National Survey of Student Engagement: 2001-2009
North Carolina State University


The following tables provide a comparison of results from the 2001 and 2009 National Survey of Student Engagement. Statistically significant differences (p>.05) are noted with an asterisk (*).


Academic Engagement | Coursework Emphasis | Reading and Writing | Examinations | Quality of Relationships | Hours Spent on Various Activities | Academic and Non-Academic Support | Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Development | Evaluation of Educational Experience

Academic Engagement

  Mean Rating:
(4=Very often, 3=Often, 2=Sometimes, 1=Never)
NSSE01 NSSE09
Asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions 2.75 2.81
Made a class presentation 2.37 2.42
Prepared two or more drafts of a paper or assignment before turning it in 2.50 2.46
Worked on a paper or project that required integrating ideas or information from various sources* 3.10 3.26
Come to class without completing readings or assignments* 2.25 2.12
Worked with other students on projects during class 2.41 2.46
Worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments* 2.71 2.81
Tutored or taught other students (paid or voluntary) 1.85 1.85
Participated in a community-based project as part of a regular course* 1.31 1.55
Used an electronic medium to discuss or complete an assignment 2.93 2.96
Used e-mail to communicate with an instructor* 3.23 3.42
Discussed grades or assignments with an instructor 2.71 2.69
Talked about career plans with a faculty member or advisor* 2.27 2.46
Discussed ideas from readings/classes with faculty members outside of class* 1.76 1.89
Received prompt written or oral feedback from faculty on academic performance 2.66 2.72
Worked harder than you thought you could to meet instructor's standards/expectations* 2.51 2.66
Worked with faculty members on activities other than coursework* 1.49 1.73
Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with others outside of class 2.74 2.82
Had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your own 2.71 2.70
Had serious conversations with students with different religious beliefs, political opinions, personal values* 2.92 2.81
View Frequency Distributions
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Coursework Emphasis on Various Mental Activities

  Mean Rating:
(4=Very much, 3=Quite a bit, 2=Some, 1=Very littler)
NSSE01 NSSE09
Memorizing facts, ideas, or methods from courses/readings for repetition 2.86 2.88
Analyzing basic elements of an idea, experience, or theory* 3.14 3.28
Synthesizing and organizing ideas/info/experiences into new, more complex interpretations/relationships* 2.94 3.04
Making judgments about the value of information, arguments, or methods* 2.74 2.94
Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations* 3.08 3.24
View Frequency Distributions
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Reading and Writing During Current School Year

Number of assigned textbooks, books, or book-length packs of course readings NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 20 8.5% 11.3%
11-20 21.2% 18.7%
5-10 45.1% 42.8%
1-4 23.9% 25.2%
None 1.2% 2.0%
Total (N) 410 1,997


Number of books read for personal enjoyment or academic enrichment (not assigned) NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 20 3.9% 3.4%
11-20 3.9% 4.6%
5-10 13.7% 15.2%
1-4 53.4% 53.7%
None 25.1% 23.0%
Total (N) 410 1,998


Number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 20 1.0% 0.6%
11-20 0.2% 1.4%
5-10 2.9% 5.3%
1-4 25.9% 25.3%
None 70.0% 67.4%
Total (N) 410 1,998


Number of written papers or reports between 5 and 19 pages NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 20 2.9% 2.3%
11-20 10.2% 8.5%
5-10 30.9% 33.7%
1-4 49.9% 48.6%
None 6.1% 7.0%
Total (N) 411 1,994


Number of written papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages* NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 20 10.5% 9.0%
11-20 22.7% 14.0%
5-10 33.0% 30.4%
1-4 31.1% 42.4%
None 2.7% 4.3%
Total (N) 409 1,998
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Examinations

Extent to which examinations have challenged you to do your best work NSSE01 NSSE09
Mean Rating 5.57 5.59
7: Very much 18.0% 19.5%
6 37.6% 40.7%
5 32.4% 27.0%
4 8.5% 8.1%
3 2.2% 2.9%
2 1.2% 1.2%
1: Very little   0.7%
Total (N) 410 1,997
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Quality of Relationships

Relationships with other students NSSE01 NSSE09
Mean Rating 5.76 5.67
7: Friendly, Supportive, Sense of belonging 28.8% 28.0%
6 36.2% 35.6%
5 23.4% 21.7%
4 6.9% 8.4%
3 3.7% 3.6%
2 0.5% 2.1%
1: Unfriendly, Unsupportive, Sense of alienation 0.5% 0.6%
Total (N) 406 1,962


Relationships with faculty members NSSE01 NSSE09
Mean Rating 5.19 5.24
7: Available, Helpful, Sympathetic 12.3% 15.6%
6 31.3% 31.5%
5 31.8% 27.2%
4 16.3% 17.1%
3 5.2% 5.1%
2 2.5% 2.2%
Unavailable, Unhelpful, Unsympathetic 0.7% 1.2%
Total (N) 406 1,961


Relationships with administrative personnel and offices NSSE01 NSSE09
Mean Rating 4.57 4.73
7: Helpful, Considerate, Flexible 6.7% 11.3%
6 23.2% 23.3%
5 24.4% 24.3%
4 25.9% 22.4%
3 10.1% 9.0%
2 6.4% 6.2%
1: Unhelpful, Inconsiderate, Rigid 3.4% 3.4%
Total (N) 406 1,959
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Hours Spent on Various Activities During a Typical Week

Preparing for class (studying, reading, writing, homework, etc.)* NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 30 hours 6.3% 6.8%
26-30 4.1% 6.4%
21-25 11.0% 13.1%
16-20 13.9% 20.7%
11-15 17.6% 22.0%
6-10 28.8% 20.3%
1-5 17.8% 10.3%
0 hours per week 0.5% 0.3%
Total (N) 410 1,951


Working for pay on campus NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 30 hours 0.5% 0.9%
26-30 0.2% 0.3%
21-25 0.7% 0.5%
16-20 1.5% 2.8%
11-15 3.9% 3.1%
6-10 6.9% 5.9%
1-5 5.1% 3.2%
0 hours per week 81.1% 83.4%
Total (N) 408 1,948


Working for pay off campus* NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 30 hours 4.9% 2.7%
26-30 2.2% 2.0%
21-25 6.1% 3.8%
16-20 5.9% 6.8%
11-15 7.1% 6.8%
6-10 7.6% 6.0%
1-5 5.2% 4.6%
0 hours per week 60.9% 67.3%
Total (N) 407 1,950


Participating in co-curricular activities NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 30 hours 1.7% 1.9%
26-30 0.7% 0.8%
21-25 2.0%
16-20 4.1% 4.2%
11-15 5.9% 7.4%
6-10 13.2% 16.4%
1-5 41.2% 35.7%
0 hours per week 31.5% 31.7%
Total (N) 410 1,959


Relaxing and socializing (watching TV, partying, etc.)* NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 30 hours 7.5% 4.7%
26-30 4.4% 2.7%
21-25 8.3% 6.0%
16-20 13.6% 13.6%
11-15 20.2% 24.0%
6-10 28.2% 30.6%
1-5 16.8% 17.8%
0 hours per week 1.0% 0.6%
Total (N) 411 1,950


Providing care for dependents living with you NSSE01 NSSE09
More than 30 hours 2.2% 1.5%
26-30 0.7% 0.5%
21-25 1.0% 0.4%
16-20 1.0% 0.5%
11-15 2.9% 2.3%
6-10 3.7% 3.1%
1-5 6.3% 8.0%
0 hours per week 82.2% 83.7%
Total (N) 410 1,945
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Institutional Emphasis on Academic and Non-Academic Support

  Mean Rating:
(4=Very much, 3=Quite a bit, 2=Some, 1=Very little)
NSSE01 NSSE09
Spending significant amounts of time studying and on academic work* 3.17 3.25
Providing the support you need to help you succeed academically* 2.85 3.13
Encouraging contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds* 2.32 2.74
Helping you cope with your non-academic responsibilities (work, family, etc.)* 1.82 2.14
Providing the support you need to thrive socially* 2.09 2.41
View Frequency Distributions
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Institution's Contribution to Knowledge, Skills, and Personal Development

  Mean Rating:
(4=Very much, 3=Quite a bit, 2=Some, 1=Very little)
NSSE01 NSSE09
Acquiring a broad general education* 3.10 3.23
Acquiring job or work-related knowledge and skills* 2.85 3.04
Writing clearly and effectively* 2.85 3.01
Speaking clearly and effectively* 2.64 2.84
Thinking critically and analytically* 3.16 3.36
Analyzing quantitative problems* 2.96 3.23
Using computing and information technology 3.30 3.33
Working effectively with others* 3.02 3.18
Voting in local, state, or national elections* 1.93 2.56
Learning effectively on your own* 3.00 3.11
Understanding yourself 2.83 2.84
Understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds* . 2.65
Developing a personal code of values and ethics* 2.53 2.66
Contributing to the welfare of your community* 2.10 2.54
View Frequency Distributions
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Evaluation of Educational Experience

Evaluate the quality of academic advising you have received at your institution* NSSE01 NSSE09
Mean Rating 2.80 3.06
Excellent 24.4% 36.0%
Good 41.1% 40.9%
Fair 24.4% 16.3%
Poor 10.0% 6.8%
Total (N) 409 1,907


Evaluate your entire educational experience at this institution* NSSE01 NSSE09
Mean Rating 3.26 3.37
Excellent 36.1% 47.1%
Good 55.0% 43.7%
Fair 7.9% 7.9%
Poor 1.0% 1.3%
Total (N) 404 1,904


If starting over, would you go to the same institution?* NSSE01 NSSE09
Definitely yes 42.9% 56.2%
Probably yes 43.8% 34.4%
Probably no 9.9% 6.9%
Definitely no 3.4% 2.5%
Total (N) 406 1,911
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