The National Survey of Student Engagement · Colleges and universities promote high levels of student achievement by emphasizing the importance of academic effort and setting high

The

National Survey of Student Engagement2012

Benchmarks Describing Allegheny's Educational Environment

National Survey of Student Engagement 2012

Average Benchmark Scores

Challenging intellectual and creative work is central to student learning and collegiate quality.

Colleges and universities promote high levels of student achievement by emphasizing the

importance of academic effort and setting high expectations for student performance.

Statistically

significantly

less than

Allegheny's

benchmark

Statistically

significantly

greater than

Allegheny's

benchmark

20

30

40

50

60

70

Allegheny NSSETop 10%

SCG II NSSETop 50%

Bac AS2011

NSSEAll

Level of Academic Challenge First Years

20

30

40

50

60

70


SCG II NSSETop 50%

Bac AS2011

NSSEAll

Level of Academic Challenge Seniors

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Level of Academic Challenge Allegheny First Years

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Level of Academic Challenge Allegheny Seniors

● Preparing for class (studying, reading, writing, doing homework or lab work, etc. related to academic program)

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

● Number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more; number of written papers or reports of

between 5 and 19 pages; and number of written papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages

● Coursework emphasizes: Analysis of the basic elements of an idea, experience or theory

● Coursework emphasizes: Synthesis and organizing of ideas, information, or experiences into new, more complex

interpretations and relationships

● Coursework emphasizes: Making of judgments about the value of information, arguments, or methods

● Coursework emphasizes: Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations

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

● Campus environment emphasizes: Spending significant amount of time studying and on academic work.

C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx LAC Charts 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 2 of 12



Statistically

significantly

less than

Allegheny's

benchmark

Statistically

significantly

greater than

Allegheny's

benchmark

Students learn more when they are intensely involved in their education and asked to think about

what they are learning in different settings. Collaborating with others in solving problems or

mastering difficult material prepares students for the messy, unscripted problems they will

encounter daily during and after college.

20

30

40

50

60

70


SCG II NSSETop 50%

Bac AS2011

NSSEAll

Active & Collaborative Learning First Years

20

30

40

50

60

70


SCG II NSSETop 50%

Bac AS2011

NSSEAll

Active & Collaborative Learning Seniors

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Active & Collaborative Learning Allegheny First Years

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Active & Collaborative Learning Allegheny Seniors

● Asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions

● Made a class presentation

● Worked with other students on projects during class

● Worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments

● Tutored or taught other students (paid or voluntary)

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

● Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with others outside of class (students, family members,

co-workers, etc.)

C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx ACLCharts 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 3 of 12



Students learn firsthand how experts think about and solve practical problems by interacting with

faculty members inside and outside the classroom. As a result, their teachers become role models,

mentors, and guides for continuous, life-long learning.

Statistically

significantly

less than

Allegheny's

benchmark

Statistically

significantly

greater than

Allegheny's

benchmark* Due to a change to the ‘research with faculty’ item in 2004, statistics for ‘SFC’ (the alternate version of

Student-Faculty Interaction that does not include that item) are reported for all years.

20

30

40

50

60

70


SCG II NSSETop 50%

Bac AS2011

NSSEAll

Student-Faculty Interaction First Years

20

30

40

50

60

70


SCG II NSSETop 50%

Bac AS2011

NSSEAll

Student-Faculty Interaction Seniors

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Student-Faculty Interaction* Allegheny First Years

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Student-Faculty Interaction* Allegheny Seniors

● Discussed grades or assignments with an instructor ● Talked about career plans with a faculty member or advisor ● Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with faculty members outside of class ● Worked with faculty members on activities other than coursework (committees, orientation, student-life activities, etc.)

● Received prompt written or oral feedback from faculty on your academic performance ● Worked on a research project with a faculty member outside of course or program requirements

C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx SFI Charts 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 4 of 12



Complementary learning opportunities enhance academic programs. Diversity experiences teach

students valuable things about themselves and others. Technology facilitates collaboration between

peers and instructors. Internships, community service, and senior capstone courses provide

opportunities to integrate and apply knowledge.Statistically

significantly

less than

Allegheny's

benchmark

Statistically

significantly

greater than

Allegheny's

benchmark

20

30

40

50

60

70


SCG II NSSETop 50%

Bac AS2011

NSSEAll

Enriching Ed. Experiences First Years

20

30

40

50

60

70


SCG II NSSETop 50%

Bac AS2011

NSSEAll

Enriching Ed. Experiences Seniors

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Enriching Ed. Experiences Allegheny First Years

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Enriching Ed. Experiences Allegheny Seniors

● Participating in co-curricular activities (organizations, campus publications, student government, social fraternity

or sorority, etc.)

● Practicum, internship, field experience, co-op experience, or clinical assignment

● Community service or volunteer work

● Foreign language coursework / Study abroad

● Independent study or self-designed major

● Culminating senior experience (capstone course, senior project or thesis, comprehensive exam, etc.)

● Serious conversations with students of different religious beliefs, political opinions, or personal values

● Serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your own

● Using electronic medium (e.g., listserv, chat group, Internet, instant messaging, etc.) to discuss or complete an

assignment

● Campus environment encouraging contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic

backgrounds

● Participate in a learning community or some other formal program where groups of students take two or more

classes together

2001-2003 Enriching Educational Experiences

benchmark scores are not provided because these

scores are not comparable with those of later years.

C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx EEE Charts 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 5 of 12



Students perform better and are more satisfied at colleges that are committed to their success and

cultivate positive working and social relations among different groups on campus.

Statistically

significantly

less than

Allegheny's

benchmark

Statistically

significantly

greater than

Allegheny's

benchmark

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

● Campus environment helps you cope with your non-academic responsibilities (work, family, etc.)

● Campus environment provides the support you need to thrive socially

● Quality of relationships with other students

● Quality of relationships with faculty members

● Quality of relationships with administrative personnel and offices

20

30

40

50

60

70


SCG II NSSETop 50%

Bac AS2011

NSSEAll

Supportive Campus Environment First Years

20

30

40

50

60

70


SCG II NSSETop 50%

Bac AS2011

NSSEAll

Supportive Campus Environment Seniors

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Supportive Campus Environment Allegheny First Years

20

30

40

50

60

70

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Supportive Campus Environment Allegheny Seniors

C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx SCE Charts 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 6 of 12


Select Survey Items

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

Paper or Project Required Integrating Various Sources

1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often

Allegheny SCG II Bac AS 2008 NSSE ALL

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

Included diverse perspectives in class discussions or writing



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

Exercised or participated in physical fitness activities



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

Examined the strengths and weaknesses of your own views 1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often


2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

*

Quality of Academic Advising

*1=Poor, 2=Fair, 3=Good, 4=Excellent *


2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

*

Entire Educational Experience *1=Poor, 2=Fair, 3=Good, 4=Excellent *


C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx Charts2 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 7 of 12

Allegheny

First-Year Students

NSSE

Select Survey ItemsAllegheny *

Seniors *

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

*



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

*



C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx Charts2 History 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 8 of 12

Allegheny

First-Year Students

NSSE


Seniors *

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012


2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

*


2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012


2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

*


C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx Charts2 History 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 9 of 12


Select Survey Items

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

College Enhanced Writing Skills

1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much


2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

College Enhanced Speaking Skills



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

Conversations With Students of Diverse Beliefs/Values



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

Conversations With Other Races/Ethnicities



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

First-years Seniors

Worked Harder Than Thought Could To Meet Expectations

1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often*


3.43.63.84.04.24.44.64.85.05.25.4

First-years Seniors

*Hours Preparing For Class 1=0 hrs/wk, 2=1-5 hrs/wk, 3=6-10 hrs/wk, 4=11-15 hrs/wk, 5=16-20 hrs/wk, 6=21-25 hrs/wk, 7=26-30

hrs/wk, 8=More than 30 hrs/wk


C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx Charts4 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 10 of 12

Allegheny

First-Year Students

NSSE


Seniors *

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx Chrts4 History 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 11 of 12

Allegheny

First-Year Students

NSSE


Seniors *

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

4.2

4.4

4.6

4.8

5.0

5.2

5.4

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

4.2

4.4

4.6

4.8

5.0

5.2

5.4

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012



C:\Users\msherwoo\My Documents\MDSpc\MDS Projects\NSSE\2012 Results\BenchmarkComparisonsSixBars2012.xlsx Chrts4 History 8/29/2012 4:00 PM Page 12 of 12