Student Engagement: 2008 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

1. Student Engagement:2008 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Office of Institutional Research and Planning Presentation to Senate November 2008

2. What is NSSE? • Developed by the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research • Based on many years of US research into the outcomes of a high-quality education • Survey items represent empirically confirmed good practices in undergraduate education • In use in US since 1999 (769 universities in 2008) • In use in Canada since 2004 (10 universities, including Carleton) • All 19 Ontario Universities participated in 2008.

3. What is NSSE’s focus? • First-year and graduating students are surveyed • Questions address curricular (in-class) and co-curricular (out-of-class) experiences • Questions include clusters addressing NSSE’s five Benchmarks of Effective Educational Practice: • Level of Academic Challenge (LAC) • Active and Collaborative Learning (ACL) • Student-Faculty Interaction (SFI) • Enriching Educational Experiences (EEE) • Supportive Campus Environment (SCE)

4. 2008 NSSE at Carleton • In February 2008 Carleton participated in NSSE for the fourth time. • All first-year and final-year undergraduates were invited to complete the survey. • A total of 3,774 students responded to the survey: • 49% response rate • 2,103 first-year students, • 1,671 final-year students • Large enough sample size to do analysis by subgroups

5. Analysis done so far of 2008 NSSE • Summary of Carleton Results • Benchmarks, overall impressions, quality of relationships, Ontario Consortium questions. • Comparisons to Ontario Consortium and 2006 • Results by Academic Faculty • Similar to analysis done in summary

6. NSSE 2008: First-Year Mean Benchmark Scores Shading denotes a statistically significant difference from Carleton.

7. NSSE 2008: Final-Year Mean Benchmark Scores Shading denotes a statistically significant difference from Carleton.

8. NSSE 2008: How would you evaluate your entire educational experience at this institution?

9. NSSE 2008: If you could start over again, would you choose the same institution?

10. NSSE 2008: Quality of Relationships With…

11. Differences in Quality of Relationships • Other Students:2008 First-Year Carleton > 2008 Ontario First-Year • Administrative Personnel and Offices:2008 Final-Year Carleton > 2008 Ontario Final-Year AND2008 Final-Year Carleton > 2006 Carleton Final-Year

12. Biggest Obstacle to Academic ProgressCarleton and the Rest of OntarioFirst-Year Respondents

13. Biggest Obstacle to Academic ProgressCarleton, by FacultyFirst-Year Respondents

14. Biggest Obstacle to Academic ProgressCarleton and the Rest of OntarioFinal-Year Respondents

15. Biggest Obstacle to Academic ProgressCarleton, by FacultyFourth-Year Respondents

16. University Most Needs to Address… in ClassFirst-Year Respondents

17. University Most Needs to Address… in ClassRanked by Faculty for First-Year Respondents

18. University Most Needs to Address… in ClassFinal-Year Respondents

19. University Most Needs to Address… in ClassRanked by Faculty for Fourth-Year Respondents

20. University Most Needs to Address… Out of ClassFirst-Year Respondents

21. University Most Needs to Address… Out of ClassRanked by Faculty for First-Year Respondents

22. University Most Needs to Address… Out of ClassFinal-Year Respondents

23. University Most Needs to Address… Out of ClassRanked by Faculty for Fourth-Year Respondents

24. NSSE 2008: Next Steps • Work with the newly established NSSE Advisory Committee to identify priorities for further analysis • More presentations (Faculties, Senate, CASG)

25. Questions about NSSE? • For more information about NSSE, please go to nsse.iub.edu • For more information on Carleton University, and the results of the surveys in which it participates (including NSSE), please go to www.carleton.ca/oirp or contact: Nathasha Macdonald in the Office of Institutional Research and Planning nathasha_macdonald@carleton.ca or ext 4473.

26. AppendixThe NSSE Benchmarks

27. Level of Academic Challenge • Challenging intellectual and creative work is central to student learning and university quality • Universities promote high levels of achievement by setting high expectations for student performance • Eleven items, including: • Preparing for class • Reading and writing • Using higher-order thinking skills • Institutional environment that emphasizes academic work

28. Active and Collaborative Learning • Students learn more when they are more actively involved in their education • Collaborating with others prepares students to handle practical, real-world problems. • Seven items, including: • Asking questions in class • Making presentations • Working with other students on projects • Discussing ideas from readings or classes with others

29. Student Interactions with Faculty • Interacting with experts shows students first-hand how to think about and solve practical problems • Teachers become role models and mentors for learning • Six items, including: • Discussing assignments with a professor • Talking about career plans with faculty member or advisor • Getting prompt feedback on academic performance • Working with a faculty member on a research project

30. Enriching Educational Experiences • Learning opportunities that complement the goals of the academic program • Provide opportunities to integrate and apply knowledge • Twelve items, including: • Experience diversity • Using technology • Participating in internships • Culminating senior experience

31. Supportive Campus Environment • Students perform better and are more satisfied at colleges that are committed to their success • Does institution cultivate positive working and social relationships among different groups on campus? • Six items, including: • Helps students achieve academically • Helping students cope with non-academic responsibilities • Promoting supportive relationship between students and peers, faculty, and administrative personnel