NCHA Letter of Introduction/Consent Template - Introductory consent letter for online health assessment

Aug 31, 2026

Upload by Angel

This document provides a customizable NCHA (National College Health Assessment) letter template used to invite and obtain consent from selected campus students to participate in an online health assessment. It explains the survey’s purpose for improving campus wellness services, typical completion time, potential sensitive question topics, and available campus and national resources. It also details voluntary, confidential participation, data handling and encryption, withdrawal rights, and how to access the survey link and opt out of reminders.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Letter of Introduction/Consent Template

Invitation and Survey Purpose

Survey Completion and Incentives

Sensitive Questions and Support Resources

Voluntary Participation, Confidentiality, and Data Use

Consent Statement and Withdrawal Rights

Contact Information, Privacy Measures, and Survey Access

Unsubscribe from Reminder Messages

NCHA Letter of Introduction/Consent Template Instructions: Please customize the text below in red for your particular campus and then change all text back to black. We will not send a survey invitation to students that does not accurately reflect our methodology and privacy procedures. If you need to make other changes to the letter, please submit them to the ACHA Research Team for review before submitting your IRB application. Dear (insert generic greeting or “first name”) You have been (randomly selected, selected as a member of the sophomore class, or indicate that all students will be surveyed, etc) to participate in the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) sponsored and distributed by the American College Health Association (ACHA). The ACHA-NCHA is a survey designed to assess student health behaviors in order to provide better services and support for (name of school) students. You may benefit by knowing that you have assisted in providing accurate information regarding health/wellness behaviors on our campus. The information will be used to develop wellness programs and services for (name of school). The NCHA is completed online. We encourage you to complete the survey in one sitting, which typically takes about 20-30 minutes. (All students who submit a survey will be automatically entered in a random drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates for the campus bookstore! - Insert incentives as applicable.) There may be some personal discomfort with the content of certain questions. For example, there are questions regarding illegal substance use, interpersonal violence, and sexual behavior. If you’d like to talk with someone about issues addressed in the survey, you may contact (name/contact info for campus resources.) Your participation is completely voluntary and confidential. To ensure confidentiality, e-mail addresses are destroyed by ACHA before data are compiled and shared with (name of school). The raw data file that is shared with your school will not contain any unique identifiers. If you feel that answering specific demographic questions might reveal your identity, you may leave them blank. You may answer only some questions, or you may choose not to participate in the survey at all. Any reports or publications based on this research will use only group data and will not identify you or any individual as being affiliated with this project. By taking this survey, you consent to participate in the study and agree that the purpose of this study has been satisfactorily explained to you. You understand you are free to discontinue participation at any time if you so choose and that the researcher will gladly answer any questions that may arise during the course of the research. Refusing or withdrawing from this study will be at no penalty or loss of benefits to you. You may contact (insert campus contact person/info) if you have questions or concerns about the survey. If you would like to talk with someone about the issues addressed in this survey, you are encouraged to reach out to (campus contact person) or to contact one of these HYPERLINK "https://www.acha.org/ncha/resources/resources-for-students/resources-for-students-in-us/"national resources. Data transmission is encrypted and firewall securities are in place. After you submit the survey to the secure server, a message thanking you for taking the NCHA will be displayed in your browser window, and you will receive a confirmation email. (Add any language required by your IRB including approval number or IRB contact person.) If you agree to participate in the NCHA, click on the following Internet address to continue: (ACHA to insert survey link here) Thank you for your cooperation! (campus contact person) and the American College Health Association If you do not want to receive reminder messages about completing the survey, please click here to remove yourself from the survey mailing list: (ACHA to insert unsubscribe link here)

FAQs

What is the purpose of the NCHA survey described in this letter?

The letter explains that the NCHA is designed to assess student health behaviors so the school can develop better wellness programs and services.

How long does it take to complete the NCHA survey, and how is it administered?

It is completed online and is encouraged to be finished in one sitting, typically taking about 20–30 minutes.

How does the letter address confidentiality and data handling?

It states that e-mail addresses are destroyed before data compilation and sharing, the raw data file contains no unique identifiers, and any results use only group data.

What should a student do to give consent and access the survey?

If they agree to participate, they should click the provided internet address (survey link) to continue and submit the survey to the secure server.

Aug 31, 2026

Upload by Angel