National University surpassed nationwide benchmarks measuring the level of academic challenge at four-year colleges, according to the 4th annual report of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), released in November 2003.
The survey is co-sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Pew Forum on Undergraduate Learning. It seeks to assess the extent to which undergraduate students are involved in educational practices that are empirically linked to high levels of learning and development. In four years, NSSE has become a leading tool for assessing the quality of undergraduate education. The number of colleges and universities usingNSSE has grown from 276 in 2000 to 649 this year.
NSSE is accompanied by a benchmark report that provides participating institutions with comparative scores in five criteria, including level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interactions, enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment. The scores present a uniform means for assessing student behavior and institutional practices.
Analysis of the 2003 survey was based on more than 185,000 randomly selected students at 649 four-year colleges and universities across the United States that participated over the past three years. Responses come from first-year and senior students.
In addition to National University, other 2003 NSSE participants in California included California State University, Fresno, California State University, San Marcos, California State University, Northridge, Fresno Pacific University, Pepperdine University, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of San Diego and University of the Pacific.
In the NSSE category of academic challenge, National University posted a benchmark score of 54.7 among first-year students, which was above the national benchmark score of 53.9 determined by the survey. National University's seniors posted a benchmark score of 58.7, above a national benchmark of 57.3.
The level of academic challenge was assessed by polling students on the number of assigned textbooks, the number of written papers or reports required, the emphasis of the coursework, and other factors.
National University's first-year students also scored above the national benchmarks for active and collaborative learning, which were assessed by polling students about questions asked in class, class presentations, class projects and assignments worked on with other students, and other factors. National University's first-year students recorded a benchmark score of 44.2, topping the national benchmark of 41.8. Undergraduate enrollment represents 30 percent of National University's student body.