MUW Gets High Marks from Students on ‘Engagement’

COLUMBUS, Miss. — In a national survey that measures the level of student engagement in 10 key areas, students at Mississippi University for Women report high levels of confidence in areas ranging from academic challenge to experiences with faculty.

The National Survey for Student Engagement, released earlier this month, assesses students’ perception of their development from their freshman to senior years, as well as overall satisfaction with the university. The W was one of 692 institutions participating in spring 2014. A total of 473,633 freshman and senior students responded to the survey.

Some 40 percent of W freshmen and 41 percent of seniors responded.

NSSE annually collects information at hundreds of four-year colleges and universities about student participation in programs and activities the institutions provide for learning and personal development. The results provide an estimate of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college, according to NSSE.

First-year students found The W to be significantly higher than those at peer institutions in indicators that included higher order learning, collaborative learning, discussions with diverse others, effective teaching practices and supportive environment.

Seniors at The W reported significantly higher development than peer institutions in eight of 10 engagement indicators, including all indicators for experiences with faculty and campus environment. In addition, The W was significantly higher in higher order learning, reflective and integrative learning, learning strategies and discussions with diverse others.

“In this survey, our students reflect what we believe to be the outstanding opportunities at The W,” said President Jim Borsig. “Our faculty and staff are providing a high quality education grounded in the liberal arts, and offering a supportive environment that nurtures individual growth.”

The W’s mean score for first-year students and seniors in effective teaching practices and supportive learning environment was higher than all participating institutions ranked in the top 10 percent of the survey. In addition, seniors’ mean score in the quality of interactions and learning strategies was higher than that of the institutions top 10 percent.

First-year students and seniors at The W also participated at a significantly higher rate in service learning than students at peer institutions. Seniors participated at a significantly higher rate in learning communities and had a culminating senior experience (capstone course, senior project or thesis, comprehensive exam, portfolio, etc.) than their peers. These activities are considered high-impact practices that enrich a student’s educational experience and can be life changing.

“Considering the high percentage of our students who are first-generation college students, we are especially pleased with these results,” Borsig said. “The survey validates that we are providing important access for Mississippians who seek a pathway to higher education.”

Categories: Local News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *