I:\OIRPA\Projects\2009\20090265_NSSE2010\NSSE Fact Sheet.docx
September 13, 2009
UC Denver NSSE facts
What:
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE, pronounced “Nessie”)
Who: All first-year students and all seniors
When:
February through April 2010
Where:
E-mails to students link them to online survey
Why:
Participation in NSSE is important to University of Colorado Denver staff, faculty and
students because it:

Helps us improve the student experience. For example, improvements were made to the Advising
program as a result of prior NSSE findings.
o
Changes made by other institutions based upon NSSE findings:

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: NSSE results identified a need to engage
first-year students earlier on. Therefore a Freshman Seminar class with four
options was piloted.

Grand Valley State University: Because data from seniors indicated that they
needed assistance in speaking clearly and effectively, one faculty member now
requires students to make presentations.

Helps school and college administrations gather information they need (e.g., accreditation,
program review, process improvement)

Provides additional information for our diversity programs and reports.

Helps us respond to data requests from the University of Colorado System, Voluntary System of
Accountability.
Contact:
Christine Stroup-Benham, PhD or Steve Krizman
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NSSE Communication plan
Goal: Increase participation in NSSE; use of data by campus community.
Strategy: Increase awareness and understanding of the importance of NSSE (what it means to the
participant as well as to faculty and staff), thus increasing likelihood the target audience will respond.
Emphasis will be on communicating when the target audience is most receptive to the message and
at a time when they can act right away. Promote understanding about NSSE as a method for
evaluating UCD.
Success measure: 37 percent response rate (average NSSE response rate in 2007).
Tactics and timeline
Strategy
Academic leader
Timeline
Sept. –
Tactics
 Presentations to student government, AD/ASG, UWG, joint
awareness and
Oct.
deans, ASAL, Provost Team, Student Life leadership, Extended
initial support
2009
Student Affairs Group, CLAS Chairs

One-page “what’s in it for the institution” handout

Student government brainstorm on ideas to generate interest
and increase participation
Awareness among
Nov.
first-years during
2009

First Year Symposium session

Talking points for advisers and freshman-oriented handout
they can give when students come in for spring class
advising
Enlist faculty
registration
Jan. 2010
sponsorship

Items in Provost Post, deans newsletters, Network

Presentation to AD/ASG, ASAL, Provost Team, Deans’ Council,
Faculty Assembly
Awareness among
Jan. 2010

Suggested script for faculty and student hand-out

Items in Advocate, regular student e-newsletters and regular
freshmen & seniors
Campus Village communication vehicles.
in advance of survey

Fliers, posters
distribution

Closed circuit TV
Urge action among
Feb.
Continue January tactics, plus:
first-years and
2010

seniors during
Tailor NSSE e-mail messages to be clear about how this
benefits UC Denver (they allow this – we’ll need to get them
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survey distribution
language early – must be submitted by Sept. 16)

Whatever engagement ideas developed by student
government

Talking points for anyone making presentations to students or
emceeing events (especially Student Life)
Escalate
Mar.
communication and
incentives as needed
2010

Info included in seniors’ graduation communications

Button to link to survey URL
Monitor response rate and consider following tactics:

Faculty make reminder announcement in class

Editorial in Advocate

Further incentives

Heighten involvement of Student Life staff
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