2007 NSSE

The NSSE survey was administered in the Spring of 2007 to students who were seniors and students who had just completed their first year at Earlham. The response rate was 66% for our first-year students and 62% for our seniors. Nationally, the overall response rate was 30%. The table below shows Earlham's mean scores and the scores of all participating students nationally.

All numbers are mean scores unless otherwise indicated .

Earlham
National
Earlham
National

Seniors
Seniors
First Years
First Years

IN YOUR OVERALL EXPERIENCE AT THIS INSTITUTION SO FAR, ABOUT HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU DONE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:

 

1= Never to 4= very often

1

Asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions

3.40
3.03***
3.08
2.74***

2

Used e-mail to communicate with an instructor

3.53
3.33***
3.13
3.06

3

Made a class presentation

2.87
2.77
2.29
2.21

4

Prepared two or more drafts of a paper or assignment before turning it in

2.25
2.47**
2.37
2.64***

5

Came to class without completing readings or assignments
2.10
2.11
1.99
2.02

6

Worked with other students on projects during class

2.23
2.52***
2.28
2.40*

7

Worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments

2.84
2.75
2.73
2.38***

8

Tutored or taught other students

2.33
1.88***
1.75
1.69

9

Participated in a community-based project as part of a regular course

1.70
1.69
1.47
1.52

10

Used an electronic medium (e-mail, list-serve, chat group, etc.) to discuss or complete an assignment

2.68
2.83
2.57
2.61

11

Discussed grades or assignments with an instructor

2.86
2.79
2.49
2.57

12

Talked about career plans with a faculty member or advisor

2.66
2.39**
1.92
2.14***

13

Discussed ideas from your reading or classes with faculty members outside of class

2.37
2.08***
2.00
1.84**

14

Received prompt feedback from faculty on your academic performance

2.87
2.75*
2.82
2.59***

15

Worked harder than you thought you could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations

2.65
2.69
2.43
2.60**

16

Worked with faculty members on activities other than coursework (committees, orientation, student-life activities, etc.)

2.26
1.81***
1.74
1.59*

17

Discussed ideas from your reading or classes with others outside of class (students, family members, co-workers, etc.)

3.20
2.83***
3.11
2.66***

18

Had serious conversations w/students w/relig. beliefs, polit. opinions, or pers. values very different from yours

2.95
2.66***
3.14
2.56***

19

Had serious conversations with students of different religious beliefs, political opinions, or personal values.
2.68
2.71
2.95
2.68***

ABOUT HOW MUCH READING AND WRITING DID YOU DO DURING THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR?

   
Earlham
National
Earlham
National
   
Seniors
Seniors
First Years
First Years
 

1= none to 5= more than 20

20

Number of assigned textbooks, books, or book-length packs of course readings

3.76
3.13***
3.96
3.20***

21

Number of books read on your own (not assigned)

2.29
2.17
2.19
2.02*

22

Number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more

1.88
1.62***
1.22
1.24

23

Number of written papers or reports between 5 and 19 pages
3.05
2.55***
2.44
2.25**
  Number of written papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages
3.20
2.96*
3.28
3.02***

TO WHAT EXTENT HAVE YOUR EXAMINATIONS DURING THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR CHALLENGED YOU TO DO YOUR BEST WORK?

   
Earlham
National
Earlham
National
   
Seniors
Seniors
First Years
First Years
  1= very little to 7= very much        

24

To what extent have your examinations challenged you to do your best?
5.26
5.40
5.13
5.42**

ABOUT HOW MUCH HAS YOUR COURSEWORK UP TO NOW EMPHASIZED THE FOLLOWING MENTAL ACTIVITIES?

   
Earlham
National
Earlham
National
   
Seniors
Seniors
First Years
First Years
 

1= very little to 4= very much

25

Coursework emphasizes: Memorizing facts, ideas or methods from your courses and reading

2.19
2.75
2.30
2.88

26

Coursework emphasizes: Analyzing the basic elements of an idea, experience or theory

3.42
3.23
3.35
3.07

27

Coursework emphasizes: Synthesizing and organizing ideas, information, or experiences

3.39
3.03
3.20
2.85

28

Coursework emphasizes: Making judgments about the value of information, arguments, or methods

3.12
2.96
3.03
2.84

29

Coursework emphasizes: Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations

3.20
3.18
2.99
3.01

ABOUT HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU SPEND IN A TYPICAL WEEK DOING EACH OF THE FOLLOWING?

   
Earlham
National
Earlham
National
   
Seniors
Seniors
First Years
First Years
 

1= 5 or fewer hours per week; 2=6-10 hours; 3=11-15 hours; 4=16-20 hours; 5=21-25 hours; 6=26-30 hours;
7= more than 30 hours per week

30

Preparing for class (studying, reading, writing, lab work, rehearsing, etc., related to your academic program)

5.12
4.09***
4.67
4.01***

31

Working for pay on campus

2.45
1.84***
1.74
1.57

32

Working for pay off campus

1.43
3.79***
1.28
2.41***

33

Participating in co-curricular activities

2.71
2.07***
2.68
2.24***

34

Relaxing and socializing (watching TV, partying, exercising, playing games, etc.)

3.49
3.49
4.13
3.78**

35

Providing care for dependents living with you (parents, children, spouse, etc.)

1.08
2.38***
1.05
1.72***

TO WHAT EXTENT HAS YOUR COLLEGE EDUCATION CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS?

   
Earlham
National
Earlham
National
   
Seniors
Seniors
First Years
First Years
 

1= very little to 4= very much

36

Contributed to: Acquiring a broad general education

3.62
3.24***
3.20
3.13

37

Contributed to: Acquiring job or work-related knowledge and skills

2.48
3.02***
2.37
2.73***

38

Contributed to: Writing clearly and effectively

3.40
3.06***
3.16
2.95**

39

Contributed to: Speaking effectively in public or in groups

3.01
2.95
2.76
2.76

40

Contributed to: Thinking critically and analytically

3.59
3.33***
3.37
3.17***

41

Contributed to: Analyzing quantitative problems

2.77
3.04***
2.61
2.89***

42

Contributed to: Using computing and information technology

2.81
3.20***
2.56
3.01***

43

Contributed to: Working effectively with others

3.30
3.12*
3.02
2.93

44

Contributed to: Fulfilling your civic duty by voting in elections

2.60
2.06***
2.19
2.05

45

Contributed to: Learning effectively on your own

3.19
3.00*
2.78
2.88

46

Contributed to: Understanding yourself

3.16
2.78***
2.80
2.73

47

Contributed to: Understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds

3.03
2.59***
2.98
2.61***

48

Contributed to: Developing a personal code of values and ethics
2.99
2.66***
2.70
2.62

49

Contributed to: Contributing to the welfare of your community

2.95
2.43***
2.67
2.39***

THINKING ABOUT YOUR OVERALL EXPERIENCE AT THIS INSTITUTION SO FAR, TO WHAT EXTENT DOES YOUR COLLEGE EMPHASIZE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING?

   
Earlham
National
Earlham
National
   
Seniors
Seniors
First Years
First Years
 

1= very little to 4= very much

50

Emphasize: Spending significant amounts of time studying and on academic work

3.32
3.08***
3.13
3.09

51

Emphasize: Providing support to help you succeed in academic work and meet personal goals

3.18
2.87***
3.24
3.02***

53

Emphasize: Encouraging contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds

3.01
2.44***
3.22
2.63***

54

Emphasize: Helping you cope with your non-academic responsibilities (work, family, etc.)

1.98
1.91
2.23
2.16
 55
 Emphasize: Providing the support you need to thrive socially
2.27
2.17
2.36
2.41

AGAIN, THINKING ABOUT YOUR OVERALL EXPERIENCE AT THIS INSTITUTION SO FAR, FILL IN THE OVAL THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE QUALITY OF THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PEOPLE THAT ARE TYPICAL AT THIS COLLEGE.

   
Earlham
National
Earlham
National
   
Seniors
Seniors
First Years
First Years
 

1= unfriendly, unsupportive, sense of alienation
7= friendly, supportive, sense of belonging

56

Quality: Relationships with other students

5.98
5.62***
5.76
5.53*

57

Quality: Relationships with faculty members

5.80
5.41***
5.79
5.19***

58

Quality: Relationships with administrative personnel and offices

4.55
4.54
5.01
4.64***

SATISFACTION
1= least positive to 4= most positive

     

59

How would you evaluate your entire educational experience at this institution?

3.47
3.20***
3.34
3.18**
1=definitely no to 4=definitely yes      

60

If you could start over again, would you go to the same institution you are now attending?

3.33
3.19
3.34
3.22

IN THINKING ABOUT YOUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE (INCLUDING YOUR MAJOR OR EXPECTED MAJOR), WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING HAVE YOU DONE OR PLAN TO DO BEFORE YOU GRADUATE FROM THIS INSTITUTION?

Earlham
National
Earlham
National
Seniors
Seniors
First Years
First Years

% Yes

% Yes

% Yes

% Yes

61

Practicum, internship, field experience, co-op experience, or clinical assignment

87
76***
83
82

62

Community service or volunteer programs

84
73***
86
78

63

Participate in a learning community where groups take 2+ classes together
25
33
25
39***
 64
 Work on a research project with a faculty member outside of course or program requirements
43
31***
40
35*

63

Foreign language coursework

98
50***
90
54***

65

Study abroad

80
23***
89
43***

66

Independent study or self-designed major

40
26***
26
19

67

Culminating senior experience (comprehensive exam, capstone course, thesis, project, etc.)

100
61***
79
48

*p<.05

**p<.01

***p<.001 (2-tailed)

 

See related NSSE documents
Return to Office of Institutional Research

Created by Mary Ann Weaver
weavema@earlham.edu
August, 2007