Assessment Matters: NSSE Survey Results – Seniors

Meredith College freshmen and seniors participated in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) in spring 2020, with all results being collected prior to spring break, and hence prior to the shift to online learning because of the COVID -19 pandemic. The overall response rate was 52%. Results presented here are for seniors only.

NSSE results include comparisons to other institutions that participated in the survey nationally in 2019 and 2020. Senior students at Meredith College rated their educational experiences significantly higher than other students nationally on nine of ten Engagement Indicators. Higher-order learning was the only dimension that students rated at the same level as other institutions.

Graduating seniors at Meredith College report participating in significantly more High Impact Practices (HIPS) than did students at other institutions nationally, including

• Community-based Learning/Service Learning – 16% higher than nationally,
• Participating in a Learning Community – 15% higher than nationally,
• Research with Faculty – 24% higher than nationally,
• Internships and Field Placements/Experiences – 31% higher than nationally,
• Study Abroad – 15% higher than nationally,
• Culminating Senior Experiences – 20% higher than nationally.

Of the students completing the survey, 97% of Meredith students participated in at least one HIP and 89% in two or more HIPs. This is 12% and 29% higher than what students reported at other institutions nationally.

Students also completed a series of questions relating to the development of transferable skills, including critical thinking, making presentations, problem solving, working with diverse others, presenting different points of view, ethical consequences of actions, assessing conclusions, and use of information from various sources. Meredith students rated themselves higher in all eleven skill areas than did other college students nationally, and significantly higher on six of these skills. Data from this part of the NSSE survey will be included in longitudinal assessment of the General Education curriculum.

Overall, 92% of Meredith College seniors were satisfied with their educational experiences, as compared to 85% of students nationally, which is a significant difference.

NSSE reports by academic program are currently being prepared and will be sent to all assessment liaisons soon. Please contact Dianne Raubenheimer if you need further analysis of NSSE results.