National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE):

Overview of 2008 Results for Rutgers University

NSSE 2008 Results

What is NSSE

Seeks to assess:• Types and levels of engagement students have

with their present institution

• Benefits and gains students derive from the college experience

Emerges from long tradition that suggests: • Student engagement leads to successful

development and learning

• Institutions with high levels and wide varieties of student engagement are of high quality

NSSE 2008 Results

Survey AdministrationSurvey administered nationwide to undergraduates:• Annually administered during spring semester• Open to all four year colleges and universities• First survey administered in spring 2000• Nearly 800 colleges and universities in 2008• Periodic administration (2, 3 or 4 year cycle) preferred

choice

At each participating institution:• Both first year students and seniors are surveyed• Sampling schemes are employed when student

population is large• Surveys are administered via the Web, paper, or both

NSSE 2008 Results

NSSE Content Survey includes:• Over 80 questions (plus 20 additional AAU items for New

Brunswick)• 14 main sections• Some self-identifying questions are asked• Response sets vary but limited (usually 4 non-neutral

categories)

Student responses distilled into five basic constructs of student engagement:

• level of academic challenge (11 items)• student-faculty interaction (6 items)• active and collaborative learning (7 items)• enriching educational experiences (12 items)• supportive campus environment (6 items)

NSSE 2008 Results

Uses of NSSE

Enables:• Institutional/campus level analysis (with further

disaggregation/subgroup analysis also possible)

• Benchmarking (with self-selected groupings of schools)

• Performance tracking (comparisons over time)

Useful for:• Public accountability (incorporated into VSA)

• Assessment (mostly indirect measures of student learning)

• Institutional planning

NSSE 2008 Results

Rutgers Participation and Response Rates

Campus Year Level Total NSample

NRespondents

N

Response Rate

Rutgers Peers-

Dashboard

Peers-Carnegie

Class

Rutgers- 2008 First Year 374 364 75 21% 26% 31%

Camden   Seniors 1,304 1,302 360 28% 30% 37%

                 

Rutgers- 2008 First Year 1,072 978 169 17% 19% 28%

Newark   Seniors 1,901 1,800 455 25% 22% 31%

                 

Rutgers- 2005 First Year 4,730 1,992 504 25% 35% 31%

New Brunswick   Seniors 7,915 1,968 417 21% 32% 33%

                 

  2008 First Year 5,396 2,440 526 22% 30% 32%

    Seniors 7,252 2,398 600 25% 32% 31%

                 

NSSE 2008 Results

New Brunswick Results

NSSE 2008 Results

New Brunswick Peer Institutions – 2008

• Three Groupings– 1st group includes peers used for campus dashboard

indicators (public AAU schools)Indiana University University of North Carolina

Iowa State University University of Stony Brook-SUNY

University at Buffalo-SUNY University of Texas

University of Florida University of Virginia

University of Iowa University of Wisconsin

University of Illinois

– 2nd group includes institutions with same Carnegie Classification (above plus 14 others)

– 3rd group includes universe of all 2008 NSSE participants

NSSE 2008 Results

Respondent Profiles – 2008

When comparing New Brunswick to its Dashboard Peers,- we find the following similarities with:

First Year Students Seniors AGE GENDER GENDER INTERNATIONAL STATUS INTERNATIONAL STATUS ENROLLMENT STATUS (FT/PT)ENROLLMENT STATUS (FT/PT) ATHLETIC STATUSATHLETIC STATUS RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS

- we find the following dissimilarities with:First Year Students SeniorsLESS 2ND YEAR STUDENTS SAMPLED STUDENTS ARE OLDERMORE MINORITY STUDENTS MORE MINORITY STUDENTS LESS GREEK AFFILIATIONS MORE STUDENTS STARTED COLLEGE ELSEWHERELESS STUDENTS RECEIVING B+ OR BETTER MORE PRESENTLY ENROLLED PT STUDENTSMORE FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS SLIGHTLY LESS STUDENTS RECEIVING B+ OR BETTERSLIGHTLY MORE COMMUTERS MORE RESIDENTIAL AND OFF-CAMPUS STUDENTSMORE LIBERAL ARTS FOCUSED STUDENTS LESS COMMUTER STUDENTS

MORE FIRST GENERATION STUDENTSMORE LIBERAL ARTS FOCUSED STUDENTS

NSSE 2008 Results

Comparisons of Student Engagement:New Brunswick vs. Dashboard Peers

Rutgers-NBDashboard

Peers Effect Size

Level of Academic Challenge            

First Year Students 53.3   53.4   -.01  

Seniors 54.1   55.5   -.11  

Faculty-Student Interaction            

First Year Students 29.7   31.5 * -.10  

Seniors 37.5   39.7 * -.11  

Active and Collaborative Learning            

First Year Students 36.2   39.9 *** -.23  

Seniors 43.5   46.8 *** -.20  

Enriching Educational Experiences            

First Year Students 27.0   30.0 *** -.22  

Seniors 38.7   44.3 *** -.32  

Supportive Campus Environment            

First Year Students 58.0   59.9 * -.11  

Seniors 52.3   56.5 *** -.23  

* p<05; **p<.01, ***p<.001 (2-tailed)

NSSE 2008 Results

Comparisons of Student Engagement:New Brunswick 2005 vs. 2008

Student Engagement Index Score 2005 2008 Difference

Level of Academic Challenge            

First Year Students 50.8   53.3   2.5  

Seniors 52.5   54.1   1.6  

Faculty-Student Interaction            

First Year Students 27.8   29.7   1.9  

Seniors 36.0   37.5   1.5  

Active and Collaborative Learning            

First Year Students 35.6   36.2   0.6  

Seniors 40.9   43.5   2.6  

Enriching Educational Experiences            

First Year Students 26.9   27.0   0.1  

Seniors 37.2   38.7   1.5  

Supportive Campus Environment            

First Year Students 55.9   58.0   2.1  

Seniors 48.2   52.3   4.1  

NSSE 2008 Results

Dashboard View of Responses for Rutgers - New Brunswick

• Many of the items shown have large percentages of positive and negative responses for both first year students and seniors

• Rutgers respondents show little or no difference from students attending peer institutions on a majority of survey items

• Most of the differences with AAU peers are in the negative direction

• Positive differences are mostly experienced by first year students

NSSE 2008 Results

Dashboard View of Responses for Rutgers - New Brunswick, continued

• High levels of satisfaction at RU-NB for both first year students and seniors

• High percentages of first year students and seniors state they would attend Rutgers if they had to do it over again

• Despite these high percentages RU still trails its peers on satisfaction measures

• First year students give high grades to academic advising

• High rates of negative responses were given by both first year students and seniors on items related to “enriching educational experiences”

• Students at NB are less satisfied with the size and quality of instruction of upper-division courses than students at AAU peers

• Time usage is a particular issue for seniors – Rutgers seniors work more for pay off-campus and spend more time providing care for dependents and having to commute

• Rutgers seniors also trail students at peer institutions in feeling that the institution they presently attend has contributed to their use of informational technology and working effectively with others

NSSE 2008 Results

Newark Results

NSSE 2008 Results

Newark Peer Institutions – 2008

• Three Groupings– 1st group includes peers used for campus dashboard

indicatorsFlorida International UniversityUniversity of Buffalo-SUNYUniversity of Maryland-Baltimore CountyUniversity of Massachusetts-Boston University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeVirginia Commonwealth University

– 2nd group includes institutions with same Carnegie Classification (44 in total)

– 3rd group includes universe of all 2008 NSSE participants

NSSE 2008 Results

Respondent Profiles – 2008When comparing Newark to its Dashboard Peers,- we find the following similarities with:

First Year Students Seniors

INTERNATIONAL STATUS INTERNATIONAL STATUSATHLETIC STATUS ATHLETIC STATUS(LIMITED) PARTICIPATION IN GREEK LIFE (LIMITED) PARTICIPATION IN GREEK LIFEDISTRIBUTION OF LIBERAL ARTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF GRADES ATTAINED AT INSTITUTION PROFESSIONAL MAJORS RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS

DISTRIBUTION OF LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL MAJORS

- we find the following dissimilarities with:First Year Students SeniorsSTUDENTS ARE YOUNGER STUDENTS ARE OLDERMORE FEMALE STUDENTS MORE FEMALE STUDENTSMORE MINORITY STUDENTS MORE MINORITY STUDENTS LESS 2ND YEAR STUDENTS SAMPLED MORE STUDENTS STARTED COLLEGE ELSEWHERELESS STUDENTS STARTED ELSEWHERE MORE PRESENTLY ENROLLED PART-TIME STUDENTSLESS PART TIME STUDENTS LESS OFF-CAMPUS STUDENTS; LESS STUDENTS CURRENTLY RECEIVING MORE COMMUTER STUDENTS B+ OR BETTER MORE FIRST GENERATION STUDENTSLESS RESIDENTIAL AND OFF-CAMPUS STUDENTS; MORE COMMUTERSMORE FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS

NSSE 2008 Results

Comparisons of Student Engagement:Newark vs. Dashboard Peers

Student Engagement Index ScoreRutgers-Newark

Dashboard Peers Effect Size

Level of Academic Challenge            

First Year Students 51.8   51.6   .02  

Seniors 56.7   54.9 * .12  

Faculty-Student Interaction            

First Year Students 33.0   33.6   -.03  

Seniors 40.7   38.1 * .13  

Active and Collaborative Learning            

First Year Students 40.5   41.3   -.05  

Seniors 49.7   46.9 ** .15  

Enriching Educational Experiences            

First Year Students 25.4   27.9 * -.18  

Seniors 35.5   37.7 * -.12  

Supportive Campus Environment            

First Year Students 59.0   58.2   .04  

Seniors 57.6   53.0 *** .23  * p<05; **p<.01, ***p<.001 (2-tailed)

NSSE 2008 Results

Dashboard View of Responses for Rutgers - Newark

• Rutgers respondents show little or no difference from dashboard peers and other institutions on a majority of survey items

• Most of the differences with dashboard peers are in the negative direction

• Positive differences exist mostly with seniors

• Responses to many academic challenge and educational/personal growth items are positive

• As with NB, students at Newark have high rates of negative responses to many items related to “enriching educational experiences”

• Time usage is an issue for both first year students and seniors at Newark– Seniors at Newark exceed fellow seniors at peer institutions in hours working for

pay off-campus and caring for a dependent

– Time spent commuting to class is a problem for both first year students and seniors

• Rutgers-Newark is rated highly by many of its first year students and seniors in terms of overall satisfaction with their educational experience and willingness to attend Rutgers-Newark if they could start their undergraduate career over again.

NSSE 2008 Results

Camden Results

NSSE 2008 Results

Camden Peer Institutions – 2008• Three Groupings

– 1st group includes peers used for campus dashboard indicatorsRamapo College of New Jersey

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

The State University of New York at Geneseo

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Western Connecticut State University

William Paterson University of New Jersey (non-dashboard peer added)

– Second group includes institutions with same Carnegie Classification (83 in total)

– Third group includes universe of all 2008 NSSE participants

NSSE 2008 Results

Respondent Profiles – 2008When comparing Camden to its Dashboard Peers,- we find the following similarities with:

First Year Students Seniors

AGE GENDERINTERNATIONAL STATUS INTERNATIONAL STATUSENROLLMENT STATUS (FT/PT) RACIAL/ETHNIC DISTRIBUTIONATHLETIC STATUS ENROLLMENT STATUS (FT/PT)

ATHLETIC STATUS DISTRIBUTION OF GRADES ATTAINED AT INSTITUTION

- we find the following dissimilarities with:First Year Students SeniorsMORE MALES STUDENTS STUDENTS ARE OLDERMORE MINORITY STUDENTS MORE STUDENTS STARTED COLLEGE ELSEWHERELESS 2ND YEAR STUDENTS SAMPLED LESS GREEK AFFILIATIONSLESS GREEK AFFILIATIONS LESS RESIDENTIAL AND OFF-CAMPUS STUDENTS;LESS STUDENTS CURRENTLY RECEIVING MORE COMMUTER STUDENTS B+ OR BETTER MORE FIRST GENERATION STUDENTSLESS RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS; MORE COMMUTERS MORE PROFESSIONAL FOCUSED STUDENTSMORE FIRST GENERATION STUDENTSMORE PROFESSIONAL FOCUSED STUDENTS

NSSE 2008 Results

Comparisons of Student Engagement:Camden vs. Dashboard Peers

Student Engagement Index ScoreRutgers-Camden

Dashboard Peers Effect Size

Level of Academic Challenge            

First Year Students 50.6   53.5   -.22  

Seniors 55.6   55.9   -.02  

Faculty-Student Interaction            

First Year Students 32.1   34.2   -.11  

Seniors 40.2   42.2   -.09  

Active and Collaborative Learning            

First Year Students 39.8   41.4   -.09  

Seniors 48.6   49.4   -.05  

Enriching Educational Experiences            

First Year Students 26.9   27.3   -.03  

Seniors 37.4   40.0 * -.14  

Supportive Campus Environment            

First Year Students 56.5   60.3   -.19  

Seniors 57.2   55.1   -.10  * p<05; **p<.01, ***p<.001 (2-tailed)

NSSE 2008 Results

Dashboard View of Responses for Rutgers-Camden

• Most of the differences with dashboard peers exist among first year students

• First year students give high rates of approval to items of educational and personal growth, but these students rate these items at lower levels then students at dashboard peer institutions

• Time usage is an issue for both first year students and seniors

• Seniors indicate lower levels of participation in co-curricular activities, internship and co-op experiences, and study abroad participation than seniors attending dashboard peer institutions

• Academic advising is rated as good or excellent by over 75 percent of first year students, and exceeds the level of satisfaction of students at dashboard peer institutions

• Similarly, most first year students and seniors are satisfied with Rutgers-Camden