National Survey of Student Engagement
Each year the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) asks students at hundreds of colleges and universities to reflect on the time they devote to various learning activities. The topics explored are linked to previous research on student success in college.
Results from NSSE can provide prospective students with insights into how they might learn and develop at a given college. To help in the college exploration process, NSSE developed A Pocket Guide to Choosing a College to give students and their families key questions to ask during campus visits.
The following responses were provided by 483 UR students on the 2020 survey.
Academics
First-year (FY) students spent an average of 19 hours per week preparing for class while seniors spent an average of 17 hours per week.
48% of FY students reported that their courses "highly" challenged them to do their best work.
"Highly" is a 6 or 7 on a seven-point scale where 1 is "Not at all" and 7 is "Very much."
In an academic year, FY students estimated they were assigned an average of 68 pages of writing and seniors estimated an average of 87 pages.
FY students estimated they spent an average of 12 hours per week on assigned reading, and seniors read 9 hours per week.
46% of FY students and 76% of seniors "frequently" gave course presentations.
"Frequently" is "Often" or "Very often."
64% of FY students "frequently" included diverse perspectives in course discussions or assignments.
"Frequently" is "Often" or "Very often."
49% of FY students "frequently" used numerical information to examine a real-world problem or issue; 66% of seniors "frequently" reached conclusions based on their own analysis of numerical information.
"Frequently" is "Often" or "Very often."
Experiences with Faculty
65% of FY students rated the quality of their interactions with faculty as "high".
A "High" rating is a 6 or 7 on a seven-point scale where 1 is "Poor" and 7 is "Excellent."
32% of FY and 57% of seniors "frequently" discussed career plans with faculty.
"Frequently" is "Often" or "Very often."
81% of FY students said instructors clearly explained course goals and requirements "quite a bit" or "very much."
66% of FY students and 80% of seniors said instructors "substantially" gave prompt and detailed feedback on tests or completed assignments.
"Substantially" is "Quite a bit" or "Very much."
34% of FY students "frequently" discussed course topics, ideas, or concepts with a faculty member outside of class.
"Frequently" is "Often" or "Very often."
11% of FY students and 45% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member.
Learning with Peers
61% of FY students and 75% of seniors "frequently" worked with their peers on course projects and assignments.
"Frequently" is "Often" or "Very often."
64% of seniors "frequently" explained course material to one or more students.
"Frequently" is "Often" or "Very often."
59% of FY students "frequently" prepared for exams by discussing or working through course material with other students.
"Frequently" is "Often" or "Very often."
Among FY students, 66% "frequently" had discussions with people with different political views, 74% "frequently" had discussions with people from a different economic background, and 79% "frequently" had discussions with people from a different race or ethnicity.
"Frequently" is "Often" or "Very often."
Campus Environment
78% of FY students said the institution "substantially" emphasized the use of learning support services.
"Substantially" is "Quite a bit" or "Very much."
49% of FY students and 52% of seniors gave the quality of their interactions with academic advisors a "high" rating.
A "High" rating is a 6 or 7 on a seven-point scale where 1 is "Poor" and 7 is "Excellent."
52% of FY students gave the quality of their interactions with their peers a "high" rating.
A "High" rating is a 6 or 7 on a seven-point scale where 1 is "Poor" and 7 is "Excellent."
88% of FY and 93% of seniors rated their entire educational experience at this institution as "excellent" or "good."
Rich Educational Experiences
During their first year, 25% of students participated in a learning community. By spring of their senior year, 66% of students had done (or were doing) a culminating
senior experience.
By their senior year, 65% of students had studied abroad.
By spring of their senior year, 81% of students had participated in some form of internship, co-op, field experience, student teaching, or clinical placement.
41% of FY students and 65% of seniors said "at least some" of their courses included a community-based service-learning project.
"At least some" is defined by combining responses of "Some," "Most," and "All."