NSSE – National Survey of Student Engagement (View Survey )

• Survey first year students and seniors
• Assesses classroom and co-curricular student behaviors that are related to “good practices” in undergraduate education – those that engage students in the learning process.
• Questions focus on students’ educational experiences (e.g., reading, writing, oral presentations, research with faculty, discussions with individuals who differ from them)
• Other items focus on educational outcomes such as levels of thinking (i.e., Bloom’s Taxonomy) and other skills and perspectives
• We receive our raw data, means and frequencies and comparative results for 4 year liberal arts colleges, for our selected peer group and for all NSSE users
• Obtain data in August/September
• First administration (web-based survey) – Spring 2004
• Second administration- Spring 2005
• Administered every three year- again in Spring 2008

CIRP – Cooperative Institutional Research (HERI First Year Student Survey) (View Survey )

• Survey first year students
• Assesses demographic characteristics, expectations of the college experience, secondary school experiences, degree goals and career plans, college finances, general attitudes, values, life goals, and reasons for attending college
• We receive frequencies, means for our data and comparative results from our peers, varied by year depending on participation
• Administered during orientation – paper and pencil survey
• Obtain data in March

AICUP – Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (First Year Student Survey) (View Survey )

• Survey first year students
• Paper survey
• Assesses demographics, transition from high school to college, academic advising, development of life skills
• Administered in April/May
• Obtain data August/September

HEDS – Higher Education Data Sharing – Senior Survey (View Survey )

• Survey seniors
• Assesses future career and education plans, importance of various career factors
• Evaluation of educational experience (what knowledge and skills were obtained)
• Measures performance in college programs and clubs/activities
• Assesses number of hours spent on a variety of academic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities
• Evaluates satisfaction with aspects of curriculum and student services
• We receive raw data, frequencies, means for each questions and comparative data for six chosen schools (Our most recent HEDS 2005 peers were Colby, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, Ithaca, and Lehigh)
• Administered during the May senior meeting prior to commencement – paper and pencil survey
• Obtain data in September

CSS – Cooperative Institutional Research (HERI College Senior Survey) (View Survey)

• Survey senior students
• Paper survey
• Assesses demographic characteristics, academic achievement and engagement, satisfaction, cognitive and affective development, student values, attitudes, and goals, career and further education plans.
• Administered during spring semester
• Obtain data in August

Prepared by Kathleen Harring, Associate Dean for Institutional Assessment
and Nicole Hammel, Director of Institutional Research
November, 2006