Students: Soon you will see notices and fliers around campus about a survey called NSSE. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is the most widely used national survey of college students. UHD will be administering it to all first-year and senior students.
On Feb. 17, UHD first-year and senior students will receive an email invitation from NSSE to participate in the survey, and reminders will be sent until the survey closes on May 12.
We understand that completing an online survey may not be anyone’s idea of fun. However, student surveys are a vital component of improving the student experience, providing a systematic way to gather and communicate student feedback to faculty, staff, and administrators who support students in both the academic and social aspects of their college experience.
In appreciation for participating, we will enter all students who complete the survey into a drawing for one of four iPads (worth $349 each) and one of 16 AirPods (worth $129 each). Your chances of winning depend on how many students complete the survey, and 5,249 UHD students will be invited to participate.
Who designed and administers the NSSE survey?
The Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research developed the survey and administers it. Each year, hundreds of schools from the United States and Canada participate in this survey. Since its inception, nearly 1,700 colleges and universities have used it to understand how students spend their time and what they think of their institution.
Why should you take the NSSE survey?
If you are a senior or first-year student, you will be invited to take the NSSE survey (check your email starting Feb. 17). The time you will take to complete the NSSE survey can make a big impact on the future of UHD.
We want to maintain a response rate above 50%, so we can say the majority of our students participated in the survey. A high response rate increases the likelihood that the survey responses will represent the student population across key demographics and other variables. Additionally, it ensures that a broader range of student experiences are reflected in the results.
What kinds of questions does the NSSE survey ask?
The core survey will ask first-year and senior students about their college experiences, how they spend their time, what they have gained from college, and their interactions with peers, faculty, and others. Additionally, two brief question sets—one on advising and another on transferable skills—will be included to complement the core survey questions.
Your Voice Matters!
NSSE lets students have their voices heard. By participating in this survey, you can help enhance your educational experience and contribute to making UHD the best it can be.
We will use the results to illustrate the undergraduate experience at UHD, understand how our university compares to other institutions, and, most importantly, learn more about where we should focus attention to improve. We will use this survey to identify aspects of the undergraduate experience inside and outside the classroom that can be improved through changes in policies and practices more consistent with good practices in undergraduate education.
How long will it take to complete the survey?
Filling out the NSSE survey takes about 15-25 minutes, and participation is completely voluntary. Declining participation or not completing the survey will not result in any penalty or loss of benefits.
We strongly encourage you to participate in the survey with honesty and candor to help drive positive changes in student life here at UHD.