Using NSSE Results in General Education Program Review

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Using NSSE Results in General Education Program
Review

• The Association of American Colleges
  Universities
  
• January 19, 2007

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Valdosta State UniversityProgram Review Process

• Program Productivity
• Quantitative elements such as enrollment,
  courses, completions, and faculty
  
• Program Quality
• Stakeholder satisfaction with the program is one
  component of quality
  

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Valdosta State UniversityGeneral Education
Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate understanding of the
  society of the United States and its ideals.
  
• Students will demonstrate cross-cultural
  perspectives and knowledge of other societies.
  
• Students will use the computer and information
  technology when appropriate.
  

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Valdosta State UniversityGeneral Education
Outcomes

• Students will express themselves clearly,
  logically, and precisely in writing and in
  speaking, and they will demonstrate competence in
  reading and listening.
• Students will demonstrate knowledge of scientific
  and mathematical principles and proficiency in
  laboratory practices.
  
• Students will demonstrate knowledge of diverse
  cultural heritages in the arts, the humanities,
  and the social sciences.
  

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Valdosta State UniversityGeneral Education
Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze,
  to evaluate, and to make inferences from oral,
  written, and visual materials.
  
• Students will demonstrate knowledge of principles
  of ethics and their employment in the analysis
  and resolution of moral problems.

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Linking NSSE Questions withVSUs Expected
Outcomes

• US Society
• 11i Voting in local, state, or national
  elections
  
• 11o Contributing to the welfare of your
  community
  
• Cross-cultural Perspectives
• 11l Understanding people of other racial, ethnic
  backgrounds
  
• Computer and Information Technology
• 11g Using computing and information technology
• Written and Spoken Expression
• 11c Writing clearly and effectively
• 11d Speaking clearly and effectively

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Linking NSSE Questions withVSUs Expected
Outcomes

• Scientific and Mathematical Principles
• 11f Analyzing quantitative problems
• Diverse Cultural Heritages
• 11l Understanding people of other racial and
  ethnic backgrounds
  
• Ability to Analyze and Make Inferences
• 11e Thinking critically and analytically
• 11m Solving complex, real-world problems
• Principles and Employment of Ethics
• 11n Developing personal code of values and
  ethics
  

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Linking NSSE Questions withVSUs Expected
Outcomes

• Overall General Outcomes
• 11a Acquiring a broad general education
• 11b Acquiring job or work-related knowledge and
  skills
  
• 11h Working effectively with others
• 13 Evaluation of your entire experience at this
  institution
  

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• General Education Outcomes
• 87 of VSU seniors report developing their
  ability to use computing and information
  technology quite a bit or very much.
  
• 85 of VSU seniors report acquiring abroad
  general education quite a bit or very much.
  
• 82 of VSU seniors report increasing their
  ability to work effectively with others quite a
  bit or very much.
  
• 88 of VSU seniors report developing their
  ability to think critically and analytically
  quite a bit or very much.
  
• 77 of VSU seniors report developing their
  ability to analyze quantitative problems quite a
  bit or very much.
  
• 75 of VSU seniors report developing their
  ability to write clearly and effectively quite a
  bit or very much.

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Analyzing the Results

• First Year with Senior Responses
• Is there growth in the percentage of Very Much
  and Quite a Bit?
  
• Your Institution with Overall NSSE Results
• Are there items on which we are significantly
  above or below the national results?
  
• Trends Over Time
• Are the results consistent across years?
• Is there improvement where desired?
• Highest and Lowest Ranking Items
• What items do students report as most or least
  affected by their experiences at the
  institution?
  

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First Year - Senior Comparisons

• To what extent has your experience contributed
  Quite a Bit or Very Much to acquiring a broad
  general education?
  
• First Year 79 Senior 85
• To what extent has your experience contributed
  Quite a Bit or Very Much to thinking
  critically and analytically?
  
• First Year 83 Senior 88

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VSU - NSSE Comparisons

• To what extent has your experience contributed
  Quite a Bit or Very Much to writing clearly
  and effectively?
  
• First-Year Senior
• VSU 79 75
• Masters 73 77
• All NSSE 73 77

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VSU - NSSE Comparisons

• To what extent has your experience contributed
  Quite a Bit or Very Much to analyzing
  quantitative problems?
  
• First-Year Senior
• VSU 70 77
• Masters 64 72
• All NSSE 65 72

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2005 - 2006 Comparisons

• To what extent has your experience contributed
  Quite a Bit or Very Much to writing clearly
  and effectively?
  
• First-Year Senior
• VSU 2005 79 75
• VSU 2006 75 79
• NSSE 2005 73 77
• NSSE 2006 71 75

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2005 - 2006 Comparisons

• To what extent has your experience contributed
  Quite a Bit or Very Much to understanding
  people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds?
  
• First-Year Senior
• VSU 2005 58 50
• VSU 2006 56 55
• NSSE 2005 52 53
• NSSE 2006 52 51

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Highest Rankings 2005 First Year Students

• VSU Thinking critically and analytically
• Writing clearly and effectively (tie)
• Acquiring a broad general education (tie)
• Working effectively with others (tie)
• NSSE Acquiring a broad general education (tie)
  
  
• Thinking critically and analytically (tie)
  
  
• Writing clearly and effectively
• Working effectively with others (tie)
• Using computing, information technology (tie)
• Learning effectively on your own (tie)

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Highest Rankings 2006 First Year Students

• VSU Thinking critically and analytically
• Writing clearly and effectively
• Acquiring a broad general education
• Using computing, information technology
• NSSE Thinking critically and analytically
  (tie)
  
• Acquiring a broad general education (tie)
• Using computing, information technology
• Writing clearly and effectively

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Lowest Rankings 2005 First Year Students

• VSU Contributing to welfare of community
• Solving complex, real-world problems
• Acquiring job or work-related knowledge (tie)
• Understanding of other racial
  backgrounds (tie)
  
• Developing a personal code of values (tie)
• NSSE Contributing to welfare of community
• Voting in local, state, national elections
  
  
• Understanding of other racial backgrounds
  (tie)
  
• Solving complex, real-world problems
  (tie)
  

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Lowest Rankings 2006 First Year Students

• VSU Voting in local, state, national
  elections
  
• Contributing to welfare of community
• Acquiring job or work-related knowledge
• Solving complex, real-world problems
• NSSE Voting in local, state, national
  elections
  
• Contributing to welfare of community
• Understanding of other racial backgrounds
• Solving complex, real-world problems (tie)
• Developing a personal code of values (tie)

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Highest Rankings 2005 Seniors

• VSU Thinking critically and analytically
• Using computing, information technology
• Acquiring a broad general education
• Working effectively with others
• NSSE Thinking critically and analytically
• Acquiring a broad general education
• Working effectively with others
• Using computing, information technology

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Highest Rankings 2006 Seniors

• VSU Thinking critically and analytically
• Using computing, information technology
• Acquiring a broad general education (tie)
• Working effectively with others
  (tie)
  
• NSSE Thinking critically and analytically
• Acquiring a broad general education
• Using computing, information technology
• Working effectively with others

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Lowest Rankings 2005 Seniors

• VSU Voting in local, state, national elections
• Contributing to welfare of community
• Understanding other racial backgrounds
• Developing a personal code of values
• NSSE Voting in local, state, national
  elections
  
• Contributing to welfare of community
• Understanding other racial backgrounds
• Developing a personal code of values (tie)
• Solving complex, real-world problems (tie)

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Lowest Rankings 2006 Seniors

• VSU Voting in local, state, national elections
• Contributing to welfare of community
• Understanding other racial backgrounds
• Solving complex, real-world problems
• NSSE Voting in local, state, national
  elections
  
• Contributing to welfare of community
• Understanding other racial backgrounds
• Developing a personal code of values

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What have we learned?

• VSU results comparable across years and to NSSE
• Rating of entire experience at VSU is high
• 88 of both groups rank as Good or Excellent
• Compares favorably with overall NSSE results
• Acquiring a broad general education is high
• Among the top three for both groups each year
• What outcome areas appear to be strengths?
• Thinking critically and analytically (Ability to
  analyze)
  
• Writing clearly and effectively (Written
  expression)
  
• Using computing, information technology

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What have we learned?

• What outcome areas require further examination?
• Voting in elections (US society and its ideals)
• Contributing to the welfare of community (US
  society)
  
• Understanding people of other racial and ethnic
  backgrounds (Diverse cultural heritages)
  
• Solving complex, real-world problems (Ability to
  analyze)
  
• Developing a personal code of values and ethics
  (Principles of ethics)
  
• Results reflect students perceptions of their
  experiences. Is this consistent with other
  evidence?

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Questions?

• Contact
• Dr. Linda Calendrillo
• Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
• ltcalend_at_valdosta.edu
• Dr. Marsha Krotseng
• Associate Vice President
• krotseng_at_valdosta.edu