A Closer Look at Student
Engagement at UNI:
NSSE and FSSE Comparisons
September 24, 2007
NSSE
FSSE
In your experience at your
institution during the current
school year, about how often
have you done each of the
following?
About how often has the
typical [first-year
student/senior/student] done
each of the following?
Never, Sometimes, Often,
Very often
Never, Sometimes, Often,
Very often
Sum of often and very often
Asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions
80%
73%
71%
70%
65%
63%
60%
52%
50%
49%
40%
40%
30%
20%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Made a class presentation
70%
63%
60%
56%
50%
50%
50%
40%
38%
34%
30%
23%
20%
13%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Prepared two or more drafts of a paper or assignment before turning it in
70%
60%
57%
50%
45%
45%
40%
40%
29%
30%
26%
20%
20%
13%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Worked on a paper or project that required
integrating ideas or information from various sources
90%
85%
80%
84%
75%
73%
72%
71%
70%
60%
50%
43%
40%
39%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Included diverse perspectives (different races, religions, genders, political beliefs, etc.)
in class discussions or writing assignments
70%
60%
50%
60%
59%
61%
48%
45%
40%
35%
35%
30%
24%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Come to class without completing readings or assignments
70%
58%
60%
52%
50%
40%
40%
34%
30%
30%
25%
21%
21%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Worked with other students on projects during class
60%
53%
51%
50%
48%
45%
43%
40%
42%
40%
39%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments
70%
63%
60%
54%
54%
51%
50%
49%
40%
40%
30%
30%
22%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Put together ideas or concepts from different courses when
completing assignments or during class discussions
80%
70%
67%
67%
60%
51%
50%
52%
50%
43%
40%
30%
18%
20%
11%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Tutored or taught other students (paid or voluntary)
25%
22%
19%
20%
18%
16%
15%
13%
12%
10%
6%
5%
3%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Participated in a community-based project (e.g. service learning) as part of a regular course
25%
20%
20%
17%
15%
15%
14%
14%
11%
10%
8%
5%
3%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Used an electronic medium (listserv, chat group, Internet, instant messaging, etc.)
to discuss or complete an assignment
70%
63%
60%
55%
55%
52%
50%
50%
46%
42%
40%
31%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Used e-mail to communicate with an instructor
100%
90%
87%
86%
81%
83%
80%
74%
70%
72%
74%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Discussed grades or assignments with an instructor
70%
60%
60%
56%
52%
54%
55%
50%
45%
40%
39%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Talked about career plans with a faculty member or advisor
60%
57%
50%
46%
41%
39%
40%
30%
29%
28%
24%
24%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with faculty members outside of class
35%
31%
30%
25%
25%
20%
20%
17%
18%
17%
18%
15%
13%
10%
5%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Received prompt written or oral feedback from faculty on your academic performance
100%
89%
90%
88%
85%
80%
77%
70%
61%
58%
60%
50%
50%
46%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Worked harder than you thought you could to
meet an instructor's standards or expectations
60%
54%
52%
50%
49%
51%
49%
43%
40%
33%
30%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Worked with faculty members on activities other than coursework
(committees, orientation, student life activities, etc.)
25%
22%
22%
20%
20%
15%
15%
13%
12%
11%
10%
10%
5%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with others outside of class
(students, family members, co-workers, etc.)
70%
58%
60%
52%
59%
50%
50%
40%
32%
30%
30%
20%
20%
16%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your own
60%
56%
49%
50%
40%
33%
32%
30%
30%
21%
20%
10%
10%
4%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Had serious conversations with students who are very different from you in terms of their
religious beliefs, political opinions, or personal values
60%
57%
55%
50%
47%
42%
40%
30%
27%
21%
20%
13%
12%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Examined the strengths and weaknesses of your own views on a topic or issue
60%
57%
52%
50%
48%
42%
40%
34%
35%
30%
24%
20%
18%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Tried to better understand someone else's views by
imagining how an issue looks from his or her perspective
70%
64%
60%
57%
52%
50%
50%
40%
36%
32%
30%
26%
23%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Learned something that changed the way you understand an issue or concept
70%
65%
61%
60%
57%
57%
57%
54%
50%
45%
40%
37%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
NSSE
FSSE
During the current school
year, how much has your
coursework emphasized the
following mental activities?
During the current school
year, how much do you
believe the typical [first-year
student/senior/student]’s
coursework has emphasized
the following mental
activities?
Very little, Some, Quite a bit, Very little, Some, Quite a bit,
Very much
Very much
Sum of quite a bit and very much
Coursework emphasizes: Memorizing facts, ideas,
or methods from your courses and readings
90%
82%
80%
70%
68%
69%
65%
62%
63%
60%
54%
51%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Coursework emphasizes: Analyzing the basic elements of an idea, experience, or theory
90%
81%
80%
80%
77%
72%
71%
70%
67%
59%
60%
55%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Coursework emphasizes: Synthesizing and organizing ideas, information, or experiences
80%
70%
70%
67%
67%
62%
60%
59%
55%
49%
50%
40%
31%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Coursework emphasizes: Making judgments about the value
of information, arguments, or methods
80%
68%
70%
69%
63%
63%
60%
58%
50%
50%
43%
40%
30%
22%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Coursework emphasizes: Applying theories or concepts to
practical problems or in new situations
90%
79%
80%
77%
71%
70%
68%
68%
60%
56%
50%
44%
40%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
NSSE
FSSE
Which of the following have How important is it to you
you done or do you plan to
that undergraduates at your
do before you graduate from institution do the following?
your institution?
Have not decided, Do not
plan to do, Plan to do, Done
Not important, Somewhat
important, Important, Very
important
Sum plan to do and have
done
Sum important and very
important
Practicum, internship, field experience, co-op experience, or clinical assignment
90%
87%
85%
85%
84%
82%
80%
79%
78%
78%
75%
74%
70%
65%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Community service or volunteer work
90%
80%
77%
77%
74%
70%
70%
50%
60%
59%
60%
57%
48%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Participate in a learning community or some other formal program
where groups of students take two or more classes together
60%
50%
48%
47%
45%
41%
40%
40%
34%
31%
30%
27%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Worked on a research project with a faculty member
outside of course or program requirements
70%
62%
59%
60%
54%
52%
50%
40%
32%
30%
28%
27%
22%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Foreign language coursework
70%
62%
59%
60%
59%
55%
52%
50%
46%
40%
39%
37%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Study abroad
60%
53%
51%
50%
45%
43%
40%
36%
30%
27%
21%
19%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Independent study or self-designed major
40%
36%
35%
32%
30%
30%
30%
24%
25%
19%
20%
17%
15%
10%
9%
5%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Culminating senior experience (capstone course,
senior project or thesis, comprehensive exam, etc.)
100%
89%
90%
82%
82%
80%
73%
72%
70%
59%
60%
61%
50%
43%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
NSSE
To what extent does your
institution emphasize each
of the following?
FSSE
To what extent does your
institution emphasize each
of the following?
Very little, Some, Quite a bit, Very little, Some, Quite a bit,
Very much
Very much
Sum of quite a bit and very much
Spending significant amounts of time studying and on academic work
90%
80%
79%
76%
74%
76%
70%
60%
59%
57%
53%
50%
49%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Providing the support you need to help you succeed academically
80%
79%
78%
76%
76%
76%
73%
74%
73%
72%
71%
70%
68%
68%
67%
66%
64%
62%
60%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Encouraging contact among students from different
economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds
60%
51%
49%
50%
47%
45%
43%
40%
40%
30%
37%
28%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Helping you cope with your non-academic responsibilities (work, family, etc.)
40%
35%
34%
35%
31%
30%
26%
26%
25%
22%
19%
20%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Providing the support you need to thrive socially
45%
42%
43%
42%
40%
38%
35%
39%
35%
35%
31%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Attending campus events and activities (special speakers,
cultural performances, athletic events, etc.)
70%
65%
62%
60%
58%
57%
57%
58%
52%
50%
49%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Using computers in academic work
100%
90%
90%
84%
89%
82%
80%
70%
60%
60%
55%
57%
50%
43%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
NSSE
To what extent has your
experience at this institution
contributed to your
knowledge, skills, and
personal development in the
following areas?
FSSE
To what extent has the
typical [first-year
student/senior/student]’s
experience at this institution
contributed to his or her
knowledge, skills, and
personal development in the
following areas?
Very little, Some, Quite a bit, Very little, Some, Quite a bit,
Very much
Very much
Sum of quite a bit and very much
Acquiring a broad general education
95%
92%
90%
90%
87%
86%
85%
83%
81%
80%
80%
77%
75%
70%
65%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Writing clearly and effectively
80%
72%
70%
66%
71%
67%
65%
59%
60%
53%
50%
42%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Speaking clearly and effectively
80%
71%
70%
67%
64%
62%
61%
58%
60%
50%
41%
40%
30%
26%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Thinking critically and analytically
100%
90%
86%
83%
80%
80%
76%
71%
70%
58%
60%
53%
50%
42%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Analyzing quantitative problems
80%
72%
70%
70%
69%
62%
60%
52%
50%
41%
40%
36%
36%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Using computing and information technology
80%
79%
78%
78%
78%
77%
76%
74%
72%
71%
70%
70%
69%
68%
67%
66%
64%
62%
60%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Working effectively with others
90%
81%
80%
72%
70%
69%
68%
70%
65%
60%
52%
50%
41%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Learning effectively on your own
80%
74%
70%
69%
68%
62%
62%
60%
54%
48%
50%
40%
34%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Understanding yourself
70%
63%
60%
56%
57%
56%
55%
50%
50%
43%
40%
30%
29%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
60%
53%
51%
50%
47%
45%
42%
40%
30%
30%
22%
20%
13%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Solving complex real-world problems
70%
59%
60%
55%
50%
50%
49%
44%
40%
33%
30%
22%
20%
10%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Developing a personal code of values and ethics
60%
52%
49%
50%
50%
46%
46%
40%
35%
31%
30%
20%
12%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Developing a deepened sense of spirituality
30%
28%
26%
25%
22%
21%
20%
20%
17%
15%
11%
10%
8%
5%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Acquiring job or work-related knowledge and skills
90%
80%
77%
75%
74%
71%
70%
64%
60%
54%
50%
43%
40%
37%
30%
20%
10%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Voting in local, state, or national elections
35%
33%
30%
30%
29%
28%
25%
20%
18%
16%
15%
12%
10%
10%
5%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty
Contributing to the welfare of your community
45%
42%
40%
39%
40%
38%
35%
32%
30%
25%
21%
19%
20%
15%
10%
8%
5%
0%
First Year Students/Faculty Who Teach Mainly First Year Students
UNI Students
UNI NSSE Peers
Seniors/Faculty Who Teach Mainly Seniors
UNI Faculty
National Faculty