to this study, even if you are
retired, do not work, or work in a field that differs from that of your education or training. All information
that you provide is strictly confidential and protected by U.S. law, which imposes severe criminal sanctions if
any U.S. Census Bureau employee violates these provisions.
We will be contacting you by telephone in a few days to ask for your help. The National Science Foundation
(NSF), an agency of the federal government, has sponsored and the U.S. Census Bureau has conducted this
important ongoing study since the 1970s.
There are two convenient ways for you to respond: by telephone interview or by filling out the survey on the
Internet. To complete the survey online, follow the two easy steps listed below:
1. Go to https://respond.census.gov/nscg
2. Enter the following information on the opening screen:
Login ID:
Password:
We encourage you to try the Internet option to complete the survey. If you have any questions about the
study or if you prefer a telephone interview and you do not receive a call within two weeks, please contact
the Census Bureau between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time on our toll-free number at 1-888-262-5935 or
send an e-mail to [email protected].
Thank you in advance for your contribution to this valuable research effort.
Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Acting Director

9

[WEB-FIRST SAMPLE – MAIL REMINDER LETTER]
NSF letterhead

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

Dear Mr. John Doe:
The 2013 round of the National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG) ends in July, and we at the National
Science Foundation are asking for your help by completing the survey now. We realize that your time is
valuable, but we really need your participation for the study results to be accurate and representative.
The NSCG is the only definitive source of data about the educational outcomes of our nation's collegeeducated population, and your contribution to it is vital. You were selected as part of a statistical
sample of graduates to represent the college-educated population in the United States. We cannot replace you
with anyone else.
Would you please take a few moments to complete the survey now? We would greatly appreciate your
responding to this survey online. Completing the survey on the web saves money and enables us to
prepare results more quickly. To respond to this survey online, please:
1. Go to https://respond.census.gov/nscg
2. Enter the following information on the opening screen:
Login ID:
Password:
If you prefer, you may respond by filling out the enclosed paper questionnaire. We have included a
postage-paid envelope for your convenience. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please call our
toll-free number at 1-888-262-5935 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Staff are available from 9 a.m. to
10 p.m. Eastern Time to assist you.
Thank you in advance for your contribution to this valuable research effort.
Sincerely,

John Gawalt
Acting Director
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics

10

[WEB-FIRST SAMPLE – FINAL LETTER]
Census letterhead

MR JOHN DOE
123 MAIN STREET
ANYTOWN, ST 12345

Dear Mr. John Doe:
Time is running out to respond to the 2013 National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG). Your response to
this voluntary survey within two weeks is greatly needed. By reaching every possible respondent, we
maximize the accuracy and representativeness of the survey results. Since the early 1970s, this survey has
provided data on patterns of education and job experiences for our Nation’s college graduates.
The survey will take about 25 minutes to complete. You may answer the survey questions online using the
following secure Web site along with your unique login ID and password:
https://respond.census.gov/nscg
Login ID:
Password:
Alternatively, the survey questionnaire we sent in our previous mailing may be completed and returned. If
you have any questions regarding the survey, please call our toll-free number at 1–888–262–5935 or
send an e-mail to [email protected]. Survey staff are available between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern
Time to answer your questions.
The Census Bureau is conducting this survey under the authority of the National Science Foundation
Act of 1950; Title 13 and Title 15, United States Code, Section 8 and 1525, respectively; and the
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA). CIPSEA requires us
to keep all information about you confidential and to use the information for statistical purposes only.
Your help is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg
Acting Director

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National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the NSCG?
The NSCG, in 2013, will survey about 145,000 people with at least a bachelor’s degree in science
and engineering related fields or working in these fields. Conducted since the 1970s, the survey is
the most important source of information on the education and career paths of the nation’s collegeeducated population.
How is the information used?
The survey data provides important information about the education and career paths of the nation’s
college graduates. The data provides characteristics of the college-educated people in the
workforce, such as the sector they work in, whether they are working in their degree field, the type
of occupations they hold, their salary, and their demographics. These data are needed to make
informed decisions about how to best utilize the limited resources in the areas of research,
education, and job training.
What authority do you have to collect this data? How will you keep my information
confidential?
This information is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as
amended, and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. The
Census Bureau is conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13 and Title 15, United States
Code, Section 8 and 1525, respectively. This law requires us to keep all information about you
strictly confidential. We will use this information only for statistical purposes. Any Census Bureau
employee who violates these provisions is subject to a fine up to $250,000 or a prison sentence up
to five years or both.
Why don’t you select someone else? Do I have to participate?
You were randomly chosen to represent hundreds of others in the same field. Once a person has
been selected in the sample, we cannot call another person because it would harm the quality of the
sample data we collect. If we don’t obtain responses from the people selected, the study could
produce very biased data. Your response is voluntary, and you do not have to answer all of the
questions.
How long will this survey take?
The amount of time it takes for any one person to complete the questionnaire differs and it really
depends on individual circumstances or responses to the questions. Based on pretests, the average
time to complete the questionnaire is about 25 minutes. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspects of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to the National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd. Suite 295, Arlington, VA
22230, Attn: NSF Reports Clearance Officer.
Additional information about this survey
Under 5 CFR 1320.5(b), an agency cannot conduct, sponsor, or require a response to a collection of
information unless the collection displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) approval number. The OMB approval number for this survey is 3145-0141 and the
expiration date is July 2016.

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