Step aside Princeton Review -- the next generation of college applicants may change their selection from the school with the best parties to the school with the best student engagement.
The National Survey for Student Engagement, released this week, is a yearly chance for institutions nationwide to find out what their students are getting out of their college experience, NSSE Senior Associate Director John Hayek said.
For instance, this year's survey shows that while 81 percent of students are getting mostly A's and B's, they are studying on average half as much as professors believe they should be.
The survey also found that 40 percent of first year students and a quarter of seniors never discuss ideas from their classes with a professor outside of the classroom.
Student engagement comes in two forms, Hayek said. The first is the amount of studying and work towards learning performed by students and the second, the part NSSE focuses on, is the way institutions "promote practices that get students engaged," Hayek said.
The data collected in surveys of 472 different institutions reflected opinions of first and senior year students. Engagement is based not only on preparation for class, but the class's involvement in the community and students' motivation to continue learning outside of the classroom.
The University was involved in the survey in 2000 and 2002, but has not participated since.
Hayek said it is common for institutions to participate every few years because results are very similar from year to year and "it takes a while for meaningful change to happen."
First-year College student Sarah Lunsford said the University's academic environment is not as encouraging as it should be.
"I don't discuss ideas outside of a classroom," Lunsford said. "I think that professors reinforce the availability of office hours but generally, they do not provide the most welcoming environment from which students can feel comfortable seeking help."
Hayek said the survey is meant to spur discussion about solutions to student disengagement.
The results from NSSE have inspired such programs as "learning communities" in which a small group of first year students study a focused subject while living in close quarters.
"Research tells us that commonalities allow students to engage more in their educational process within the first year," Hayek said.
Other statistics from this year's survey mention that almost a quarter of all students never attend cultural and performing arts events during the year, while a solid quarter does frequently. Also, the number of students who have serious conversations about social, political and religious views has increased 10 percent in the last five years.
"No single survey would be the sole basis for making decisions about new programming, policies or other changes," said Virginia Carter, director of external affairs for the University's Student Affairs Office.
These statistics will be used nationwide to aid institutions in improving their student engagement levels, Hayek said.
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