The National Survey of Student Engagement

(NSSE)

Updated January, 2005


 The National Survey of Student Engagement was administered during the second semester of the 2003-2004 academic year to Houghton College freshmen and seniors.

The questions asked students how and where they spent their time, the nature and quality of their interactions with faculty members and peers, and what they gained from their classes.

The following report compares data from Houghton College freshmen (N=188) and seniors (N=155) with freshmen (N=7,015) and seniors (N=7,040) from eighty other Baccalaureate—Liberal Arts colleges (such as Antioch, Franklin & Marshall, Gordon, Juniata, Skidmore, Ursinus, Wheaton,  etc.).

Note: The number in ( ) after each question indicates the number of possible answers.
              * difference is considered statistically meaningful.
 

Level of Academic Challenge
 

Question Class Houghton Baccalaureate I Difference
Preparing for your class (studying, reading, writing, rehearsing, and other activities related to your academic program) (8) Freshman

Senior
4.82

4.79

4=16-20 hours per week
4.52

4.52
 *.30

*.27
Number of assigned textbooks, books or book-length packets of course reading (5) Freshman

Senior
3.51

3.70

 
3.80

3.71
*-.29

-.01
Number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more (5) Freshman

Senior
1.16

1.65
1.23

1.78
-.07

-.13
Number of written papers or reports between 5 and 19 pages (5)
 Freshman

Senior
2.43

2.86
2.64

2.91


 *-.21

 -.05
Number of written papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages (5)
 Freshman

Senior
3.38

3.48
3.46

3.23
-.08

*.25
Analyzing the basic element of an idea, experience or theory (4)
 Freshman

Senior
3.19

3.23
3.32

3.44
-.13
*-.21
Synthesizing and organizing ideas, information, or experiences into new, more complex interpretations and relationships (4)
 Freshman

Senior
3.02

3.12
3.07

3.28
-.05

-.16
Making judgments about the value of information arguments, or methods (4)
 Freshman

Senior
2.69

2.93
2.96

3.11
*-.27
 -.18
Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations (4)
 Freshman

Senior
3.05

3.24
3.12

3.29
-.07
 -.05
Spending significant amounts of time studying and on academic work (4)
 Freshman

Senior
3.40

3.52
3.28

3.29
.12
 *.23
Worked harder than you thought you could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations (4)
 Freshman

Senior
2.70

2.62
2.66

2.78
-.04

-.16



 

Active and Collaborative Learning
 

Question Class Houghton Baccalaureate I Difference
Asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions (4) Freshman

Senior
2.77

3.15

3.08

3.36
 *-.31

*-.21
Made a class presentation (4) Freshman

Senior
2.06

2.69

2.28

2.89
*-.22

*-.20
Worked with other students on projects during class (4) Freshman

Senior
1.97

1.97
2.25

2.28
*-.28

*-.31
Worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments (4)
 Freshman

Senior
2.66

2.65
2.58

2.76


 .08

 -.11
Tutored or taught other students (paid or voluntary) (4)
 Freshman

Senior
1.67

2.25
1.73

2.08
-.06

.17
Participated in a community-based project as part of a regular course (4)
 Freshman

Senior
1.86

1.92
1.60

1.79
*.26
.13
Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with others outside of class (students, family members, coworkers, etc. (4)
 Freshman

Senior

2.84

3.17
2.92

3.09
-.08

.08

 

Student Interactions with Faculty Members
 

Question Class Houghton Baccalaureate I Difference
Discussed grades or assignments with an instructor (4) Freshman

Senior
2.45

2.78

2.72

2.98
 *-.27

*-.20
Talked about career plans with a faculty member or advisor (4) Freshman

Senior
2.06

2.69

2.21

2.81
-.05

-.12
Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with faculty members outside of class (4) Freshman

Senior
1.73

2.17
2.01

2.39
*-.28

*-.22
Worked with faculty members on activities other than coursework (committees, orientation, student life activities, etc. (4)
 Freshman

Senior
1.58
 
2.05
1.73

2.24


 -.15

 -.19
Received prompt feedback from faculty on your academic performance (written or oral) (4)
 Freshman

Senior
2.68

2.83
2.84

3.02
-.16

-.19
Worked or planned to work with a faculty member on a research project outside of course or program requirements ( 0 = no, 1 = yes
 Freshman

Senior

.02

.14
.03

.34
-.01

*-.20


Enriching Educational Experiences
 

Question Class Houghton Baccalaureate I Difference
Participating in co-curricular activities (organizations, campus publications, student government, social fraternity/sorority, intercollegiate/intramural sports, etc.) (8)
 Freshman

Senior
2.37

2.53
2.69

2.72


 *-.32

-.19
Plan to do, or have done, practicum, internship, field experience, co-op experience, or clinical assignment
( 0 = no, 1 = yes)
 Freshman

Senior
.03

.63
.06

.68


 -.03

-.05
Plan to do, or have done, community service or volunteer work    
( 0 = no, 1 = yes)
Freshman

Senior
.57

.76
.44

.74


 *.13

.02
Plan to take, or have taken,  foreign language coursework   
( 0 = no, 1 = yes)
Freshman

Senior
.49

.82
.41

.68


 .08

*.14
Plan to do, or done, an independent study or declared a self-designated major   
( 0 = no, 1 = yes)

 Freshman

Senior
.01

.31
.02

.40


 -.01

-.09
Plan to have, or have had, a culminating senior experience
(comprehensive exam, capstone course, thesis, project, etc.)
( 0 = no, 1 = yes)
 Freshman

Senior
.01

.43
.01

.57
.00

*-.14
Had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your own (4) Freshman

Senior
2.30

2.46

2.71

2.76
 *-.41

*-.30
Had serious conversations with students who are very different from you in terms of their religious beliefs, political opinions, or personal values (4) Freshman

Senior
2.51

2.50

2.97

2.95
*-.46

*-.45
Used an electronic medium (list-serv, chat group, internet, etc.) to discuss or complete assignment (4) Freshman

Senior
2.68

2.75
2.70

2.74
-.02

.01
Emphasize: Encouraging contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds (4)

 Freshman

Senior
2.59

2.27
2.74

2.51
-.15

*-.24

 

Supportive Campus Environment
 

Question Class Houghton Baccalaureate I Difference
Emphasize: Providing the support you need to help you succeed academically (4) Freshman

Senior
3.19

3.06

3.31

3.21
-.12

-.15
Emphasize: Helping you cope with your non-academic responsibilities (work, family, etc.) (4) Freshman

Senior
2.38

2.12

2.26

2.05
.12

.07
Emphasize: Providing the support you need to thrive socially (4) Freshman

Senior
2.61

2.34
2.49

2.25
.12

.09
Quality: Relationships with other students (7)
 Freshman

Senior
6.02

6.05
5.79

5.79


 *.23

*.26
Quality: Relationships with faculty members (7)
 Freshman

Senior
5.79

5.87
5.90

6.06
.11

-.19
Quality: Relationships with administrative personnel and offices (7)
 Freshman

Senior
5.42

4.93
5.31

4.89
.11

.04