Interacting with faculty and participating in collaborative learning and educational activities outside of the classroom enhances student's grades and satisfaction in their education, among other things, according to a survey by the National Survey of Student Engagement.
The survey measures student engagement in academic and campus activities by conducting a random sample of freshmen and seniors from over 200 colleges and universities across the country, NSSE Associate Director Jillian Kinzie said.
"We choose to survey first years to get a sense of a student's perspective of a university after being there for one year," Kinzie said. "Seniors are usually in a more reflective mood at the end of the year and are able to provide a perspective on what four years at an institution has been like."
The survey takes into account the levels of academic challenge at an institution, active and collaborative learning, educational opportunities, student-faculty interaction and the supportiveness of campus environments to compare student involvement between participating schools, Kinzie explained.
Each year the survey attempts to pinpoint specific trends between student involvement and academic life, Kinzie said.
This year's survey shows a type of "compensatory effect" among students who begin school with academic disadvantages, Kinzie added.
"Students who enter college with lower SAT or ACT scores, or scores that might indicate that those students may not perform as well as their peers, tend to do better when they become involved in out-of-class activities and when they interact with their professors," Kinzie said. "These students tend to have higher grade point averages then their previous academic performance may have suggested."
These students also are more likely to remain at an institution when participating in out of class activities, Kinzie added.
In addition, the survey demonstrates a trend showing some of the highest levels of involvement coming from online students who communicate with professors through mediums such as e-mail and chat rooms, Kinzie said.
Another trend the survey showed is higher involvement by female students over male students.
"Overall, women are more involved in activities, but in different ways then men," Kinzie said. "They are more likely to engage in enriching educational activities, like study abroad and community service."
Male students are more likely to spend time with faculty out of the classroom, to develop student-faculty relationships and participate in research projects with faculty, Kinzie added.
The goal of the survey is to provide institutions with information about how their student's involvement compares with other schools, Kinzie said.
"The survey shows schools what their students are involved in and what students gain from those activities," Kinzie said.
The University did not participate in the survey this year, but has found previous results from the survey helpful, Dean of Students Penny Rue said.
"The survey offers very specific information and targets issues" for improvement, Rue said. "Luckily we have a great deal of student involvement leading to high student satisfaction. ... There is always room for improvement. The survey tells us what areas we need concentrate on to improve student's happiness."
Read More
U.Va. loses over $60 million in federal research cuts
By Bertie Azqueta | 19 hours agoThe impacted grants include three from the NIH, seven from the NEH, one from the United States Agency for International Development and four from the State Department.
Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
By Ford McCracken | 3 days agoThe ED had previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools.
Students reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
By Bertie Azqueta | 4 days agoAt the University, students shared a range of perspectives on his legacy of reform, inclusivity and his impact on the global Catholic community.
