Presentation of Results NSSE 2003 Florida Gulf Coast University Office of Planning and Institutional Performance

Program Overview Why is Engagement Important? Results of particular interest to FGCU Performance on NSSE – unadjusted data The Institutional Engagement Index Using NSSE Data Extending and Integrating the process

FGCU’s response rate = 47% 43% overall for all NSSE 2003 institutions 43% for Paper mode institutions (66% of students completed paper version, and 34% responded via the Web) 43% for Web-only institutions FGCU sample size = 655 (321 FY, 334 SR) FGCU’s Results FGCU’s Results NSSE 2003 Response Rates

About this survey Administration Administered to random sample of first-year & senior students Paper & Web-based survey Flexible to accommodate consortium questions Multiple follow-ups to increase response rates

What Do We Know About College Student Engagement? What percent of our students participate in community service or volunteer work? (7b.) First-YearSeniors More than 96%92%

What Do We Know About College Student Engagement? What percent of FGCU students spent more than 5 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities?(9d.) First-YearSeniors About 20%10%

In thinking about your undergraduate program as a whole, including your major, have you done a culminating senior experience (e.g., senior comprehensive exam, capstone course, thesis or project)? (7h.) FGCU’s Results Carnegie Group Comparison re senior experience

FGCU’s Results FGCU’s Results - Additional Findings Significantly more FGCU students report making class presentations. Only 2% of FGCU first-year students “never” made a presentation vs. 14% of all first year students in participating institutions. (1b.) Almost all (98%) of our students say our institution emphasizes spending significant amounts of time on studying and academic work. (10a.) * Percent of students reporting that they made class presentations Often or Very Often.

About this survey What the College Student Report covers ? Student Behaviors in College Institutional Actions & Requirements Student Reactions to College Student Background Information Student Learning & Development

About this survey. Use and Validity of Self-Reports Requested information is known to respondents Questions phrased clearly & unambiguously Respondents take questions seriously and thoughtfully Answering does not threaten, embarrass, or violate privacy or compel a socially desirable response National assessment experts designed the NSSE survey, The College Student Report, to meet all these conditions

What Really Matters in College: Student Engagement The research is unequivocal: students who are actively involved in both academic and out- of-class activities gain more from the college experience than those who are not so involved Pascarella & Terenzini. (1991). How college affects students

Why is Engagement Important? Good Educational Practices Student-faculty contact Active learning Prompt feedback Time on task High expectations Cooperation among students Respect for diverse talents and ways of learning “Seven principles of good practice in undergraduate education” (Chickering and Gamson, 1987)

Goal 4. Effective Communication. Writing clearly and effectively Goal 2. Culturally Diverse Perspective. Understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds FY

Goal 4. contd. Effective Communication. Speaking clearly and effectively Goal 5. Ethical Responsibility. Developing a personal code of values and ethics FY

Goal 7. Problem- Solving Abilities. Thinking critically and analytically Goal 8. Technological Literacy. Using computing and information technology FY

Goal 9. Community Awareness and Involvement. Contributing to the welfare of your community FY

Goal 4. Effective Communication. Writing clearly and effectively Goal 2. Culturally Diverse Perspective. Understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds SR

Goal 4. contd. Effective Communication. Speaking clearly and effectively Goal 5. Ethical Responsibility. Developing a personal code of values and ethics SR

Goal 7. Problem- Solving Abilities. Thinking critically and analytically Goal 8. Technological Literacy. Using computing and information technology SR

Goal 9. Community Awareness and Involvement. Contributing to the welfare of your community SR

NSSE 2003 Institutional Report Overview Institutional student data Means summary report Frequency distribution report Codebook First-year vs. seniors Comparative data for same Carnegie type, consortium, and national National benchmark data (available in November)

Level of Academic Challenge

Active & Collaborative Learning

Student-Faculty Interaction

Enriching Educational Experiences

Supportive Campus Environment

Standardized Residuals

Institutional Engagement Index Level of Academic Challenge Active & Collaborative Learning

Institutional Engagement Index Student-Faculty Interaction Enriching Educational Experiences

Institutional Engagement Index Supportive Campus Environment

Using NSSE Data Discover current levels of engagement (institution, major field, year in school) Determine if current levels are satisfactory (criterion reference, normative comparison) Target areas for improvement Modify programs and policies accordingly Teach students what is required to “succeed” Monitor student & institutional performance Areas of Effective Educational Practice Areas for Institutional Improvement

Using NSSE Data - Campus Uses Gauge status of campus priorities Examine changes in student engagement between first and senior years Assess campus progress Provide evidence of accountability Encourage dialogue about good practice Identify distinctive competencies Improve curricula, instruction, services

Questions and Discussion