Survey shows Saint Mary’s excels in engaging students

Dr. Janet Heukeshoven of the Music Department, shown working with a flute student.

Preparing students for success and for a quality life after college is as important as helping students succeed in college. The 2010 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is one instrument that measures post-graduation success based on five summary indicators from surveys of our own students. On three of the five summary indicators, the most recent NSSE data points to particular strengths of the undergraduate College experience at Saint Mary’s University: active and collaborative learning; student-faculty interaction; and supportive campus environment. Indeed, SMU approaches the top 10% nationally in these areas, especially for the results from SMU seniors.

Although campuses are not required to make their NSSE results public, many campuses (including Saint Mary’s) voluntarily post their scores in a database sponsored by USA Today (www.usatoday.com/news/education/nsse.htm). Sixteen Minnesota colleges and universities have disclosed their NSSE data there. Saint Mary’s University’s 2010 scores are the highest in the state for active and collaborative learning and faculty-student interaction among seniors, and second-highest for faculty-student interaction among first-year students and supportive campus environment among seniors.