Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
Table 2
Seniors' Responses: Spring 2009, 2011, and 2014 (MTSU did not participate in NSSE in 2012 and 2013)
Spring 2014
This shade indicates increase since 2009
This shade indicates decrease since 2009
This shade indicates no change since 2009
This shade indicates major changes to (or the addition of) survey item in 2014
Number of Respondents
Sample size
Response rate
Seniors
2011
2014
450
1,991
23%
325
1,626
20%
Seniors
2011
2014
3.14
2.46
2.10
1.99
3.15
2.37
2.12
1.92
3.19
2.40
3.11
1.75
—
—
2.32
2009
591
2,000
30%
* Means are weighted by institution-reported sex and enrollment-status
∆ Major format changes to survey item in 2014 (not comparable to earlier items)
— Survey item added in 2014 (new item)
Q1. During the current school year, about how often have you don the following?
Scale: 1=Never 2=Sometimes 3=Often 4=Very Often
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Asked questions or contributed to course discussions in other ways
Prepared two or more drafts of a paper or assignment before turning it in
Come to class without completing readings or assignments
Attended an art exhibit, play or other arts performance (dance, music, etc.)
Asked another student to help you understand course material
2009
Explained course material to one or more students
Prepared for exams by discussing or working through course material with other students
Worked with other students on course projects or assignments
Gave a course presentation
∆
∆
2.65
—
—
2.32
∆
2.67
∆
2.64
2.69
2.59
Seniors
2011
2014
Q2. During the current school year, about how often have you don the following?
Scale: 1=Never 2=Sometimes 3=Often 4=Very Often
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
2009
Combined ideas from different courses when completing assignments
Connected your learning to societal problems or issues
Included diverse perspectives (political, religious, racial/ethnic, gender, etc.) in course discussions
or assignments
Examined the strengths and weaknesses of your own views on a topic or issue
Tried to better understand someone else's views by imagining how an issue looks from his or her
perspective
Learned something that changed the way you understand an issue or concept
Connected ideas from your courses to your prior experiences and knowledge
∆
∆
2.97
—
—
2.79
2.82
2.83
2.81
2.72
2.54
2.81
2.92
2.96
2.91
2.88
2.92
2.88
—
—
3.18
Seniors
2011
2014
2.44
2.34
2.48
1.75
2.13
1.69
2.00
1.92
2.28
—
—
2.29
Q3. During the current school year, about how often have you done the following?
Scale: 1=Never 2=Sometimes 3=Often 4=Very Often
a.
b.
c.
d.
Talked about career plans with a faculty member
Worked with a faculty member on activities other than coursework (committees, student groups,
etc.)
Discussed course topics, ideas, or concepts with a faculty member outside of class
Discussed your academic performance with a faculty member
2009
Q4. During the current school year, about how much has your coursework emphasized
the following?
Scale: 1=Very Little 2=Some 3=Quite a bit
4=Very Much
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Seniors
2009
2011
∆
∆
2.82
Applying facts, theories, or methods to practical problems or new situations
∆
∆
3.11
Analyzing an idea, experience, or line of reasoning in depth by examining its parts
∆
∆
3.09
Evaluating a point of view, decision, or information source
∆
∆
2.91
3.07
3.06
2.92
Forming a new idea or understanding from various pieces of information
Q5. During the current school year, to what extent have your instructors done the
following?
Scale: 1=Very Little 2=Some 3=Quite a bit
4=Very much
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Seniors
2009
2014
—
—
3.24
Taught course sessions in an organized way
—
—
3.18
Used examples or illustrations to explain difficult points
—
—
3.23
Provided feedback on a draft or work in progress
—
—
2.85
2.13
2.00
2.93
Seniors
2011
2014
—
—
2.65
—
—
—
—
2.35
Provided prompt and detailed feedback on tests or completed assignments
Scale: 1=Never 2=Sometimes 3=Often 4=Very often
b.
c.
2011
Clearly explained course goals and requirements
Q6. During the current school year, about how often have you done the following?
a.
2014
Memorizing course material
Reached conclusions based on your own analysis of numerical information (numbers, graphs,
statistics, etc.)
Used numerical information to examine a real-world problem or issue (unemployment, climate
change, public health, etc.)
Evaluated what others have concluded from numerical information
Q7. During the current school year, about how many papers, reports, or other writing
tasks of the following length have you been assigned?
Scale: 1=None 2=1-2 3=3-5 4=6-10 5=11-15 6=16-20 7=More than 20 papers
2009
Seniors
2.36
Q7. During the current school year, about how many papers, reports, or other writing
tasks of the following length have you been assigned?
Scale: 1=None 2=1-2 3=3-5 4=6-10 5=11-15 6=16-20 7=More than 20 papers
a.
b.
c.
2009
2011
∆
∆
6.21
Number of written papers or reports: Between 6 and 10 pages
∆
∆
2.42
Number of written papers or reports: 11 pages or more
∆
∆
1.20
Q8. During the current school year, about how often have you had discussions with
people from the following groups?
Scale: 1=Never 2=Sometimes 3=Often 4=Very Often
a.
b.
c.
d.
Seniors
2009
2011
∆
∆
3.08
Had discussions with people from an economic background other than your own
∆
∆
3.06
Had discussions with people with religious beliefs other than your own
∆
∆
2.97
Had discussions with people with political views other than your own
∆
∆
3.04
Scale: 1=Never 2=Sometimes 3=Often 4=Very Often
Identified key information from reading assignments
Reviewed your notes after class
Summarized what you learned in class or from course materials
Seniors
2009
2011
—
—
—
—
—
—
Scale: 1=Never 2=Sometimes 3=Often 4=Very Often
2009
To what extent have your courses challenged you to do your best work?
2011
∆
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Internship, co-op, field experience, student teaching, or clinical placement
Formal leadership role in a student organization or group
Learning community or some other formal program where groups of students take two or more
classes together
Study abroad program
Work with a faculty member on a research project
Culminating senior experience (capstone course, senior project or thesis, comprehensive exam,
portfolio, etc.)
2009
Q13. Indicate the quality of your interactions with the following people at your
institution.
a. Quality of interactions with students
b. Quality of interactions with academic advisors
c. Quality of interactions with faculty
d. Quality of interactions with student services staff
e. Quality of interactions with other administrative staff and offices
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
5.71
2014
3.09
3.06
—
2.56
2.37
2.46
2.37
2.12
2.12
2.23
2.25
2.20
2.23
2.64
2.600
3.01
Seniors
2009
2011
∆
2014
∆
1.66
Seniors
2011
2014
5.45
5.45
5.58
—
—
5.13
5.31
5.22
5.66
—
—
4.66
4.57
4.51
4.80
Seniors
2011
2014
2009
2009
Spending significant amounts of time studying and on academic work
3.03
2.99
3.03
Providing support to help students succeed academically
2.80
2.76
2.83
—
—
2.77
2.51
2.43
2.37
∆
∆
2.74
Using learning support services (tutoring services, writing center, etc.)
Encouraging contact among students from different backgrounds (social, racial/ethnic, religious,
etc.)
Providing opportunities to be involved socially
Providing support for your overall well-being (recreation, health care, counseling, etc.)
—
—
2.76
Helping you manage your non-academic responsibilities (work, family, etc.)
1.93
1.84
1.94
Attending campus activities and events (performing arts, athletic events, etc.)
2.44
2.33
2.66
—
—
2.29
Attending events that address important social, economic, or political issues
Scale: 1=0 hours per week 2=1-5 3=6-10 4=11-15 5=16-20 6=21-25 7=26-30 8=More than 30
b.
c.
∆
—
Q15. About how many hours do you spend in a typical 7-day week doing the
following?
a.
2.88
3.08
Q14. How much does your institution emphasize the following?
Scale: 1=Very little 2=Some 3=Quite a bit 4=Very much
2.97
2014
2011
Q12. About how many our your courses at this institution have included a community-based
project (service-learning)?
Scale: 1=None 2=Some 3=Most 4=All
About how many of your courses at this institution have included a community-based project
a. (service-learning)?
3.17
Seniors
Q11. Which of the following have you done or do you plan to do before you graduate?
Scale: 1=Have not decided 2=Do not plan to do 3=Plan to do 4=Done or in progress
2014
Seniors
Q10. During the current school year, to what extent have your course challenged you
to do your best work?
a.
2014
Had discussions with people of a race or ethnicity other than your own
Q9. During the current school year, about how often have you done the following?
a.
b.
c.
2014
Number of written papers or reports: Up to 5 pages
Seniors
2009
2011
2014
Preparing for class (studying, reading, writing, doing homework or lab work, analyzing data,
rehearsing, and other academic activities)
4.10
4.19
4.16
Participating in co-curricular activities (organizations, campus publications, student government,
fraternity or sorority, intercollegiate or intramural sports, etc.)
1.84
1.80
1.73
Hours per week: Working for pay ON CAMPUS
1.43
1.51
1.48
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Working for pay OFF CAMPUS
4.50
4.21
4.24
Doing community service or volunteer work
Relaxing and socializing (time with friends, video games, TV or videos, keeping up with friends
online, etc.)
∆
∆
2.71
3.41
3.50
3.28
Providing care for dependents (children, parents, etc.)
2.83
2.82
2.60
Commuting to campus (driving, walking, etc.)
2.48
2.49
2.52
Q16. Of the time you spend preparing for class in a typical 7-day week, about how
much is on assigned reading?
Scale: 1=Very little 2=Some 3=About half 4=Most 5=Almost all
a.
Seniors
2009
Of the time you spend preparing for class in a typical 7-day week, about how many hours are on
ASSIGNED READING?
2011
∆
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
2009
2011
2014
3.02
2.94
2.93
Speaking clearly and effectively
2.99
2.82
2.84
Thinking critically and analytically
3.27
3.15
3.08
Analyzing numerical and statistical information
3.04
2.95
2.76
Acquiring job- or work-related knowledge and skills
3.12
3.01
2.93
Working effectively with others
3.09
2.96
2.91
Developing or clarifying a personal code of values and ethics
Understanding people of other backgrounds (economic, racial/ethnic, political, religious,
nationality, etc.)
2.55
2.47
2.65
∆
∆
2.65
Solving complex real-world problems
2.71
2.60
2.71
—
—
2.55
Seniors
2011
2014
3.05
3.20
Being an informed and active citizen
Scale: 1=Poor 2=Fair 3=Good 4=Excellent
How would you evaluate your entire educational experience at this institution?
2009
3.11
Q19. If you could start over again, would you go to the same institution you are now
attending?
Scale: 1=Definitely no 2=Probably no 3=Probably yes 4=Definitely yes
a.
2.68
Writing clearly and effectively
Q18. How would you evaluate your entire educational experience at this institution?
a.
∆
Seniors
Q17. How much has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge,
skills, and personal development in the following areas?
Scale: 1=Very little 2=Some 3=Quite a bit 4=Very much
2014
If you could start over again, would you go to the SAME INSTITUTION you are now attending?
Seniors
2009
3.10
2011
3.11
2014
3.14