The
The following tables compare the mean responses of UWSP students in 2001, 2004 and 2006. [The single sample t-test is used to test for statistical significance. Two plus signs after a mean indicate that the mean is significantly higher than the previous survey, p < .05. Two minus signs- indicate the mean is significantly lower.] The tables are organized according to NSSE’s “five areas of effective educational practice.” Additional information is located at http://www.iub.edu/~nsse.
Level of Academic Challenge
|
|
1st
Year |
Senior |
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|
2001 |
2004 |
2006 |
2001 |
2004 |
2006 |
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|
Preparing for class per week (studying, reading, writing,
rehearsing, and other activities related to your academic program) |
3.99 |
3.83-- |
3.85 |
4.22 |
3.99-- |
4.15++ |
|
|
Number
of assigned textbooks, books, or book-length packs of course
readings |
3.20 |
3.16 |
3.19 |
3.01 |
3.13++ |
3.00-- |
|
|
Number
of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more |
1.13 |
1.19 |
1.19 |
1.61 |
1.47-- |
1.49 |
|
|
Number
of written papers or reports of between 5 and 19 pages |
2.06 |
1.91-- |
2.01++ |
2.60 |
2.31-- |
2.38++ |
|
|
Number
of written papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages |
3.33 |
3.12-- |
3.00-- |
3.31 |
3.32 |
3.28 |
|
|
Coursework emphasized analyzing the basic elements of an idea,
experience or theory |
2.99 |
3.01 |
2.92-- |
3.12 |
3.18 |
3.10-- |
|
|
Course
work emphasized synthesizing and organizing ideas, information, or
experiences into new, more complex interpretations and relationships |
2.66 |
2.68 |
2.66 |
2.93 |
3.01++ |
2.90-- |
|
|
Course
work emphasized making judgments about the value of information,
arguments, or methods |
2.72 |
2.77 |
2.67-- |
2.78 |
2.89++ |
2.89 |
|
|
Course
work emphasized applying theories or concepts to practical problems
or in new situations |
2.85 |
2.97++ |
2.89-- |
3.09 |
3.17++ |
3.20 |
|
|
Worked
harder than you thought you could to meet an instructor’s standards
or expectations |
2.52 |
2.41-- |
2.47++ |
2.61 |
2.64 |
2.63 |
|
|
Campus
environment emphasized spending significant amounts of time studying
and on academic work |
3.06 |
3.06 |
2.98-- |
2.95 |
3.07++ |
3.01-- |
|
There is a significant decline in the number of written papers or reports of fewer than five pages reportedly done by first-year students from 2001 to 2004 and from 2004 to 2006. While the number of written papers between 5 and 19 pages significantly declined from 2001 to 2004, there is a significant increase from 2004 to 2006 and the 2006 mean is not significantly different from 2001. The number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more is stable across the three years.
There is a significant decline in the reported number of written papers or reports between 5 and 19 pages done by seniors from 2001 to 2004. While there is a significant increase between 2004 and 2006, the 2006 mean is significantly lower than the 2001 mean. The number of written papers or reports of 20 pages is also significantly lower for 2004 and 2006 compared to 2001 while the 2006 mean is not significantly different from 2004. The number of written papers fewer than five pages is stable across the three years.
Seniors are significantly more likely to report that their course work emphasized applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations in 2004 compared to 2001. There is a non-significant increase in the means from 2004 to 2006.
|
|
1st
Year |
Senior |
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|
2001 |
2004 |
2006 |
2001 |
2004 |
2006 |
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|
Asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions |
2.63 |
2.63 |
2.55-- |
2.96 |
2.95 |
2.99 |
|
|
Made a
class presentation |
2.04 |
2.22++ |
2.20 |
2.86 |
2.69-- |
2.89++ |
|
|
Worked
with other students on projects during class |
2.50 |
2.35-- |
2.44++ |
2.65 |
2.53-- |
2.70++ |
|
|
Worked
with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments |
2.13 |
2.13 |
2.28++ |
2.95 |
2.83-- |
2.93++ |
|
|
Tutored
or taught other students |
1.34 |
1.42++ |
1.62++ |
1.86 |
1.97++ |
2.05++ |
|
|
Participated in a community-based project as part of a regular
course |
1.17 |
1.26++ |
1.45++ |
1.58 |
1.64 |
1.71++ |
|
|
Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with others outside of
class (students, family members, co-workers, etc.) |
2.60 |
2.61 |
2.52-- |
2.94 |
2.81-- |
2.77 |
|
There is a significant
increase in the tutoring and teaching of other students by first-year and senior
students from 2001 to 2004 and from 2004 to 2006.
They are also increasingly more likely to have participated in a
community-based project as part of a regular course although the increase from
2001 to 2004 for seniors is not significant.
Seniors are less likely to have discussed ideas from their readings or
classes with others outside of class in 2006 than they were in 2001 and 2004.
While the decline from 2001 to 2004 is significant, the decline from 2004
to 2006 is not.
|
|
1st
Year |
Senior |
|||||
|
2001 |
2004 |
2006 |
2001 |
2004 |
2006 |
||
|
Discussed grades or assignments with an instructor |
2.27 |
2.40++ |
2.44 |
2.76 |
2.64-- |
2.73++ |
|
|
Talked
about career plans with a faculty member or advisor |
2.20 |
2.08-- |
2.19++ |
2.64 |
2.40-- |
2.52++ |
|
|
Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with faculty members
outside of class |
1.51 |
1.64++ |
1.77++ |
1.99 |
1.88-- |
2.01++ |
|
|
Worked
with faculty members on activities other than coursework
(committees, orientation, student-life activities, etc.) |
1.39 |
1.45 |
1.56++ |
1.98 |
1.91 |
2.01++ |
|
|
Received
prompt feedback from faculty on your academic performance (written
or oral) |
2.53 |
2.43-- |
2.52++ |
2.74 |
2.76 |
2.74 |
|
|
Worked
with a faculty member on a research project outside of course or
program requirements* |
.21 |
.25 |
.31++ |
.21 |
.29++ |
.30 |
|
*The format for these questions was changed from 2001 to 2004.
In 2001 students were asked which of the following have you done or do
you plan to do before you graduate from your institution.
The response categories were yes, no, undecided.
Thus, yes includes done or plan to do.
The same question was asked in 2004 but the response categories were
changed to done, plan to do, do not plan to do, and undecided.
For 2004 and 2006 done and plan to do responses are coded 1 and do not
plan to do and undecided are coded 0.
Therefore, caution should be used in comparing across years for these
items.
First-year
students are increasingly likely to have discussed ideas from their readings or
classes with faculty members outside of class, worked with faculty members on
activities other than coursework, and worked or planned to work with a faculty
member on a research project outside of course or program requirements from 2001
to 2004 and from 2004 to 2006. The
increases from 2001 to 2004 for the latter two items are not significant.
Seniors are increasingly likely to have worked or plan to work with a
faculty member on a research project outside of course or program requirements.
The 2001 to 2004 change is significant but the 2004 to 2006 change is
not.
Enriching Educational Experiences
|
|
1st
Year |
Senior |
|||||
|
2001 |
2004 |
2006 |
2001 |
2004 |
2006 |
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|
Participating in co-curricular activities (organizations,
publications, student government, sports, etc.) |
2.14 |
2.15 |
2.14 |
2.47 |
2.24-- |
2.25 |
|
|
Had
serious conversations with students that have different religious
beliefs, political opinions, or personal values |
2.76 |
2.71 |
2.53-- |
2.91 |
2.64-- |
2.60 |
|
|
Had
serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity |
2.14 |
2.29++ |
2.15-- |
2.24 |
2.20 |
2.22 |
|
|
Campus
environment encouraged contact among students from different
economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds |
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