using nsse data in student affairs west chester university
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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