What is NSSE?
NSSE - pronounced "Nessie" - is the National Survey of Student Engagement.
Created, administered, and disseminated by the NSSE Institute at the Centre for Postsecondary Research in Indiana University School of Education, the survey is reaches hundreds of 4-year postsecondary institutions across North America every year. This year, the survey will run from February 9 to March 31, 2017.
In 2016, for example, 560 universities and colleges from across Canada and the US participated, involving more than 322,000 students. Since 2003 when the University of Alberta joined the survey, approximately 20,000 U of A students have taken NSSE. This year, 72 Canadian universities and more than 700 US institutions will participate.
What is the purpose of NSSE?
The purpose of NSSE is to measure the quality of student experience. NSSE surveys the amount of time and effort that students put into their studies and other education activities - and asks for students' perceptions of the outcomes and benefits gained from their learning activities. NSSE also gathers data on the activities and resources that universities put in place to encourage students to participate actively in their learning.
Who should fill out NSSE?
The survey is for students in their first and final years of study. The aim is to observe how students' learning and engagement, as well as their personal development, evolves over the course of their degrees.
Why don't I hear about NSSE every year?
The University of Alberta only participates in NSSE once every three years. This year, students will receive email invitations from President Turpin to participate starting on Feb 9. Four reminders will be sent periodically until March 31. Once a student participates, they will receive no further NSSE emails.
Every day people are asked to fill out surveys. Why should our students participate? Does it matter?
Yes, it does matter. The U of A takes the results of NSSE seriously.
Data from NSSE is used in many ways. Here are some examples:
- NSSE's high level performance indicators - such as overall student satisfaction - are reported in and benchmarked against our peer institutions in the university's two main provincial government accountability documents: the Comprehensive Institutional Plan and the Annual Report.
- NSSE data is used by faculties and units across UAlberta to help develop and assess the quality and impact of current and new academic and co-curricular programs.
- NSSE helps us answer questions about the success and impact of experiential learning opportunities. For example, do students have a more engaged learning experience if they study abroad or take a Community Service-Learning course? NSSE can help us answer this question.
- NSSE data is often used to provide a more nuanced picture of the demographic make-up of students who are choosing and succeeding in (or not succeeding in) specific programs. This helps us to refine or expand recruitment efforts into these programs.
- NSSE data enables the university to make evidenced-based decisions about all kinds of student services, such as writing supports, mental health services, residence life, etc.
- Faculties and units include key NSSE performance indicators as part of unit reviews, accreditation processes, Presidential Visiting Committees, and other reports. These help faculties to benchmark their performance against their peers and to improve where needed.
How has the student learning experience been affected by UAlberta's participation in NSSE?
Some examples:
- Development of the Co-curricular Record
- Expansion of experiential learning opportunities, including Community Service-Learning, the Undergraduate Research Initiative, and increases in internships, coops, and study abroad
- Increases in support for student mental health
- Development of Base Camp and Day of Service in UAlberta first-year residences
How long will it take to fill out the survey?
Approximately 20 minutes.
Who can see the results?
The University of Alberta shares the institutional level NSSE reports on its website at www.ualberta.ca/reporting/statistical-reports.
Please note that publicly shared data is always done in aggregate; no individual person's responses are available to the public.
I'm a member of the faculty or staff and not a first or final year student. How can I help?
We need your help encouraging participation - the greater the number of participants, the more meaningful the data.
If you teach first year courses or lead fourth year seminars or capstone projects, please ask your students to watch for an email invitation to NSSE from President Turpin. Tell them that their participation matters. If you work in student services and come into frequent contact with first and final year students, please do the same.
If you are a staff member that shares regular communications with students, please consider sharing the YouAlberta blog post "Are You Ready to Do NSSE?" with them in any online communications vehicles that you may have (i.e. e-newsletters, etc.).
Thank you for helping to promote NSSE!