QUICK FACTS FROM NSSE 2009
NSSE (“nessie”), or the National Survey of Student Engagement, is a survey of first-year and senior students conducted by Indiana
University and administered at colleges and universities across the United States. At UNI, NSSE is administered through the Office
of Academic Assessment. The following data is based on responses from 310 first year students and 610 seniors during the spring
of the 2008-2009 school year. For more information from NSSE, see http://www.uni.edu/assessment/data.
Inside the classroom/Academics
Percent of students indicating Very Often or Often
Classroom Activities and Assignments
Asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions
Made a class presentation
Worked on paper or project that required integrating ideas or information from various sources
Put together ideas/concepts from different courses for assignments or during class discussions
Student-Faculty Interaction
Used e-mail to communicate with an instructor
Discussed grades or assignments with an instructor
Talked about career plans with a faculty member or advisor
Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with faculty members outside of class
Received prompt written or oral feedback from faculty on your academic performance
Worked with faculty on activities other than coursework (committees, student life activities, etc.)
Academic Challenge
Come to class without completing readings or assignments
Prepared two or more drafts of a paper or assignment before turning it in
Worked harder than you thought you could to meet an instructor’s standards or expectations
% First Year
49
43
74
53
Coursework emphasis (Percent of students indicating Very Much or Quite a Bit.)
Memorizing facts, ideas, or methods from your courses and readings
Analyzing the basic elements of an idea, experience, or theory
Synthesizing and organizing ideas, information, or experiences
Making judgments about the value of information, arguments, or methods
Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations
% Seniors
74
66
86
69
80
44
33
18
49
12
87
56
41
24
62
26
20
47
49
34
42
56
% First Year
76
77
61
65
77
% Seniors
63
83
74
72
80
% First Year
32
70
35
10
57
% Seniors
21
57
29
20
62
Outside of the Classroom
Activities (Percent of students indicating Very Often or Often)
Attended an art exhibit, play, dance, music, theatre or other performance
Exercised or participated in physical fitness activities
Participated in activities to enhance your spirituality (worship, meditation, prayer, etc.)
Tutored or taught other students (paid or voluntary)
Discussed ideas from your readings/classes with others outside of class (family, co-workers, others)
Hours Per Week Spent in Selected Activities
(Number is percent of students in each category)
Preparing For Class
First Year
Seniors
Working For Pay On Campus
First Year
Seniors
Working For Pay Off Campus
First Year
Seniors
Participating In Co-Curricular Activities
First Year
Seniors
0-5 hrs
6-10 hrs
11-15 hrs
16-20 hrs
Over 20 hrs
10
16
23
25
23
21
22
16
21
22
72
68
13
8
10
10
4
9
2
5
80
51
4
6
5
7
4
9
8
27
68
72
13
10
10
7
4
5
6
4
Support for Academic and Personal Development
ƒ Relationships with faculty members: On a scale of 1 to 7, where 7 is highest (available, helpful, sympathetic), the mean score
was 5.31 for first year students and 5.40 for seniors.
ƒ Relationships with administrative personnel and offices: On a scale of 1 to 7, where 7 is highest (helpful, considerate,
flexible), the mean score was 5.16 for first year students and 4.80 for seniors.
ƒ Quality of academic advising: 81% of first year students and 72% of seniors responded Excellent or Good.
ƒ Institutional emphasis on providing support to succeed academically: 79% of first year students and 75% of seniors
responded Very Much or Quite a Bit
.