Friday, February 16, 2018

Nota Bene: NSSE Survey for Students Now Open

Like many universities across the country, Virginia Wesleyan participates in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). This comprehensive survey collects information from hundreds of four-year colleges and universities about first-year and senior students’ participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development.

Today, we invite Virginia Wesleyan University freshmen who started in the fall and graduating seniors to participate in the NSSE survey. These two classes of students have received an invitation with a link to the survey. In appreciation for their participation, all students who complete the survey by April 1, 2018, will receive a $5 Wawa gift card. For every 50 students who take the survey, an additional drawing will be held for a $25 Starbucks gift card.

NSSE reports that approximately six million students from more than 1,600 colleges and universities have participated in the survey since it was first administered in 2000. Institutions use the NSSE data to identify elements of the undergraduate experience inside and out of the classroom that can be improved through changes in policies and practices more consistent with good practices in undergraduate education. This information is also used by prospective college students, their parents, college counselors, academic advisors, institutional research officers, and researchers to learn more about how students spend their time at different colleges and universities, and what they gain from their experiences.

I encourage all freshmen and seniors to take the survey and I hope our faculty and staff will also encourage them to do so. We will be sure to share a summary of the results when the survey is finalized.