Spring Break
Students Report High Levels of Academic Rigor on NSSE Survey
By Kelli Greenlaw
Four out of five Saint Anselm students would return to the college, according to the spring 2008 National Survey of Student Engagement, or NSSE. At least 774 colleges and universities participated in the survey. NSSE was first administered in 2000, in order to access the extent to which students are engaged in effective educational practices, and to determine what students gain from their college experiences.
This survey was given to freshmen and senior students, and was created to better understand students' and assess student engagement in various areas of college life.
There are five benchmarks of educational activities that the survey studies: level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experiences , and supportive campus environment.
"One recent use of the NSSE results is to help monitor our strategic planning process, said Tiffany Parker, institutional research analyst for the college, told the Crier. "NSSE benchmark scores are among the indicators used to help track our progress on the plan."
The results are also used by faculty and administrative departments.
"In 2008 about 350 students responded to the survey: 198 first years 151 seniors," Parker said. "In terms of results, with level of academic challenge we are pretty much consistent with our Carnegie Peers (other 4 year liberal arts institutions). The survey uses three comparison groups within the survey: they compare Saint Anselm to Catholic Colleges and Universities, Carnegie Peers, as well as Selected Peers.
While Saint Anselm first year students reported a higher level of academic challenge in comparison to first year students at other Catholic colleges, "[Saint Anselm] first year students and the seniors rate academic challenge almost identically."
The NSSE survey is used by institutions nationwide, with at least 774 colleges participating in the survey.
"Because NSSE is becoming so widespread USA Today has picked up on this as an alternative to the U.S. News and World Reports rankings," Parker said. "On the USA today website you can find the NSSE results. Schools can voluntarily release the results; about 400 schools have done so."
This survey was given to freshmen and senior students, and was created to better understand students' and assess student engagement in various areas of college life.
There are five benchmarks of educational activities that the survey studies: level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experiences , and supportive campus environment.
"One recent use of the NSSE results is to help monitor our strategic planning process, said Tiffany Parker, institutional research analyst for the college, told the Crier. "NSSE benchmark scores are among the indicators used to help track our progress on the plan."
The results are also used by faculty and administrative departments.
"In 2008 about 350 students responded to the survey: 198 first years 151 seniors," Parker said. "In terms of results, with level of academic challenge we are pretty much consistent with our Carnegie Peers (other 4 year liberal arts institutions). The survey uses three comparison groups within the survey: they compare Saint Anselm to Catholic Colleges and Universities, Carnegie Peers, as well as Selected Peers.
While Saint Anselm first year students reported a higher level of academic challenge in comparison to first year students at other Catholic colleges, "[Saint Anselm] first year students and the seniors rate academic challenge almost identically."
The NSSE survey is used by institutions nationwide, with at least 774 colleges participating in the survey.
"Because NSSE is becoming so widespread USA Today has picked up on this as an alternative to the U.S. News and World Reports rankings," Parker said. "On the USA today website you can find the NSSE results. Schools can voluntarily release the results; about 400 schools have done so."
This article was published on 4/17/09 in the News section.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Indianapolis Movers
posted 10/20/09 @ 5:02 PM EST
Quote:
"Because NSSE is becoming so widespread USA Today has picked up on this as an alternative to the U.S. News and World Reports rankings," Parker said. (Continued…)
Post a Comment