Using NSSE Data inUsing NSSE Data inStudent AffairsStudent Affairs

West Chester UniversityWest Chester University

What is NSSE and What Does it Measure?

A survey that provides an annual snapshot of student engagement in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development.– Results provide an estimate of how

undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college

– NSSE items represent empirically confirmed “good practices”; they reflect behaviors associated with desired outcomes of college

NSSE ResultsNSSE Results

Are diagnostic; to help institutions look holistically at undergraduate experience

Help pinpoint aspects not in line with mission, or what institution expects

Identify weaknesses and strengths in educational programs

Help institutions know what to focus on to improve student learning and success

Level of Academic Challenge

Active & Collaborative

Learning

Enriching Educational Experiences

Student – Faculty

Interaction

Supportive Campus

Environment

How often have youHow often have you Worked with classmates outside of class to Worked with classmates outside of class to

prepare class assignmentsprepare class assignments– Never Never FY 11% FY 11% SY 7% SY 7%– SometimesSometimes 55%55% 48%48%– Often/very oftenOften/very often 33%33% 45%45%

Talked about career plans with a faculty Talked about career plans with a faculty member or advisormember or advisor– Never Never FY 18% FY 18% SY 18% SY 18%– SometimesSometimes 47%47% 44%44%– Often/very oftenOften/very often 35%35% 38%38%

The majority of first-year students (57%) have The majority of first-year students (57%) have never worked with faculty members on activities never worked with faculty members on activities other than coursework (committees, orientation, other than coursework (committees, orientation, student life activities, etc.)student life activities, etc.)– The percentage is not much better for seniors The percentage is not much better for seniors

(47%)(47%)

A significant number of students either plan to or A significant number of students either plan to or have participated in a practicum, internship, field have participated in a practicum, internship, field experience, co-op experience, or clinical experience, co-op experience, or clinical assignment (FY 87%, SY 80%)assignment (FY 87%, SY 80%)– The numbers are similar for PASSHE schools The numbers are similar for PASSHE schools

(FY 84%, SY 82%)(FY 84%, SY 82%)

How often have you…How often have you… Tutored or taught other studentsTutored or taught other students

– Sometimes, often, very oftenSometimes, often, very often FY 46%FY 46% 45% PASSHE45% PASSHE SY 55%SY 55% 60%60%

Participated in a community-based Participated in a community-based project (e.g. service learning) as part project (e.g. service learning) as part of a regular courseof a regular course– NeverNever

FY 54%FY 54% 59%59% SY 54%SY 54% 44%44%

Participated in a community-based project Participated in a community-based project as part of an organized university or student as part of an organized university or student government project (not through a course)government project (not through a course)

51%

23%

16%

10%

61%

22%

9%

8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Never

Sometimes

Often

Very often

SY

FY

PASSHE9%6%

13%12%

28%23%

50%56%

The percentage of seniors who plan The percentage of seniors who plan to or have done community service to or have done community service or volunteer work isor volunteer work is– 70 for WCU seniors70 for WCU seniors– 75% for other PASSHE schools seniors75% for other PASSHE schools seniors

Attended an art exhibit, play, dance, Attended an art exhibit, play, dance, music, theater, or other performancemusic, theater, or other performance

18%

50%

18%14%

34%

13%11%

42%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Never Sometimes Often Very often

FY

SY

PASSHE 22/28 47/47 20/15 10/10

Exercised or Exercised or participated in participated in physical fitness physical fitness activitiesactivities

FY SY

Never 11% 10% 12% 12%

Sometimes 29% 27% 35% 32%

Often/Very 61% 63% 53% 57%

Participated in activities Participated in activities to enhance your to enhance your spirituality (worship, spirituality (worship, meditation, prayer, etc.)meditation, prayer, etc.)

FY SY

Never 52% 50% 51% 47%

Sometimes 26% 28% 2%6 28%

Often/Very 21% 23% 2%3 26%

WCU / PASSHE

Interaction with Other StudentsInteraction with Other StudentsTo what extent does the university encourage To what extent does the university encourage

contact between students from different contact between students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds?backgrounds?

10%

30%38%

22%22%

36%32%

11%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Very Little Some Quite a Bit Very Much

FY

SY

PASSHE 12/18 33/38 35/29 20/16

Had serious conversations with students of Had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your owna different race or ethnicity than your own

9%

36%34%

13%

35%

30%

22% 21%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Never Sometimes Often Very often

FY

SY

PASSHE 17 / 13 36 / 39 26 / 27 21 / 21

Had serious conversations with students who are Had serious conversations with students who are very different from you in terms of their religious very different from you in terms of their religious

beliefs, political opinions, or personal valuesbeliefs, political opinions, or personal values

6%

36%

25%

11%

36%

21%

32% 32%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Never Sometimes Often Very often

FY

SY

PASSHE 11 / 10 35 / 37 29 / 30 24 / 24

Quality of InteractionsQuality of Interactions How would you rate the quality of How would you rate the quality of

relationships with faculty?relationships with faculty?– Unavailable, unhelpful, unsympathetic (1-3) = 9%Unavailable, unhelpful, unsympathetic (1-3) = 9%– Helpful, available (4-7) = 91%Helpful, available (4-7) = 91%

How would you rate the quality of How would you rate the quality of relationships with administrative personnel relationships with administrative personnel and offices?and offices?– Unhelpful, inconsiderate, rigid (1-3) = 26%Unhelpful, inconsiderate, rigid (1-3) = 26%– Helpful, considerate, flexible (4-7) = 74%Helpful, considerate, flexible (4-7) = 74%

Quality of relationships with Quality of relationships with administrative personnel and officesadministrative personnel and offices

1%

7%

13%

26% 27%

18%

7%5%

9%

16%

25%

16%18%

11%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

FY

SY

Participation in co-curricular activitiesParticipation in co-curricular activities(organizations, campus publications, student government, fraternity or (organizations, campus publications, student government, fraternity or

sorority, intercollegiate or intramural sports, etc.)sorority, intercollegiate or intramural sports, etc.)

47%

24%

12%7% 10%

24%

39%

16%

9% 12%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

0 hr/wk 1-5 hr/wk 6-10 hr/wk 11-15 hr/wk 16-30+hr/wk

FY

SY

PASSHE 38/36 29/32 14/14 7/7 12/11

Amount of time spent inAmount of time spent in Preparing for classPreparing for class

– 11+ hr/wk11+ hr/wk FY 48%FY 48% SY 50%SY 50%

Working for pay on campusWorking for pay on campus– 6+ hr/wk6+ hr/wk FY 15%FY 15% SY 16%SY 16%

Working for pay off campusWorking for pay off campus– NoneNone FY 70%FY 70% SY 24%SY 24%– 6+ hr/wk6+ hr/wk FY 24%FY 24% SY 72%SY 72%

Relaxing and socializingRelaxing and socializing– 1-10 hr/wk1-10 hr/wk FY 50%FY 50% SY 59%SY 59%– 16+ hr/wk16+ hr/wk FY 26%FY 26% SY 22%SY 22%

To what extent does the campus To what extent does the campus provide a residential experience that provide a residential experience that

facilitates adjustments to college?facilitates adjustments to college?

5%

27%

36%

28%

3%

8%

28%27%24%

12%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Very little Some Quite a bit Very much Not applicable

FY

SY

To what extent does WCU provide a safe To what extent does WCU provide a safe environment for students by providing environment for students by providing

features and services that enhance safety?features and services that enhance safety?

FY SY

Very little/Some 25% 21% 42% 29%

Quite a bit 38% 38% 31% 39%

Very much 36% 39% 25% 30%

WCU / PASSHE

Overall, how would you evaluate the Overall, how would you evaluate the quality of academic advising you have quality of academic advising you have

received at your institution?received at your institution?

FY SY

WCU PA Car WCU PA Car

Poor 5% 6% 6% 14% 10% 11%

Fair 21% 17% 19% 22% 19% 22%

Good 51% 51% 48% 39% 42% 41%

Excellent 23% 26% 27% 25% 29% 26%

How would you evaluate your How would you evaluate your entire educational experience at entire educational experience at

this institution?this institution?

Good or ExcellentGood or Excellent– 89% of FY89% of FY 86%– 84% of SY84% of SY 84%

If you could start over again, would you If you could start over again, would you go to the same institution you are now go to the same institution you are now

attending?attending?

Definitely No / Probably No FY – 13% 18% SY – 19% 22%

Probably Yes Definitely Yes FY – 46/45% 40/37% SY – 41/40% 30/38%

Using NSSE to Assess Engagement in Student Affairs

Evidence about quality of student experience– Indicators at item level– Institutional emphasis on attending campus

events (10 f)– Hours spent on co-curricular activities (9d)– Diversity Experiences (1 e, u, v)– Compare differences by gender, race-ethnicity,

students in learning communities, place of residence, work on/off campus, fraternity/sorority membership by hours of co-curricular involvement etc.

Student Affairs Questions that NSSE Can Answer

Do NSSE results match our mission? Are we meeting our expectations for

having a supportive campus environment? Since implementing a new multicultural

education initiative and expanding diversity programming, has our score on the diversity scale changed?

Are FYs who withdraw from the institution different in terms of engagement than students who are retained?

Student Affairs Assessment with NSSE: Where To Start?

1. Start with campus concerns, then go to the data– What burning questions do you have about

our students? – What are the hot topics on our campus? – How can these data feed you with information

on those topics?

2. How are we stacking up in terms of NSSE benchmarks, and educational practices of interest to our campus?

Making Sense of Data:Two Approaches

Most valued activities– What is most valued at WCU, in

departments?– What does the data show?

Eliminate “Nevers”– Work on reducing or eliminating reports

by students of never doing specific engagement activities

NSSE Findings & Student Affairs

Functional Areas– Career Services/Advising– First Year Programs/Orientation– Multicultural programs– Residential Life– Student Activities/Fraternity and Sorority Life

Compare Results Within Your Institution– Compare item differences by gender, race-ethnicity,

students in learning communities, place of residence, work on campus/off campus, fraternity and sorority affiliation, first-generation students