Academic Affairs

NSSE Survey Administration and Response Rates

 

The University of Missouri – St. Louis participates in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) in odd-numbered years. In addition to the standard random sample, individual colleges may choose to survey additional students. NSSE is administered by the Center for Postsecondary Research at Indiana University Bloomington.

Participants are randomly selected by NSSE from first year (FY) students and graduating seniors (SR).  Students are given the option of completing the survey either via the web or a paper version of the survey.  After sending the initial survey early in the spring, NSSE staff conducts various follow-up activities with non-respondents over a three month period.  During this time there are general campus reminders via flyers, the Current, contacts with faculty, and other means, to students and faculty about the importance of completing the survey.

Response rates for the most recent administration, 2011, are shown in the table below with comparison data from other NSSE groups.

 

UMSL                 Urban Universities   Carnegie Peers   NSSE 2011       

Response Rate 

 FY SR FY SR FY SR FY SR
Overall 24 % 23% 23% 27%
By Class 23% 25%  21% 25% 21% 25% 25% 28%
NSSE Sample Size 523 2,739 29,502 36,045 120,986 140,669 754,966 807,555

 

UMSL participates in the NSSE-USA Today initiative.