January 20, 2012 — Residents of Charlottesville and of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties: If you get a call on your mobile or land-line phone in the next few weeks from the University of Virginia, don\'t hang up. The caller will be asking questions aimed at improving services in your community.

The questions are part of the Jefferson Area Community Survey, a new initiative of U.Va.\'s Center for Survey Research, designed to serve the increasing need for accurate survey information about the region, according to the center\'s director, Tom Guterbock.

"We plan to conduct the JACS again each spring and fall. It gives any organization in the community the ability to assess community needs, get ratings of services and improve them over time," Guterbock said.

The questions, provided by government agencies, nonprofit groups, academic researchers and the Center for Survey Research, ask such things as: What is your satisfaction with local services? Are your health services needs being met? What are your opinions on local development issues?

The 15-minute surveys began in December and will continue through January. Key results will be released in February.

A random sample of 1,000 adults will be surveyed, representing all parts of the six localities in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District.

The Center for Survey Research is based at U.Va.\'s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.