K-State participating in spring 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement

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Source: Cia Verschelden, 785-532-5712, cia@k-state.edu

Thursday, January 25, 2007

K-STATE PARTICIPATING IN SPRING 2007 NATIONAL SURVEY OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University students are getting the opportunity to help the university improve academics and general campus life -- and win some special prizes -- by participating in the spring 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement, also known as the NSSE.

The survey seeks to determine the extent of student participation in activities associated with good practices in undergraduate education and what students think they gain from their college experience, said Cia Verschelden, director of K-State's office of assessment.

Verschelden said the survey asks how students spend their time; their opinion on the quality of their class experiences; the quality of interaction between faculty and students; how their courses emphasize various mental activities, such as memorization vs. analysis; and their satisfaction with their overall college experience.

Results from the survey will provide K-State faculty and administrators with information to help improve the curriculum and campus life, Verschelden said. The survey also can help other university constituents, such as students, academic advisers and student affairs staff, know more about how students engage with their educational environment.

A sample of 2,500 freshmen and 2,500 seniors at K-State will be invited to complete the survey online during the first part of February, Verschelden said.

"While participation in the survey is voluntary, we want to get as high a response rate as possible from our students," she said. "The NSSE will send friendly reminders to those who don't respond until the survey closes in April."

Students who do participate will be eligible for prizes. Verschelden said one freshman and one senior participant will each receive an IPOD Shuffle, while three freshmen and three seniors taking part will be selected to receive $50 gift certificates from the Union Bookstore.

The survey is sponsored at K-State by the office of the provost and the office of assessment. More information about it is available at http://www.nsse.iub.edu

Since 2000, more than 970 institutions in the U.S. and Canada have participated in the survey, with 557 institutions taking part last spring. K-State has administered the survey two times previously, in 2001 and in 2004. For questions about the project at K-State, students can contact Verschelden by e-mail at cia@k-state.edu or at 785-532-5712.