UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State will begin administering the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) on Monday, Jan. 19, to better understand student health behaviors and inform future health and well-being services and programs.
Randomly selected University Park students will receive an email from the American College Health Association (ACHA) at ncha-web@acha.org with the subject line "Penn State Student Health Survey." The message will be sent to students’ Penn State email accounts and will include a link to the online survey.
Students who receive the email invitation are strongly encouraged to participate. The survey will remain open through Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.
The NCHA has been administered at University Park since 2012 and is conducted in collaboration with several Student Affairs units. The ACHA-NCHA is an online survey designed to assess student health behaviors to help institutions provide better services and support for students.
Survey data have been used to inform programming and services, social marketing efforts, and health communication materials at Penn State. Results from previous surveys helped identify key health issues among students and contributed to the development of wellness services offered through Health Promotion and Wellness, with a focus on areas such as sleep, stress and healthy relationships.
Students who complete the survey will be automatically entered into a drawing to win Lion Cash prizes, including $75 for three students, $50 for 25 students, and $30 for 50 students. Winners will be randomly selected by the American College Health Association.
Participation in the survey is voluntary and confidential. Students with questions about participation can connect with Health Promotion and Wellness.
Penn State Student Affairs supports holistic student success through advocacy, education, engagement and care. With more than 30 programs and units, Student Affairs helps students thrive in and out of the classroom, discover community and belonging, build leadership skills and create lasting memories. All programs and events are open to all students, regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race or other protected class. Student Affairs is committed to building a community of belonging for all. Learn more about Student Affairs programs at studentaffairs.psu.edu.