University's Academic Environment Rivals Nation's Best, Survey Finds
December 22, 2004
University of Richmond students are highly engaged in educational experiences linked to learning and development, according to the 2004 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
About 700 of Richmond’s first-year and senior students participated in the fifth-annual survey. About 163,000 first-year and senior students from 472 different four-year colleges and universities nationwide took part.
The NSSE was begun in part as an answer to college guides, which are based largely on student selectivity and on reputation surveys. NSSE instead asks students from participating colleges questions designed to show how engaged they are in learning.
The survey “gives schools an idea of how well students are learning and what they put into and get out of their undergraduate experience,” according to an NSSE news release.
To facilitate interpretation and discussion, NSSE developed five indicators of effective educational practice: level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interactions, enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment.
In all five benchmarks, Richmond’s results, for first-year and senior students were very strong. Richmond, which also participated two years ago, continues to be an exemplary school in the level of academic challenge, the survey found, with Richmond faculty consistently requiring their students to utilize higher order thinking skills in their courses, such as analysis, synthesis and organization of ideas and making judgments and applying concepts.
Compared to students at other participating institutions, Richmond students are significantly more likely to ask questions in class or contribute to class discussions, work on a paper or project that requires integrating ideas or information from various sources, work with classmates outside of class to prepare assignments, and discuss ideas from readings or classes with faculty members outside of class. Richmond students reported significantly greater development in acquiring a broad general education, writing and speaking clearly and effectively, and thinking critically and analytically.
Richmond provides an enriching educational environment for students. Richmond students report that the University provides them with the support they need to succeed academically. Significantly greater numbers of Richmond seniors work on a research project with faculty members, take foreign language coursework, participate in study abroad and are involved in co-curricular activities.
Overall, both first-year and senior students are significantly more satisfied with their entire educational experiences at Richmond than students at most other participating NSSE institutions.