NASCE as Institutional Assessment
NASCE is an Institutional Assessment – uses individual-level data to assess
institutional community engagement
Use NASCE Data…
As backbone of Strategic Plan
To assess campus culture of service and facilitate
community engagement discussions with faculty
and administrators
To establish realistic and structured community engagement goals
To implement real change at the systemic level and move all students along the
continuum of service
As bi-annual assessment tool to continuously evaluate institutional progress in community
engagement
NASCE as Assessment Tool
Assess type, frequency, depth, motivations for, and
obstacles to service on the part of students
Assess effects of institutional structures and
programs on student community service
Generates individual level data that allows
institutions to draw conclusions about student
subsets
Comparative analysis with national dataset of more
than 27,000 students and counting
NASCE Methodology
NASCE Instrument
1. “DO YOU SERVE?”
Please consider the community service in which you have or are engaged.
Remember, by community service we mean the following: any activity, including
internships, work study, or co-ops, in which you participate with the goal of providing,
generating and/or sustaining help for individuals and groups who have unmet human
needs in areas like shelter, health, nutrition, education, and opportunity.
Do you engage in community service here at XYZ?
NASCE Instrument
Measures student service across 9 areas
Homelessness
Hunger
Civic
Religious
Youth
Environmental
Elder
Economic
Justice
Health
NASCE Instrument
2. “HOW OFTEN DO YOU SERVE?”
For each of the community service activity types that you
checked, how often would you say you did that type of
service. Would you say….
 Once or twice a year
 Several times during the year
 About once a month
 Several times a month
 About once a week
 More than once a week
NASCE Instrument
3. “AT WHAT DEPTH DO YOU SERVE?”
For each of the types of service that you selected, which of the following describes
your level of involvement? [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
 I would participate at an event
or short BASIS
term drive.
it was a COMMITTED
one-shot type
REGULAR
FOR Usually DEEPLY
of involvement.
A PERIOD OF TIME
ONE SHOT
 I was involved on a regular basis for a period of time. One example
would
beLiving
a
Volunteer at
a Senior
Mentor
School
regular
commitment
to be there
onceMiddle
a week
for an entire semester,
another
Volunteer
once at
facility twiceor
a week
since
students trip
everyfor
week
for aof each day for a
woulda food
be todrive
participate on a service
most
period
of time.
you
were 16
semester
 I was deeply involved in a project or cause and dedicated to it. Rather than
thinking of my service as a chore or time commitment, I was drawn to serve by the
issue or problem and worked towards its resolution.
Service by Need Areas
Total Service by Needs Area
Econ
5%
Environment
10%
Elder Care
5%
Youth
26%
Civic
11%
Health
15%
Religion
10%
Hunger
Homelessness 8%
10%
 Elder Care and Economic
Justice are neglected need
areas.
 Youth Services is the most
impactful area.
 Religion and Youth represent
deepest commitments.
 Environment and Health have
high rates of participation, but
low frequency and depth
 Percentage of students serving
once a week or more:
o
o
o
o
Religion (48%)
Youth (38%)
Economic (21%)
Elder Care (19%)
Institutional Beliefs
Student Opinions (Agree or Strongly Agree):
84%: Overall, I would say that XYZ University promotes community service among the
student body.
72%: I think the college or university does an appropriate job of informing students of all
the ways they can be engaged in the community.
59%: Overall, I am satisfied with my personal level of involvement in community service
here at XYZ University.
Obstacles to Service
84%
I have to study
74%
Too busy with other activities
63%
I have to work
48%
I don't know what is available
44%
Not enough energy
42%
Lack of transportation
32%
Too busy with friends
28%
What I would like to do is…
18%
It makes me uncomfortable
13%
Previous bad experience
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Motivations for Service
96%
I believe I can help people who are in need
95%
It is the right thing to do
94%
It makes me feel good about myself
83%
I want to change the world
83%
I meet people through participating
75%
It is important to have on my record
59%
I have been required to
53%
Because my friends do it
24%
I don't want to feel guilty
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Campus Awareness
How have you heard about service opportunities
available here at XYZ?
68%
Campus emails
63%
Word of mouth
62%
Flyers
54%
In a class
49%
Through a club
Organizational Fair
30%
Residence life
29%
24%
My RA or RD
22%
Campus Newspaper
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%