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2026 NSDA Student Resource Feedback Survey

Thanks for taking this survey! Your feedback helps the NSDA understand what students like you need to succeed in speech and debate—both now and in the future.

This survey is for all experience levels, including students who are brand new to speech and debate. There are no right or wrong answers—we want your honest opinions based on your experiences.

A few helpful notes before you begin:
  • If you haven’t used a resource before, that’s totally okay—just answer based on what you know.
  • If you’re unsure what something is, you can choose “I didn’t know this existed” later in the survey.
  • Some questions ask about college or careers. If that feels far away for you right now, just answer based on your current interest level.
The survey should take about 8 minutes to complete.
Student Information

These questions help us understand who is taking the survey so we can better interpret the results. Your responses are not graded and won’t affect your NSDA membership in any way.
1.First & Last Name(Required.)
2.Email(Required.)
3.Current Grade(Required.)
4.How many school years have you been involved in speech and debate?(Required.)
Resource Use and Value
How You Use NSDA Resources

This section asks about different resources the NSDA offers to help us know how to refine our resources in the future.
5.How often do you use each of the following NSDA educational resources and tools? (Rate each one using the following scale.)
Never
A few times per year
1-3 times per month
1-2 times per week
3-5 times per week
6.How helpful do you find each of the following NSDA educational resources and tools? (Rate each one using the following scale.)
Not helpful
Somewhat helpful
Helpful
Very helpful
7.For the educational resources you don’t use, what are the main reasons? (Check all that apply)
8.How often do you use each of the following NSDA community resources and tools? (Rate each one using the following scale.)
Never
A few times per year
1-3 times per month
1-2 times per week
3-5 times per week
DEI resources (policies, equity offices, reporting tools)
9.How helpful do you find each of the following NSDA community resources and tools? (Rate each one using the following scale.)
Not helpful
Somewhat helpful
Helpful
Very helpful
DEI resources (policies, equity offices, reporting tools)
Desired New Tools and Resources
This section is about what the NSDA could offer in the future. Think about:
  • What would make practice easier?
  • What would help you feel more confident?
  • What would support you outside of tournaments?
10.How helpful would the following competition and skill-building resources be to you? (Please rate each item using the following scale.)
Not helpful
Somewhat helpful
Helpful
Very helpful
Competition prep materials (activities, tips, instructional videos)
Sample rounds
Event guides
Templates or toolkits (cases, practice drills)
Peer coaching or team captain tools
Leadership or Advocacy training (resources that help advocate for speech & debate programs)
11.How helpful would the following college, career, and support resources be to you? (Please rate each item using the following scale.)
Not helpful
Somewhat helpful
Helpful
Very helpful
College admissions guidance (applications, essays, timelines)
Scholarship search tools
College database
Internship and job preparation tools
Career exploration resources
Student mentorship program
Networking platform for students
Mental health and stress-management support
Equity and inclusion learning tools
12.Which of the following topics would you like to better understand about NSDA membership? (Select all that apply.)
13.Of the topics you selected in question 12, which would be most valuable to you right now and why?
College Connection and Readiness
Exploring College Speech & Debate Opportunities

This section is about learning what speech and debate can look like after high school and exploring college-related opportunities connected to the activity. You do not need to be planning for college to answer these questions.

Important reminders:
  • Answer based on interest, not commitment
  • You are not signing up for anything by answering these questions
  • If college feels far away, just choose what sounds most helpful or interesting
14.How helpful would the following college-related resources be to you? (Rate each one.)
Not helpful
Somewhat helpful
Helpful
Very helpful
A browsable list of colleges that offer speech and debate as an extracurricular activity
College readiness webinars hosted by colleges
Information about speech and debate opportunities at colleges
15.Some colleges partner with the NSDA because they value students who participate in speech and debate and want to share information about their programs.

If the NSDA offered an optional college connections program with colleges you’re interested in that may include some of the options above, how interested would you be in participating?

Note: Participating does not mean committing to all parts of the program—only the elements you’re interested in.
16.How important is continuing speech and debate in college to you?
17.If the NSDA offered an option for partner colleges to contact students directly, would you be interested in participating? This outreach could include:
  • Information about college speech and debate opportunities
  • General college admissions information
Note: Selecting “yes” does not obligate you to participate in any future programs. (Select all that apply.)
Overall Experience Improvement

This section helps us understand how to improve the overall student experience—how you find resources, how you hear about programs, and how you’d like to stay informed.
18.Which devices do you use to access resources on our website? (Check all that apply)
19.How do you usually learn about NSDA programs and resources? (Check all that apply)
20.How would you prefer to receive updates about NSDA resources?