SED Nonrespondent Contact Materials

ATTACHMENT 8: SED Nonrespondent Contact Materials
2024 SED Communications
Type

To

From

Email

Nonrespondents

NSF Project
Officer

Email

Nonrespondents

NSF Project
Officer

Email

Nonrespondents

NSF Project
Officer

Email

Nonrespondents

NSF Project
Officer

Email

Nonrespondents

Email

Nonrespondents

Email

Nonrespondents

Email

Nonrespondents

Email

Nonrespondents

Email

Nonrespondents

Email

Nonrespondents

Email

Nonrespondents

Letter

Nonrespondents

Post
Card
Letter

Nonrespondents

Letter

Nonrespondents

NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer
NSF Project
Officer

Text
Text
Email

Nonrespondents
Nonrespondents
Advisors of
Nonrespondents

NSF Project
Officer

Email

Advisors of
Nonrespondents

NSF Project
Officer

Email

Nonrespondents

Email

Nonrespondents

SED Project
Staff
ROC Staff

Email

Nonrespondents

ROC Staff

Email

Nonrespondents

ROC Staff

Nonrespondents

Content

Expected Date
st

Email #1A – 1 nonrespondent
email prompt *have not
registered for survey
Email #1B – 1st nonrespondent
email prompt *have
registered, but not completed
Email #2A – 2nd
nonrespondent email prompt
*have not registered for survey
Email #2B – 2nd nonrespondent
email prompt *have
registered, but have broken off
Email #3 – 3rd nonrespondent
email prompt
Email #4 – 4th nonrespondent
email prompt
Email #5 – 5th nonrespondent
email prompt
Email #6 – 6th nonrespondent
email prompt
Email #7 – 7th nonrespondent
email prompt
Email #8 – 8th nonrespondent
email prompt
Email #9 – 9th nonrespondent
email prompt
Email #10 – Final
nonrespondent email prompt
Mail #1 – 1st Nonresponse
Mailing
Mail #2 – Pressure Sealed
Postcard Reminder
Mail #3 – 2nd Nonresponse
Mailing
International Mailing –
Mailing to non-US addresses
Text Messages #1 - #6
Text Message #8
Requesting student contact
information from faculty
advisors of nonrespondents
Reminder email requesting
student contact information
from faculty advisors of
nonrespondents
SED Web Login Info Email sent
during/after CATI call
Follow-up email sent after
CATI voicemail
Email sent to NR who received
10 calls without contact “no
contact email”
Email to respondents we have
spoken with but no interview
was conducted

Timing

11/2023-ongoing

11/2023-ongoing

12/2023-ongoing

Sent two weeks after Email
#1A

12/2023-ongoing

Sent two weeks after Email
#1B

12/2023-ongoing

Sent two weeks after Email
#2
Sent two weeks after Email
#3
Sent two weeks after Email
#4

12/2023-ongoing
12/2023-ongoing
8/2024-ongoing
9/2024-ongoing

Sent two weeks after Email
#6

12/2024
12/2024
12/2024

Sent one week after Email
#8
Sent one week after Email
#9

6/2024-ongoing
6/2024-ongoing
7/2024-ongoing

Sent two weeks after the
1st letter
Sent two weeks after the
postcard reminder

10/2024
4/2024-12/2024
12/2024
8/2024-ongoing

Sent two weeks apart

8/2024-ongoing

Sent two weeks after the
initial request

7/2024-ongoing
7/2024-ongoing
10/2024-ongoing

10/2024-ongoing

EMAIL #1A—1ST PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS WHO HAVE NOT REGISTERED (Stage 351)
Subject: Survey Invitation from the National Science Foundation
Dear Dr. ,
Congratulations on earning your doctoral degree! As a recent graduate of , you are invited to participate in the
Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), a census of all new U.S. research doctorate recipients that has been conducted every year since
1958. The SED is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies.
Your response contributes to valuable data that are used to analyze the characteristics of doctorate cohorts, assess investments in
graduate student support, and make improvements to the doctorate education system.
To complete the SED, click the button below. For security, you will be asked to create a new password prior to starting the survey.

Alternately, you can go login to https://sed-ncses.org and use the credentials provided below:
PIN:
Password:

351

Your responses will be kept strictly confidential and only aggregate data are publicly reported. If you have any questions, please visit
the SED information website at https://sedsurvey.org/ or contact the SED help desk at sed@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Your participation would be greatly appreciated. Congratulations again on your achievement!
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

Study sponsored by:

For information on the SED, please visit https://nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/.
2024 SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF.
2024_351

EMAIL #1B—1ST PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS WHO HAVE REGISTERED BUT NOT COMPLETED (Stage 352)
Subject: A reminder from the National Science Foundation
Dear Dr. ,
Congratulations on earning your doctoral degree! I am sending you a friendly reminder to please complete the Survey of Earned
Doctorates (SED). As a recent doctoral graduate of , your participation in this year’s SED is very important.
Your response contributes to valuable data that are used to analyze the characteristics of doctorate cohorts, assess investments in
graduate student support, and make improvements to the doctorate education system.
To access the survey, please go to https://sed-ncses.org and use your credentials below:
PIN:
Password:

352
********

If you do not remember the password that you set when you registered for the SED, click the “Reset My Password” link on
the login page or contact our Help Desk at sed@rti.org.
The survey asks about your educational history and post-graduation plans, and should only take about 20 minutes to complete. Your
responses will be kept strictly confidential and only aggregate data are publicly reported.
If you have any questions, please visit the SED information website at https://sedsurvey.org/ or contact the SED help desk at
sed@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Thank you in advance for your participation, and we look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

Study sponsored by:

For information on the SED, please visit https://nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/.
2024 SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF.
2024_352

EMAIL #2A—2nd PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS WHO STILL HAVE NOT REGISTERED (Stage 353)

Subject: Survey of Earned Doctorates
Dear Dr. ,
We recently reached out to you with information for completing the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). As a recent doctoral
graduate of , your participation in this year’s SED is essential. By completing the survey, you provide valuable
information that is used by policymakers and universities to analyze changes in the characteristics of doctorate recipients, assess
investments in graduate student support, and make improvements to the U.S. doctoral education system.
To complete the SED, click the button below. For security, you will be asked to create a new password prior to starting the survey.

Alternately, you can go login to the survey website with your PIN and temporary password below.
https://sed-ncses.org
PIN:
Password:

353

The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete. Your responses will be kept strictly confidential, and only aggregate data will be
publicly reported. More information about the SED and how your information is protected can be found at https://sedsurvey.org/
If you have any questions, please contact us at sed@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Thank you for your participation, and congratulations on your achievement!
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

Study sponsored by:

To learn more about the SED and how the results have been used, please visit https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/.
2024 SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization.
2024_353

EMAIL#2B—2nd PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS WHO HAVE REGISTERED, BREAKOFF CASES (Stage 354)

Subject: Please complete your Survey of Earned Doctorates
Dear Dr. ,
Our records show that you have started the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) but haven’t yet completed it. Your timely
participation helps to ensure that the data are accurate and useful to policymakers and universities across the country.
You can pick up where you left off at https://sed-ncses.org using your credentials below:
PIN:
Password:

354
********

If you do not remember the password you set when you last accessed the SED, click the “Reset My Password” link on the login page
or contact our Help Desk at sed@rti.org.
If you have any questions or need assistance completing the survey, please contact us at sed@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Thank you for your participation, and congratulations on your achievement!
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

Study sponsored by:

For information on the SED, please visit https://nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/
2024 SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF.
2024_354

EMAIL #3—3rd PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS (Stage 355)

Subject: Participation in the Survey of Earned Doctorates
Dear Dr. ,
This is a friendly reminder that we are still waiting for your response to the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), an annual census of
research doctorate recipients from U.S. universities sponsored by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies.
It is very important that the survey data are representative of all research doctorate earners from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
Any information you provide will be kept strictly confidential. Only data aggregated to levels that do not allow for the identification of
individual respondents are released for publication. The SED results are published in an annual report; the reports from earlier
surveys are available at: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/sed/
To complete the SED, click the button below. For security, you will be asked to create a new password prior to starting the survey.

You can also login to the survey website with your PIN and temporary password below.
https://sed-ncses.org
PIN:
355
Password:
If you have any questions, please contact us at sed@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Thank you in advance for your time and assistance.
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

Study sponsored by:

For information on the SED, please visit https://nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/
2024 SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF.
2024_355

EMAIL #4—4th PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS (Stage 356)

Subject: National Science Foundation – Survey of Earned Doctorates
Dear Dr. ,
A few weeks ago, we sent you a reminder to respond to participate in the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), an annual census of
research doctorate recipients from U.S. universities sponsored by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies.
Please consider completing the SED – we would like to include your answers with those of approximately 55,000 other research
doctorate earners from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
The SED is used to make important policy decisions about graduate education, and it is important that the survey data are
representative of all research doctorates in the United States. All information you provide will be kept strictly confidential and only
aggregated data are used in the publications. The SED results are available in an annual report, as well as in the two reports mandated
by Congress - Science and Engineering Indicators, and Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering.
To start the survey, click the button below. To protect your responses, you will be asked to create a new password prior to starting
the survey.

Alternately, you can go login to the survey website with your PIN and temporary password below.
https://sed-ncses.org
PIN:
Password:

356

If you have any questions, please contact us at sed@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Congratulations again, on completing your doctorate!
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

Study sponsored by:

For information on the SED, please visit https://nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/
2024 SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF.
2024_356

EMAIL #5—5th PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS (Stage 357)
Subject: Survey of Earned Doctorates – we need your help
Dear Dr. ,
You are one of only approximately 55,000 research doctorates who earned their degree from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.
Considering this accomplishment, we ask for your help in completing the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), an annual census of
research doctorate recipients from U.S. universities sponsored by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies.
By completing the survey, you provide valuable information used by policymakers and universities to analyze changes in the
characteristics of doctorate recipients, assess investments in graduate student support, and make improvements to the U.S. doctoral
education system.
To complete the SED, click the button below. For security, you will be asked to create a new password prior to starting the survey.

You can also login to the survey website with your PIN and temporary password below.
https://sed-ncses.org
PIN:
Password:

357

If you have any questions, please contact us at sed@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

Study sponsored by:

For information on the SED, please visit https://nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/
2024 SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF.
2024_357

EMAIL #6—6th PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS

Subject: Please remember to complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates

Dear Dr. ,
This is just a friendly reminder to complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), sponsored by the National Science
Foundation (NSF) and three other federal agencies, at your earliest convenience.
Data collected from the SED helps policymakers and universities analyze changes in the characteristics of doctorate
recipients, assess investments in graduate student support, and make improvements to the U.S. doctoral education
system.
You can find out more about what we've learned from previous rounds of the SED at
https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf23300 .
The online survey only takes about 20 minutes, and can be completed at https://sed-ncses.org using your
credential below:
PIN:

Password:
You may also call (877) 256-8167 to complete a brief version of the survey over the telephone, if you prefer. We can also
send a paper version of the survey to you to complete and mail back to us.
Your responses will be kept strictly confidential and only aggregate data are publicly reported. If you have any
questions, please visit the SED information website at https://sedsurvey.org/ or contact the SED help desk at
sed@rti.org.
We look forward to learning about your experiences since earning your doctorate. Congratulations again on your
achievement!
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation
For information on the SED, please visit https://nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/
SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF

EMAIL #7—7th PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS
Subject: Please complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates

Dear Dr. ,
We are still conducting the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and
three other federal agencies but time is running out and we need your help. As a recent doctoral graduate of
, your participation in the SED is very important. The SED asks about your educational history and
post-graduation plans.
I hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity to contribute to research that provides valuable data that are
used by policymakers and universities. Your responses will be kept strictly confidential and only aggregate data are
publicly reported.
The online survey only takes about 20 minutes, and can be completed at https://sed-ncses.org using your
credential below:
PIN:

Password:
If you would prefer to complete a brief version of the survey over the phone, please call 877-256-8167 and reference
your Study ID [PIN]. We can also send a paper version of the survey to you to complete and mail back to us.
If you have any questions, please visit the SED information website at https://sedsurvey.org/ or contact the SED help
desk at sed@rti.org. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation
For information on the SED, please visit https://nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/
SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF

EMAIL #8—8TH PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS

Subject: Importance of Your Participation in the Survey of Earned Doctorates

Dear Dr. ,
The 2024 Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) will soon be closing and we are reluctant to close this year's survey without
your response.
Your information on the 2022 SED will be combined with that of approximately 57,000 other research doctorate
recipients from the academic year 2022 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024). The SED data are used to help inform
governmental policy, evaluate graduate education programs, and make doctorate labor force projections.
To complete the survey, please register at https://sed-ncses.org to obtain the web survey access information.
Please rest assured that only aggregated data will be in published reports. To learn more about the SED and how the
results are used, please visit https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/.
If you have questions, or concerns, please contact us at sed@rti.org or toll-free at (877) 256-8167.
Thank you for your assistance in this important research effort.
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation
SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF

EMAIL #9—9TH PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS

Subject: Reminder to Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates
Dear Dr. FILL1679149398,
Happy Holidays from the National Science Foundation!
We will be closing the 2023 Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) data collection at the end of the year. I want to appeal
to you one more time to complete the survey and would like to highlight the special significance of your response as a
member of the AY year 2023 (July 2022 – June 2023) cohorts who were directly impacted by the COVID pandemic. The
2023 SED includes a special module of question on how the pandemic impacted your graduate experience and career
plans.
Your responses will also help future students, your institution, and the broader academic community understand the
costs and benefits of the doctoral experience. I hope that you will take a moment to respond to the SED today. It takes
about 20 minutes to complete the survey.
You can complete the 2023 SED at:
URL:
FILL1156059476
PIN:
FILL319334009
Password: FILL286952108
Alternatively, you can complete an abbreviated version of the SED by calling (877) 256-8167. You can learn more
about the SED and how the results are used, at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/. If you have questions,
or concerns, please contact us at sed@rti.org or toll-free at (877) 256-8167.
Your participation in this important research effort is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Kelly Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

EMAIL #10—FINAL PROMPT TO NONRESPONDENTS

Subject: Importance of Your Participation in the Survey of Earned Doctorates – FINAL REMINDER
Dear Dr. FILL1679149398,
The 2022 Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) is ending on December 31, 2022, and we really would like your responses
to be part of the SED data, which is the only national source that helps to inform government policy, evaluate graduate
education programs, and make doctorate labor force projections, among many of its uses.
Please complete the SED online before it’s too late at:
URL:
https://sed-ncses.org
PIN:
FILL319334009
Password: FILL286952108
You can learn more about the SED and how the results are used, at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/.
If you have questions, or concerns, please contact sed@rti.org or toll-free at (877) 256-8167.
We would greatly appreciate your participation in this important research effort.
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering
Statistics National Science Foundation

NONRESPONSE MAILING #1 – 1st HARDCOPY LETTER/BROCHURE MAILING TO NONRESPONDENTS

Dear Dr. :
We would like to extend our congratulations on completing your doctorate! In light of this achievement, I invite you to
participate in the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), conducted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other
federal agencies. SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization for
NSF.
Because the SED is used to make important policy decisions about graduate education, it is important that the survey
data are representative of all research doctorates in the United States. Your response will be combined with that of
approximately 50,000 other research doctorate earners from your academic year. These aggregated data are used to
help inform governmental policy, evaluate graduate programs, and make doctorate labor force projections.
We greatly value your doctoral education experiences and request you complete the SED online at:
URL: https://sed-ncses.org
PIN:
Password:

Your responses will be kept strictly confidential, and only aggregate data will be in published reports.
The SED results are available at: www.nsf.gov/statistics/sed.
You can view a paper version of the questionnaire at:
https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/surveys/srvydoctorates-2022.pdf
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at sed@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Congratulations again on this monumental accomplishment.
Sincerely,

Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

RESPONDENT BROCHURE

NONRESPONSE MAILING #2 –PRESSURE SEALED POSTCARD REMINDER TO NONRESPONDENTS

NONRESPONSE MAILING #3—2nd HARDCOPY LETTER MAILING TO NONRESPONDENTS

Dear Dr. :
A few weeks ago, we asked for your participation in the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), an annual census of research
doctorate recipients from U.S. universities sponsored by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies.
We would greatly appreciate your participation as the efficacy and accuracy of this survey rely on a high response rate.
Any information you provide will be kept strictly confidential. Only data aggregated to levels that do not allow the
identification of individual respondents are released for publication.
You can complete the survey online by going to: https://sed-ncses.org/
Your PIN is:
Your Password is:

You can view a paper version of the questionnaire at:
https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/surveys/srvydoctorates-2022.pdf
If you have already completed the survey, we thank you for your response. The SED results will be published in an annual
report; the annual reports on earlier surveys are available at: http://nsf.gov/statistics/sed/.
This survey is conducted under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF.
If you have any questions, please contact us at sed@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Congratulations on completing your doctorate.
Sincerely,

Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

NONRESPONSE MAILING INTERNATIONAL ADDRESSES

Dear Dr. :
The 2024 Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) will soon be closing and we are reluctant to close this year's survey without
your response.
You are one of approximately 55,000 research doctorates who earned their degree from July 1, 2023 – June 30,
2024. Considering this accomplishment, we ask for your help in completing the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), an
annual census of research doctorate recipients from U.S. universities sponsored by the National Science Foundation and
other federal agencies.
By completing the survey, you provide valuable information used by policymakers and universities to analyze changes in
the characteristics of doctorate recipients, assess investments in graduate student support, and make improvements to
the U.S. doctoral education system.
Please complete the SED online at https://sed-ncses.org using your credentials below:
PIN:

Password:
Your responses will be kept strictly confidential, and only aggregate data will be in published reports. The SED results are
available at: www.nsf.gov/statistics/sed. If you have any questions, please contact us at sed@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,

Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation

SMS TEXT MESSAGE REMINDERS TO NONRESPONDENTS

Initial Text
Hello, congratulations on behalf of the National Science Foundation on your doctoral degree. We invite you to complete
the Survey of Earned Doctorates at https://link.rti.org/VJowfe7-91. All information you provide will be kept strictly
confidential. Reply STOP to opt out.
Reminder Text #1
This is a reminder on behalf of NSF to please complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates at https://link.rti.org/
VJoife7-91. SED is an annual census of U.S. research doctorate recipients sponsored by NSF, NIH, ED and NEH. Your
participation is very important! If you have any questions, please contact us at sed@rti.org. Reply STOP to opt out.
Reminder Text #2
This is a friendly reminder to please complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates at https://link.rti.org/VJoife7-91.
Information on the survey is available at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/. Reply STOP to opt out.
Reminder Text #3
Please consider completing the Survey of Earned Doctorates at https://link.rti.org/VJoife7-91 as we would like to
include your answers with those of other research doctorate earners from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Information on
the survey is available at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/. Reply STOP to opt out.
Reminder Text #4
The 2022 Survey of Earned Doctorates data collection will be ending soon. Please complete the survey today at https://
link.rti.org/VJoife7-91. Your response would be greatly appreciated. The SED results are published in an annual report
at: https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/. Reply STOP to opt out.
Reminder Text #5
We are nearing the end of the SED data collection. This is a reminder to please complete the Survey of Earned
Doctorates at https://link.rti.org/VJoife7-91. Completing the survey is a service to your institution, to your peers, and to
future doctoral students. Information on the survey is available at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Final Text
The 2023 Survey of Earned Doctorates data collection will be ending at the end of December. This is our final text asking
you to please complete the survey today at https://link.rti.org/VJoife7-91. Your response would be greatly appreciated.
Information on the survey is available at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/. Reply STOP to opt out.

EMAIL TO FACULTY ADVISORS OF NONRESPONDENTS
Subject: Request from the National Science Foundation

Dear Dr. :
I would like to ask for your assistance with the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), sponsored by the National Science
Foundation and other federal agencies. We need to find the contact information for one of your former students,
, so we can send an invitation to complete the SED.
As you may know, the SED is an annual census of all research doctorate recipients in the U.S., conducted since 1958.
The aggregated survey data are used to help inform government policy, in evaluation of graduate programs, and
projection of the doctorate workforce, among many important data uses. Information and data from the SED can be
found online at: https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/.
We will soon be closing the SED data collection for the AY2022 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) graduates and would like
to ensure Dr. ’s responses are included in this important national
census.
If you have any contact information for Dr. , please let us know at sed@rti.org or (877) 2568167.
We greatly appreciate your assistance with this important effort.
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation
SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF

REMINDER EMAIL TO FACULTY ADVISORS OF SED NONRESPONDENTS

Subject: Request from the National Science Foundation - Reminder
Dear Dr. :
I am following up on my earlier request for your assistance with the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), sponsored by
the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and other federal agencies.
We would like to contact one of your former doctoral students, ,
to send an invitation to complete the 2024 SED.
As you may know, the SED is an annual census of all research doctorate recipients in the U.S., conducted since 1958.
The aggregated data from the SED are used to help inform government policy, in evaluation of graduate programs, and
projection of the doctorate workforce, among many important data uses. The released data from the 2020 SED can be
found at: https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf22300/.
If you have any contact information for Dr. , please let us know at sed@rti.org or (877)
256-8167.
If you prefer, you can also forward this email to Dr. .
We greatly appreciate your assistance with this important effort.
Sincerely,
Kelly H. Kang
Project Officer
Survey of Earned Doctorates
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation
SED data are being collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization, for NSF.

SED Survey Link: https://sed-ncses.org

SURVEY LOGIN INFORMATION EMAIL SENT TO NONRESPONDENTS UPON REQUEST DURING CATI CALL

Subject: Your SED Survey Login Information

Dear Dr. ,
We greatly appreciate your participation in the Survey of Earned Doctorates.
Please complete the SED online at https://sed-ncses.org using your credentials
below:
PIN:

Password:
Your responses will be kept strictly confidential and only aggregate data will be publicly reported.
If you have any questions, please contact us at SED@rti.org or (877) 256-8167.
Thank you for your participation, and congratulations on your achievement!
Sincerely,
The SED Project Team
For more information about the SED, please visit https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/
To learn more about how your information is protected, please see:
https://sedsurvey.org/content/pdf/Student_Brochure.pdf

EMAIL FOLLOW-UP SENT TO NONRESPONDENTS FOLLOWING CATI CALL VOICEMAIL

Subject line – We left you a voicemail message on behalf of NSF
Dear Dr. ,
A member of our survey team called you and left a voicemail message regarding the Survey of Earned Doctorates. The
SED is conducted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal agencies and the survey data are being
collected under contract by RTI International, a nonprofit research organization. The SED survey will soon come to a
close, so we hope you will take just 10 minutes to complete it over the phone or complete it online at your convenience.
The SED is an annual census that gathers information from new research doctorate graduates from U.S. universities
about their educational histories, funding sources, and post-doctoral plans. We don’t want you to miss out on providing
valuable input that will be used to inform governmental policy, evaluate graduate education programs, and make labor
force projections. Your responses will be kept strictly confidential, and only aggregate data will be publicly reported.
To complete the survey online, use the secure login credentials to access the survey at https://sed-ncses.org:
Pin: [CASEID]
Password: [PASSWORD]
If you would like to complete the survey over the phone with one of our interviewers, please call 877-256-8167 and
reference ID number [CASEID].
Thank you in advance for your participation, and congratulations on your achievement!
Dr. Peter Einaudi,
SED Project Director, RTI International
For more information about the SED, please visit https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/

EMAIL FOLLOW-UP SENT TO NONRESPONDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN 10 CATI CALLS WITHOUT CONTACT

Subject line – A message on behalf of NSF
Dear Dr. ,
We have tried to contact you several times regarding the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) but have been
unsuccessful. We know that receiving unwanted phone calls can be annoying, so we want to reach out to explain the
purpose of our calls.
The SED is an annual census that gathers information from new research doctorate graduates from U.S. universities
about their educational histories, funding sources, and post-doctoral plans. We don't want you to miss out on providing
valuable input that will be used to inform governmental policy, evaluate graduate education programs, and make labor
force projections. Your responses will be kept strictly confidential, and only aggregate data will be publicly reported.
To complete the survey online, use the secure login credentials to access the survey at https://sed-ncses.org:
Pin: [CASEID]
Password: [PASSWORD]
To complete a short version of the survey by phone, please call 877-256-8167 and reference ID number [CASEID].
Thank you in advance for your participation, and congratulations on your achievement!
Dr. Peter Einaudi,
SED Project Director, RTI International
For more information about the SED, please visit https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/

Email to respondents we have spoken with but no interview was conducted
SUBJECT: Recent Phone Call about the SED
Dear Dr. [LASTNAME],
Thank you for taking the time to speak to us recently about the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). The SED is
conducted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal agencies, with the survey data collection by RTI
International, a nonprofit research organization. The SED is an annual census that collects important information on
new U.S. research doctorate graduates about their educational history, graduate education funding, and postgraduation
plans.
We invite you to complete an abbreviated survey which takes about 10 minutes over the phone or complete the full
Web survey at your convenience. We understand that you're very busy, but we want to make sure your information is
included in the valuable data that is used to inform government policy, evaluate graduate education programs, and
make labor force projections. Your responses will be kept strictly confidential, and only aggregate data will be publicly
reported.
To complete the survey online, use the secure login credentials to access the survey at https://sed-ncses.org:
PIN: [CASEID_TRACKING]
Password: [PASSWORD]
To complete the survey over the phone, please call 877-256-8167 and reference ID number
[CASEID]. Thank you in advance for your participation, and congratulations on your achievement!
Peter Einaudi,
SED Project Director, RTI International
For more information about the SED, please visit https://nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates/.