NSSE 2005

CSUMB ReportCalifornia State University at Monterey Bay

Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Office of Assessment and Research

Presentation OutcomesPresentation Outcomes

Viewers will understand how select NSSE questionnaire items group into benchmarks, and

Will understand and appreciate how CSUMB students responded to select questionnaire items and how their responses compare to CSU students as well as students from other colleges and universities across the nation.

What Really Matters in College: 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,Pascarella & Terenzini, How College Affects StudentsHow College Affects Students

What is NSSE?(pronounced “nessie”)

• Survey that assesses the extent to which first-year and senior students engage in educational practices associated with high levels of learning and development

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)

CSUMB - 42%

828 Freshmen

966 Seniors

CSU - 33%

3,357 Freshmen

3,328 Seniors

National Sample – 37%

135,235 Freshmen

131,789 Seniors

NSSE 2005 Response Rates and NSSE 2005 Response Rates and Numbers of StudentsNumbers of Students

Carnegie Classification NSSE National

Doctoral/Research – Extensive 11% 11%

Doctoral/Research – Intensive 8% 8%

Master’s I & II 47% 43%

Baccalaureate – Liberal Arts 19% 16%

Baccalaureate – General 15% 23%

Sector

Public – 4 47% 38%

Private – 4 53% 62%

(Nine CSU Campuses participated in NSSE 2005: CSUMB - San Luis Obispo - Pomona – Fresno –

Sacramento - San Bernardino – San Marcos – Humboldt – San Jose)

NSSE 2005 Institutions (552)NSSE 2005 Institutions (552)

What Does The College Student Report Cover?

Student Behaviors in College

Institutional Actions & Requirements

Student Reactions to College

Student BackgroundInformation

Student Learning &

Development

Benchmarks of Effective Educational Practice

Level of Academic Challenge

Active & Collaborative

Learning

EnrichingEducational Experiences

SupportiveCampus

Environment

StudentFaculty Interaction

Level of Academic Challenge

The level of academic challenge at CSUMB compared to other universities participating in the 2005 NSSE is defined more by: 

• The number and size of papers written• Analyzing and synthesizing ideas and information• Evaluating the arguments and conclusions of others and less by:• The number of books, text books, and class readers assigned to students• Time spent preparing for class• Institutional emphasis on spending significant time studying and on academic work.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Freshmen Seniors

Preparing for class (studying, reading, writing, rehearsing, and other activities related to your

academic program)

CSUMB

CSU

National

More than 30 hrs/wk

26-30 hrs/wk

21-25 hrs/wk

16-20 hrs/wk

11-15 hrs/wk

6-10 hrs/wk

1-5 hrs/wk

0 hrs/wk

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Worked harder than you thought you could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

5

Freshmen Seniors

Number of assigned textbooks, books, or book-length packs of course readings

CSUMB

CSU

National

More than 20

11 to 20

5 to 10

1 to 4

None

1

2

3

4

5

Freshmen Seniors

Number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more

CSUMB

CSU

National

More than 20

11 to 20

5 to 10

1 to 4

None

1

2

3

4

5

Freshmen Seniors

Number of written papers or reports between 5 and 19 pages

CSUMB

CSU

National

More than 20

11 to 20

5 to 10

1 to 4

None

1

2

3

4

5

Freshmen Seniors

Number of written papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages

CSUMB

CSU

National

More than 20

11 to 20

5 to 10

1 to 4

None

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Analyzing the basic elements of an idea, experience, or theory such as examining a

particular case or situation in depth and considering its components

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Much

Very Little

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Synthesizing and organizing ideas, information, or experiences into new, more complex

interpretations and relationships

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Much

Very Little

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Making judgements about the value of information, arguments, or methods, such as

examining how others gathered and interpreted data and assessing the soundness of their

conclusions

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Much

Very Little

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Much

Very Little

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Campus Environment emphasizes spending significant amounts of time studying and on

academic work

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Much

Very Little

Active and Collaborative Learning

Active and collaborative learning at CSUMB compared to other universities participating in the 2005 NSSE is defined by: 

• Significantly higher levels of engagement across the seven survey items associated with active and collaborative learning.

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Made a class presentation

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

None

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Worked with other students on projects during class

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Tutored or taught other students (paid or voluntary)

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Participated in a community-based project (e.g. service learning) as part of a regular course

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with others outside of class

(students, family members, co-workers, etc.)

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

Student Interactions with Faculty Members

While student interactions with faculty at CSUMB compared to other universities participating in the 2005 NSSE is strong, the strength of the interactions is driven more by: • Discussions regarding grades or assignments• Working with faculty on activities other than coursework• Receiving prompt feedback than by:• Talking with faculty about career plans• Out of class discussion with faculty regarding ideas from readings or classes• Working on research projects with faculty outside of course or program requirements

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Discussed grades or assignments with an instructor

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Talked about career plans with a faculty member or advisor

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with faculty members outside of class

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Worked with faculty members on activities other than coursework (committees, orientation,

student life activities, etc.)

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Received prompt feedback from faculty on your academic performance (written or oral)

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

0

0.5

1

Freshmen Seniors

Work on a research project with a faculty member outside of course or program

requirements

CSUMB

CSU

National

Have done

Have not done, do not plan to do

or plan to do

Enriching Educational Experiences

Student perceptions of an enriching educational experience at CSUMB compared to other NSSE participants comes more in the form of: 

• Having conversations with students of different religious, political, and or personal values/beliefs, as well as students of a different race or ethnicity• Institutional climate that encourages students to interact with students different from themselves• Taking a Foreign language and using electronic medium to discuss or complete assignments and less by:• Doing community/voluntary service (Freshmen)• Spending time participating in co-curricular activities and even less by:• Doing a practicum or internship• Studying abroad• Developing a self-designed major• A culminating senior experience

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Had serious conversations with students who are very different from you in terms of their religious

beliefs, political opinions, or personal values

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your own

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Institution encourages contact among students from different economic, social and racial or

ethnic backgrounds

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Much

Very Little

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Used an electronic medium (listserv, chat group, Internet, instand messaging, etc.)

to discuss or complete an assignment

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Often

Never

0

0.5

1

Freshmen Seniors

Have done a practicum, internship, field experience, co-op experience

or clinical assignment

CSUMB

CSU

National

Have done

Have not done, do not plan to do

or plan to do

0

0.5

1

Freshmen Seniors

Have done community service or volunteer work

CSUMB

CSU

National

Have done

Have not done, do not plan to do

or plan to do

0

0.5

1

Freshmen Seniors

Have taken foreign language coursework

CSUMB

CSU

National

Have done

Have not done, do not plan to do

or plan to do

0

0.5

1

Freshmen Seniors

Have studied abroad

CSUMB

CSU

National

Have done

Have not done, do not plan to do

or plan to do

0

0.5

1

Freshmen Seniors

Have done an independent study or self-designed major

CSUMB

CSU

National

Have done

Have not done, do not plan to do

or plan to do

0

0.5

1

Freshmen Seniors

Culminating senior experience (capstone course, thesis, project,

comprehensive exam, etc.)

CSUMB

CSU

National

Have done

Have not done, do not plan to do

or plan to do

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Freshmen Seniors

Time spent participating in co-curricular activities (organizations, campus publications, student

government, social fraternity or sorority, intercollegiate or intramural sports, etc.)

CSUMB

CSU

National

More than 30 hrs/wk

26 to 30 hrs/wk

21 to 25 hrs/wk

16 to 20 hrs/wk

11 to 15 hrs/wk

6 to 10 hrs/wk

1 to 5 hrs/wk

0 hrs/wk

Supportive Campus Environment

Student perceptions of CSUMB as having a supportive campus environment compared to students from other universities participating in the NSSE is mixed in terms of: 

• Helping students succeed academically, thrive socially, and cope with non-academic responsibilities neutral in terms of:• Student relationships with other students and poor in terms of:• Student relationships with administrative personnel and offices

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Campus environment provides the support you need to help you succeed academically

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Much

Very Little

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Campus environment provides help in coping with your non-academic responsibilities

(work, family, etc.)

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Much

Very Little

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Campus environment provides the support you need to thrive socially

CSUMB

CSU

National

Very Much

Very Little

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Freshmen Seniors

Relationships with other students

CSUMB

CSU

National

Friendly,Supportive

Unfriendly, Unsupportive

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Freshmen Seniors

Relationships with Faculty Members

CSUMB

CSU

National

Friendly, Supportive

Unfriendly, Unsupportive

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Freshmen Seniors

Relationships with administrative personnel and offices

CSUMB

CSU

National

Friendly, Supportive

Unfriendly, Unsupportive

Summary of Benchmark ResultsSummary of Benchmark Results

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

AcademicChallenge

Active &Collaborative

Learning

Student FacultyInteraction

EnrichingEducationalExperience

SupprotiveCampus

Environment

Under Perform

Out Perform

Equally Perform

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Academic Advising

CSUMB

CSU

National

Excellent

Poor

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Student satisfaction: How would you evaluate your entire educational experience at this

institution?

CSUMB

CSU

National

Excellent

Poor

1

2

3

4

Freshmen Seniors

Student satisfaction: If you could start over again, would you go to the same institution you

are now attending?

CSUMB

CSU

National

Definitely Yes

Definitely No

Summary of Advising and Summary of Advising and Student Satisfaction ResultsStudent Satisfaction Results

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Academic Advising Educational Experience Would Attend CSUMBAgain

Under Perform

Out Perform

Equally Perform

Other FindingsOther Findings

Use of TechnologyVoting in local, state, or national

electionsSolving complex real-world problemsDeveloping a personal code of

values and ethicsContributing to the welfare of your

community

Benchmark ConclusionsBenchmark Conclusions

Active and collaborative learning excellentStudent faculty interaction strongAcademic challenge good

(Time spent preparing for class, number of textbooks and readings assigned, and

institutional emphasis on time spent on studying and academic work)

Enriching Educational Experiences good(Student experience outside the classroom needs enrichment – co-curricular participation below average.)

Supportive campus environment mediocre(Relationship with administrative staff and offices could be better.)

Other ConclusionsOther Conclusions

Learning outcomes look goodAcademic advising borderlineStudent satisfaction well below

average

Questions and Discussion