National Survey of Student Engagement

About the 2012 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual survey of first-year and senior students that helps colleges and universities assess effective student learning on their campuses. The 2012 NSSE surveyed 285,926  students at 594 four-year colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. At UNC Asheville, 201 freshman and 342 seniors participated. The overall response rate for the 2012 NSSE was 25%.  UNC Asheville's NSSE 2012 response rate was 43%.

What does the NSSE measure?

The NSSE is a questionnaire in which students report on academic and co-curricular activities.  For example, students are asked about how often they participated in class, wrote and rewrote papers, and attended campus events. Items used on the survey represent empirically confirmed "good practices" in undergraduate education.  

Why does UNC Asheville participate?

UNC Asheville is committed to providing an excellent public liberal arts experience for all our students.  NSSE results are one type of data we use to evaluate our progress toward this goal.  At present, NSSE results are part of the process for assessment of the Integrated Liberal Studies program, our award-winning approach to general education.  NSSE data are also an integral part of UNC Asheville’s strategic planning process, a campus-wide enterprise in which we seek to clearly articulate our curricular and co-curricular goals.

Where does UNC Asheville excel?

In the global world of today, students must learn to think critically, to become engaged in their communities and societies, and to view events from a multidisciplinary perspective. They must learn to be self-reflective, and be motivated to become life-long learners. 

According to NSSE, UNC Asheville freshmen compare favorably to their Carnegie peers in:

• Making a class presentation
• Including diverse perspectives (different races, religions, genders, political beliefs, etc.) in class discussions or writing assignments
• Using an electronic medium (listserv, chat group, Internet, instant messaging, etc.) to discuss or complete an assignment
• Discussing ideas from readings or classes with others outside of class (students, family members, co-workers, etc.)
• Analyzing the basic elements of an idea, experience, or theory, such as examining a particular case or situation in depth and considering its components
• Synthesizing and organizing ideas, information, or experiences into new, more complex interpretations and relationships
• Examining the strengths and weaknesses of personal views on a topic or issue
• Trying to better understand someone else's views by imagining how an issue looks from his or her perspective
• Learning something that changed the way they understood an issue or concept
• Using computers in academic work
• Voting in local, state, or national elections

UNC Asheville seniors compare favorably to their Carnegie peers in:

• Including diverse perspectives (different races, religions, genders, political beliefs, etc.) in class discussions or writing assignments
• Working with other students on projects during class 
• Participating in a community-based project (e.g., service learning) as part of a regular course
• Voting in local, state, or national elections

Benchmark Results with All Item Comparisons to Previous Administrations

NSSE 12 Benchmark Executive Summary

NSSE 12 Benchmark Items

NSSE 12 All Item Means with Comparison to Previous Years