Spring 2007

The results of the 2006 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) shows that Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a leader in challenging its students academically, providing active and collaborative learning, and creating a supportive campus environment.

NSSE is an annual national survey designed to measure the extent to which students and institutions are engaging in effective teaching and learning activities. The data gathered from the survey is useful in many areas including assessment, benchmarking, student retention, accreditation and strategic planning. Rose-Hulman was among 557 colleges and universities participating in the 2006 survey.

Fifty-nine percent of Rose-Hulman freshmen and seniors asked to participate in the study completed the online survey, according to Shannon Sexton, director of assessment at Rose-Hulman.

Sexton said the study has been used to compare the responses of Rose-Hulman students to their counterparts nationally as well as students at eight private engineering colleges that are in the Association of Independent Technological Universities (AITU), of which Rose-Hulman is also a member.

The survey required students to rate several areas including the level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experiences and supportive campu environment.

Rose-Hulman was rated higher in each of the five areas by its students than ratings fro students in the national and AITU groups.

The level of academic challenge category was created using nine items ranging from the extent that the campus environment emphasizes time studying and doing other academic work, to coursework emphasizing analysis of basic elements of an idea to working harder than the student anticipated to meet a professor’s standards or expectations.

The areas of active and collaborating learning, student faculty interaction, and enriching educational experiences asked for student responses about numerous items including how often students worked with other students on projects during class, made a class presentation, discussed assignments or grades with their professor, worked with a faculty member on a project outside of class, participated in co-curricular activities, completed an internship, and used electronic technology to complete an assignment.

The supportive campus environment area asked for student responses ranging from how well the campus helps the student succeed academically to the quality of relationships the student has with faculty, other students, and administrative personnel.