Saint Louis University students have been randomly selected to complete a short survey called the College Student Report 2002. The students participating in the survey are classified as freshmen (30 credit hours or less) or seniors (90 credit hours or more).
The National Survey of Student Engagement is designed to collect information regarding the student’s engagement in various education-related activities.
The survey is used to look at the level of educational and personal growth of the student as well as how the student participates in different activities among the faculty, staff and their work with other students.
“This is the first survey like this that really gets at how well the University helps students to become active learners,” said Assistant Provost, Julie Weissmann.
“SLU wants to provide an environment where students can be actively learning and interacting with the faculty and other students,” Weissmann continued.
The questions on the survey are about how and where students spend their time, the nature and quality of their interactions with faculty members and peers, and what they have gained from their classes and other aspects of their college experience. NSSE asks about what interactions the students has engaged in with the faculty and staff. The levels of thinking that a student uses whether it is memorizing, analyzing making judgments and applying what they have learned.
The survey also questions how much time a student spends studying, working and having fun as well as for their overall opinion of how well their University has helped them to learn.
SLU uses the results of these surveys to gain a great deal of insight into how students are engaged in learning and how they are developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes desired of college graduates.
This is the second year SLU has participated in the survey. The Office of Instructional Study used the survey last year as a means to see if the University has provided the students with the opportunities to grown in learning.
There are 23 student-learning outcomes that SLU hopes students will develop by the time they graduate. As a Catholic, Jesuit institution, SLU educates the students to develop the intellectual, ethical and spiritual foundations for a successful personal and professional life expressed in service to others.
“SLU has a plan and expectations for every student, and we want to make sure that we are providing the kind of environment that helps the students achieve their goals,” Weissmann said.
Last year’s surveys confirms that SLU does contribute to students’ development in terms of educational and personal growth, including levels of involvement and individual perceptions. Eight out of 10 students reported that their experience at SLU has been “good” or “excellent,” indicating a high level of satisfaction.
Students report a considerably higher level of participation of involvement at SLU in activities such community service, class presentations, internships and abroad studies than their peers at other institutions.
Students’ responses will help improve the educational experiences for current and future students at SLU.
“The survey is so useful that the office of Instructional Studies really hopes the students selected will participate,” said Weissmann. “I know students get bombarded with lots of stuff this time of year but I hope that they will take the time to fill it out.”
