The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is a nationally used student survey that is part of Gallaudet's efforts to assess and strengthen our institutional effectiveness. Other institutional student surveys include the Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI), the HEDS Teaching Quality Survey, and the Alumni Survey.

GU participated in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2017. Currently GU administers NSSE tri-annually, alternating with other surveys. The next administration will be in 2020.

The NSSE collects information from first-year and senior students at hundreds of four-year colleges and universities all over the country. Since 1999, more than 1,500 undergraduate degree granting colleges and universities have used the NSSE to collect information about student participation in educational programs and campus activities.

NSSE is a research-based psychometrically sound tool used by institutions to:

  • Participate in a national effort to improve undergraduate quality
  • Compare institutional performance against peer institutions
  • Examine patterns of strengths and weaknesses within Gallaudet, across time, and across different student groups
  • Guide and monitor institutional improvement
  • Incorporate student engagement results in self-studies, accreditation, and accountability

Research shows that higher student engagement in educationally purposeful activities leads to greater student achievement, persistence, and graduation.

The NSSE survey focuses on four themes and ten engagement indicators, as shown below:

Academic Challenge

  • Higher Order Learning
  • Reflective and Integrative Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Quantitative Reasoning

Learning with Peers

  • Collaborative Learning
  • Discussions with Diverse Others

Experiences with Faculty

  • Student-Faculty Interaction
  • Effective Teaching Practices

Campus Environment

  • Quality of Interactions
  • Supportive Environment

In addition to the Themes and Engagement Indicators, NSSE also focuses on six High Impact Practices:

High Impact Practices

  • Learning community or some other formal program where groups of students take two or more classes together
  • Courses that included a community-based project (service-learning)
  • Work with a faculty member on a research project
  • Internship, co-op, field experience, student teaching, or clinical placement
  • Study abroad
  • Culminating senior experience (capstone course, senior project or thesis, comprehensive exam, portfolio, etc.)

For more information on NSSE, visit the NSSE homepage.

Reports and Presentations

2017

2014

2012

2010

2008

2006

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