What is NSSE?
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is sponsored by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and evaluates the various educational experiences encountered by first-year and senior undergraduate students.
The NSSE assists institutions in their efforts to improve the quality of educational engagement by providing systematic national data of the practices related to high levels of learning and development.
The Five Benchmarks of Effective Educational Practice
NSSE bases the data it analyzes and evaluates on these five benchmarks of effective educational practices:
Level of Academic Challenges (LAC)
LAC assesses the intellectual and creative challenges students experience in their studies and how these challenges reflect the quality of their learning.
First-Year Students
Highest Performing Areas
- Read more than 10 assigned books or book-length packs of reading
- Wrote more than 10 papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages
- Completed problem sets that take more than an hour to complete
- Analyzed quantitative problems
- Used computers and information technology
- Solved complete real-world problems
Seniors
Highest Performing Areas
- Spent more than ten hours/week preparing for class (studying, etc.)
- Completed problem sets that take more than an hour to complete
- Analyzed quantitative problems
- Used computers and information technology
- Solved complete real-world problems
Lowest Performing Areas
- Read more than 10 assigned books or book-length packs of reading
- Wrote at least one paper or report of 20 pages or more
Active and Collaborative Learning (ACL)
ACL reflects how involved students are involved in their education, if they think about what they are learning, and how well do they collaborate with others.
First-Year Students
Highest Performing Areas
- Worked with other students on projects during class
- Worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments
- Made a class presentation
- Tutored or taught other students
- Worked effectively with others
Lowest Performing Areas
- Asked questions/contributed to class discussions
- Participated in a community-based project as part of a regular course
Seniors
Highest Performing Areas
- Worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments
- Tutored or taught other students
Lowest Performing Areas
- Asked questions/contributed to class discussions
- Participated in a community-based project as part of a regular course
- Discussed ideas from readings or classes with others outside of class (students, family members, co-workers, etc.)
Student-Faculty Interaction (SFI)
SFI evaluates student interaction with faculty and staff both during and after class.
First-Year Students
Lowest Performing Areas
- Discussed grades or assignments with an instructor
Seniors
Highest Performing Areas
- Worked with a faculty member on activities other than coursework (committees, orientation, student-life activities)
Enriching Educational Experiences (EEE)
EEE focuses on student experience with diversity, technology, and complementary learning opportunities.
First-Year Students
Highest Performing Areas
- Participated in co-curricular activities (organizations, student publications, student government, fraternity or sorority, intercollegiate or intramural sports)
- Participated in a learning community or some other formal program where groups of students take two or more classes together
Lowest Performing Areas
- Used an electronic medium to discuss or complete an assignment
- Had serious conversations with students of another race or ethnicity
- Had serious conversations with students of other religions/politics/values
Seniors
Highest Performing Areas
- Did a practicum, internship, field experience, clinical assignment, etc.
- Said instruction substantially encourages contacts among diverse peers
- Participated in a learning community or some other formal program where groups of students take two or more classes together
- Participated in co-curricular activities (organizations, student publications, student government, fraternity or sorority, intercollegiate or intramural sports)
- Had a culminating senior experience (capstone course, senior project or thesis, comprehensive exam, etc.)
Lowest Performing Areas
- Completed foreign language coursework
- Used an electronic medium to discuss or complete an assignment
- Had serious conversations with students of another race or ethnicity
Supportive Campus Environment (SCE)
SCE reviews the academic and social interactions among different groups and organizations on campus.
First-Year Students
Highest Performing Areas
- Had a campus environment that provides the support you need to help you succeed academically
Seniors
Highest Performing Areas
- Positively rated their relationships with other students
What are the benchmarks scores for each Carnegie classification?
Averages for each Carnegie classification will be based on the NSSE 2007 cohort, regardless of whether a school's scores are from 2005, 2006, or 2007. This provides the most consistent point of comparison for readers reviewing scores. Average Carnegie classification scores across administration years are stable enough over time for the comparisons to be valid. NSSE 2007 benchmark scores for each institutional type can be seen here.
Michigan Tech's Full NSSE Reports
Links
- For more information about Michigan Tech, please visit Admissions.
- NSSE Facts
- FAQ's on the NSSE-USA Today Joint Venture