The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an annual survey designed to provide information on the extent to which students engage in effective educational practices that are linked to learning, personal growth, and other important student outcomes like persistence in college, satisfaction and graduation. The survey items represent empirically confirmed “good practices” in undergraduate education.
131 Agnes Scott first-years and 98 seniors completed the on-line survey in the spring of 2007. Agnes Scott uses the results of this survey to examine student learning and personal development both inside and outside the classroom.
The results reported here correspond to five NSSE "benchmarks" of effective educational practice. Benchmark scores allow us to compare our results with peer institutions and national averages as well as track our own results over time. Below are the 2007 results comparing Agnes Scott’s benchmark scores with participating institutions who share our Carnegie classification of baccalaureate college with an arts and science focus.
Level of Academic Challenge
Challenging intellectual and creative work is central to student learning and quality. The items in this benchmark ask about the extent to which colleges and universities emphasize academic effort and setting high expectations for student performance.
Comparative percentages/First-years
Agnes Scott: 60.4
Carnegie: 55.9
NSSE: 51.7
Comparative percentages/Seniors
Agnes Scott: 66.2
Carnegie: 59.8
NSSE: 55.6
Active and Collaborative Learning
Research suggests students learn more when they are intensely involved in their education. The items in this benchmark ask students about what they are learning in different settings and the situations in which they are asked to apply their learning.
Comparative percentages/First-years
Agnes Scott: 50.1
Carnegie: 44.7
NSSE: 41.2
Comparative percentages/Seniors
Agnes Scott: 53.8
Carnegie: 52.8
NSSE: 50.1
Student Faculty Interaction
Students learn how experts approach and solve practical problems by interacting with faculty members both inside and outside the classroom. This benchmark focuses on the extent to which faculty members are seen as teachers, role models, mentors and guides.
Comparative percentages/First-years
Agnes Scott: 40.6
Carnegie: 36.9
NSSE: 32.8
Comparative percentages/Seniors
Agnes Scott: 54.3
Carnegie: 49.9
NSSE: 41.2
Enriching Educational Experiences
Academic learning does not exist in a vacuum. It is supported by complementary learning opportunities and facilitated by technology. This section asks students about their experiences with internships, community service, senior capstone coursework, and other opportunities that ask students to integrate and apply their knowledge.
Comparative percentages/First-years
Agnes Scott: 36
Carnegie: 30
NSSE: 27.1
Comparative percentages/Seniors
Agnes Scott: 57.9
Carnegie: 49.5
NSSE: 39.9
Supportive Campus Environment
Students perform better and are more satisfied at colleges that are committed to their success. This benchmark focuses on the extent to which positive working environments and social relations are cultivated.
Comparative percentages/First-years
Agnes Scott: 68.3
Carnegie: 64.2
NSSE: 59.8
Comparative percentages/Seniors
Agnes Scott: 63.1
Carnegie: 62.1
NSSE: 56.9
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions a framework for describing institutions of higher learning in the United States. For more information, please see
http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/classifications/