NSSE 2010
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Springfield College and the National Survey of Student Engagement, (NSSE). The National Survey of Student Engagement is an annual survey which collects information from hundreds of four-year colleges and universities nationwide about student participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development. The results provide an estimate of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college. Survey items on NSSE represent empirically confirmed "good practices" in undergraduate education.
For the past several years, Springfield College has participated in NSSE, and our results have shown consistent and positive marks in a number of areas. In particular, our first-year and senior students have continually rated Springfield College high with regard to active and collaborative learning, a supportive campus environment, and student-faculty interactions.
In 2010, Springfield College’s NSSE scores continue to show that the College meets or surpasses the benchmark scores of our peer institutions for all five measures of effective educational practice: 1) Supportive Campus Environment, 2) Active and Collaborative Learning, 3) Student-Faculty Interaction, 4) Enriching Educational Experiences, and 5) Level of Academic Challenge.
Specific highlights of the 2010 Springfield College results include:
Supportive Campus Environment
 Both first-year and senior students feel that Springfield College is not only committed to student success, but also promotes positive working and social relations among different groups on campus. Compared to students at our peer institutions, our students are satisfied with campus support services to help them succeed academically, to thrive socially, and to cope with non-academic responsibilities. In addition, our students are more positive about the quality of their relationships with other students, faculty members, and administrative personnel than their counterparts at other institutions.
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Active and Collaborative Learning
 Consistent with previous NSSE administrations, Springfield College students continue to report that they are active and collaborative learners inside and outside the classroom. Specifically, compared to students at our peer institutions, first-year and senior students are more actively engaged in making class presentations, working with fellow students on projects during class, working on assignments with peers outside of class, and participating in service-learning as part of a course.
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Student-Faculty Interaction
 More than just instructors, faculty at Springfield College interact with students as mentors and guides for continuous, life-long learning. In particular, our first-year and senior students report receiving prompt feedback from faculty on their academic performance and working with faculty members on activities other than coursework more often than students at our peer institutions. Seniors also reported higher levels of talking about career plans with faculty members and discussing ideas from readings or class with faculty members outside of class.
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Enriching Educational Experiences
 Complementary learning opportunities enhance academic programs, and this is evident in a number of ways at Springfield College. For example, compared to students at our peer institutions, our first-year students and senior students report greater levels of participation in co-curricular activities and community service or volunteer work. In addition, towards the end of their college experience, seniors report higher levels of engagement than peers at other institutions with practicum, internship, field experience, co-op experience, or clinical assignment opportunities; and participation in a learning community.
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Level of Academic Challenge
 Springfield College promotes high levels of student achievement and personal development through challenging intellectual and creative work which is central to student learning. In line with our peers at other institutions, our students feel that their coursework emphasizes the following cognitive skills such as analyzing, synthesizing, making judgments, and applying concepts to new situations in their academic coursework.
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A Cut Above the Rest!
 Overall, both first-year students and seniors think very highly of the educational opportunities, campus environment, learning opportunities, and interactions with faculty at Springfield College especially when compared to other first-year and senior students at our peer institutions.
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Past National Survey of Student Engagement Results:
