A new survey is being circulated to UCSB employees this week by the administration to gather opinions on possible designs for housing units that could be sold or rented as well as to update previous information on staff and faculty living and commuting situations.

The new survey will also ask about childcare needs, according to Laurel Wilder, a research analyst in the Office of Institutional Research and Planning. “In addition to the faculty housing currently being developed at North Campus, the university is in the planning phase for building both for-sale and rental housing for UCSB employees (at various locations),” she explained.

For employees who are interested in future university housing this is an opportunity to express personal preferences on a range of potential housing scenarios, including the possible features of neighborhoods, pictures of unit designs, even floor plans, added Wilder and Karen Rothberg, director of real estate services for budget and planning.

“The information you provide will help us in the planning of these future housing developments,” they said.

Data will be collected on employees’ current housing, including location, size, number of residents, cost, length of residence, amenities, and general satisfaction. An open-ended question will allow survey-takers to add comments on topics not covered.

The due date for responses to the survey, which is being conducted on the Internet, is May 27. Employees who do not have UCSB e-mail addresses, the usual form of notification, will be directed to the survey by postcards delivered through campus mail.

The survey will also ask about current vehicle usage and commuting patterns as well as about the needs of employees with young children.