Results from the National Survey of Student Engagement

Margaret HarriganOffice of Academic Planning and Analysis

University of Wisconsin-Madison

National survey began in 2000 Initiated by Indiana University Center for

Postsecondary Research with help from Pew Charitable Trusts, Carnegie Foundation, Lumina Foundation

Based on research on learning and student development

UW-Madison participation: 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, scheduled for

2011

Why we participate:

Accountability

Assessment National data available for comparison

purposes

What Can We Learn From NSSE?

How does UW-Madison compare to other universities?

Do some groups of students (first generation, minority, men) have a different experience at UW-Madison?

How do responses change over time?

Sampling Information - 2008 Web-based survey fielded March - May

Random sample: 2,784 first-year students 3,915 senior students Minority students, study-abroad, and seniors in

SOHE, CALS, or Nursing sampled at a higher rate 30% response rate for first-years (909) 35% response rate for seniors (1,368)

Survey Caveats

Sampling error Response bias Same question can mean different things to

different people Could measure real differences in experience Different aspects or perceptions of same

experience Different expectations about experience

Alvy Singer's Therapist: How often do you sleep together? Annie Hall's Therapist: Do you have sex often? Alvy Singer: [lamenting] Hardly ever. Maybe three times a week. Annie Hall: [annoyed] Constantly. I'd say three times a week.

NSSE Focus: Five Broad Areas Academic

Challenge Enriching

Educational Experiences

Active and Collaborative Learning

Student-Faculty Interactions Supportive Campus Environment

UWSA Accountability Indicators

UW-Madison National Peers

High Impact Practices: First-Year StudentsLearning communities 15% 16% 20%*

Service learning 30% 38%* 37%*

High Impact Practices: SeniorsResearch with faculty 33% 19%* 25%*

Service learning 38% 46%* 41%

Internship 62% 51%* 60%

Senior experience 33% 29%* 25%*

Critical Thinking: SeniorsThinking critically 92% 86%* 87%*

Application of theories 78% 79% 78%

Analyzing ideas 85% 83% 84%

Wisconsin Experience Learning communities Research with faculty members Service-learning courses Civic engagement Collaborative learning Independent study courses Internships Study abroad Senior theses, capstone courses, etc.

Wisconsin Experience: 2008

Group Projects

In-Class Projects

Community Service

Service Learning

Learning Community

Research with faculty

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

40

30

14

43.4

35

21

First Year Students

UW

AAU

Wisconsin Experience: 2004-2008

Group Projects

In-Class Projects

Com-munity Service

Service Learning

Learning Commu-

nity

Research with

faculty

05

1015202530354045

First Year Students

20082006

Wisconsin Experience: 2008

Group Projects

In-Class Projects

Community Service

Service Learning

Learning Community

Research with faculty

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

36

69

32

40

65

25

Seniors

UW

AAU

Wisconsin Experience: 2008

Internship Study Abroad Indep. Study Capstone Real World Problems

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

26 2631

67

2117

27

62

Seniors

UW

AAU

Student-Faculty Interaction

Research with faculty member

Discuss ideas from class Prompt feedback Discuss career plans Discuss grades &

assignments Worked with faculty on

activities other than coursework

Student-Faculty Interactions:

Feedback Discuss Grades

Research Career Plans

Discuss Class

Activities0

10

20

30

40

50

60

36

2015

41

28

18

First Year Students

UW

AAU

Student-Faculty Interactions:

Feedback Discuss Grades

Research Career Plans

Discuss Class

Activities0

10

20

30

40

50

60

32

25

Seniors

UW

AAU

Supportive Campus Environment

Quality of Relationships on Campus: 2008

Students Faculty Administrators 0

102030405060708090 First Year Students

Male Female Minority

Non-Minority First Generation Non-First Generation

UW provides very much/quite a bit of support to help me…

Cope with non-academic re-sponsibilities

Thrive socially Succeed academ-ically

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

37

26

7078

Male Female MinorityNon-Minority First Generation Non-First Generation

Quality of Relationships on Campus: 2008

Students Faculty Administrators 0

102030405060708090

7461

81

7076

8375

82Senior Students

Male Female Minority Non-Minority

First Generation Non-First Generation Transfer Freshman start

How Do First-Years Spend Their Time?

Prepare for classes

Relaxing and socializing

Co-curricular activities

Work for pay on campus

Work for pay off campus

Care for dependents

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

1-5hr 6-10hr 11-15hr 16-20hr >20hr

Percent of Respondents

UW

AAU

AAU

AAU

UW

UW

UW

AAU

Note: Zero hours per week not shown.

UW

AAU

UW

AAU

To Learn More …

nsse.iub.edu apa.wisc.edu/performance_students_surveys.html