National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

Since 2000, the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) has gathered data on first-year and senior student experience across US and Canadian colleges and universities. Nearly 1,500 baccalaureate-granting colleges and universities have used NSSE to measure student engagement. In 2011, 537,605 students from 751 US and Canadian institutions responded to the survey.

Students participate in the survey by sharing their university engagement through answering a series of questions. The survey offers a comprehensive view of student engagement by including questions that range from quality of academic instruction to participation in extra-curricular activities. The survey responses are compiled into 5 benchmarks, which group certain questions together. These benchmark scores are used for analysis between and within institutions.

McMaster University has participated in NSSE for 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2011. With this information, McMaster can identify differences with other leading institutions and view trends in McMaster student engagement.

Level of Academic Challenge (LAC) is one of the 5 benchmarks in NSSE and comprises of questions such as:

Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations
Synthesizing and organizing ideas, information, or experiences
Making judgement about the value of information, arguments, or methods

A paper by Professor Philip Wood, "National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), An Introduction to NSSE and a Brief Discussion of McMaster’s Performance"

The graphs show that McMaster ranked above institutional peers and engages students well in academic challenge in 2011.

2011 NSSE
2008 NSSE
2006 NSSE
2004 NSSE

2011 Ontario Peers:

Algoma University, Brock University, Carleton University, Huron University College at The University of Western Ontario, King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario, Lakehead University, Laurentian University, Nipissing University, Ontario College of Art & Design, Queen’s University, Ryerson University, Trent University, University of Ottawa, University of Guelph, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario, University of Windsor, York University, Wilfrid Laurier University.

2011 Carnegie Peers:

2011 US Peers: Iowa State University, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, The University of Tennessee Knoxville, University of Cincinnati, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, University of Iowa, University of New Mexico, University of South Carolina Columbia, University of Utah, University of Virginia

2008 Ontario Peers:

Brock University, Carleton University, King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario, Lakehead University, Laurentian University, Nipissing University, Ontario College of Art & Design, Queen’s University, Ryerson University, Trent University, University of Ottawa, University of Guelph, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario.

2008 Carnegie Peers:

Auburn University, Emory University, Loyola University Chicago, Saint Louis University, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Virginia Commonwealth University.

2006 NSSE Survey for McMaster University

Carnegie peers

Auburn University, Case Western Reserve, Emory University, Georgetown University, Loyola University Chicago, Saint Louis University, University of Arizona, University of Tennessee, University of Miami, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, University of Missouri – Columbia, University of Pittsburgh, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Virginia Commonwealth University, Washington State University, Wayne State University

Ontario Consortium

Brock University, Carleton University, Lakehead University, Laurentian University, Nipissing University, Ontario College of Art and Design, Queen's University, Ryerson University, Trent University, University of Guelph, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario, University of Windsor, Wilfrid Laurier University, York University.

2004 NSSE Survey for McMaster University

2004 G10 Peers:

University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, Laval University, McGill University, Montreal University, Queen’s University, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario.

2004 Doctoral/Research Extensive Peers:

American University, Auburn University, Brigham Young University, Case Western Reserve University, Catholic University of America, Clemson University, Florida International University, Indiana University Bloomington, Kansas State University, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Loyola University Chicago, Marquette University, Mississippi State University, New Mexico State University, Northeastern University, Ohio State University, Ohio University, Oregon State University, Purdue University Main Campus, Saint Louis University, University of Alabama, University of Connecticut, University of Denver, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Kansas, University of Maryland – Baltimore County, University of Missouri – Columbia, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, University of New Mexico – Main Campus, University of Pittsburgh, University of Tennessee, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas at Austin, University of Toledo, University of Utah, University of Wisconsin – Madison, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Utah State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Washington State University, Wayne Sate University.