National
Survey Of Student Engagement Gives Belmont Abbey College Top Grades.
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), the survey
where students have a chance to grade their own schools, has given Belmont
Abbey College some outstanding ratings. (The NSSE is the most comprehensive
assessment of effective practices in higher education, which includes
data from 313,000 students at 610 four-year colleges and universities.)
For example, in the category of “Overall Satisfaction,” 93% of
Belmont Abbey College seniors rated their college experience as excellent
or good, compared with a national average of 85%, and 89% at other Catholic
colleges and universities.
90% of BAC seniors would also attend the same institution
again versus 82% of all seniors at other NSSE schools, and
80% at other Catholic colleges and universities.
(To see a graphic representation of how the Abbey stacks up
against other colleges and universities in the survey, click
here.)
According to the same survey, the College earned high grades
from both seniors and freshmen in other key measurements
of excellence as well:
- Student/faculty interaction
- Level of academic challenge
- Supportive campus environment
- Development of moral and spiritual character
- Experiences with diversity
Among the key findings in those categories for seniors:
78% rated the faculty as “available, helpful and sympathetic” versus
67% at all NSSE schools.
78% rated advising as excellent or good versus 67% at all
NSSE schools.
96% felt they acquired a broad general education versus 83%
at all NSSE schools, and 86% at other Catholic colleges and
universities.
74% developed a personal code of ethics versus 56% at all
NSSE schools, and 68% at other Catholic colleges and universities.
56% developed a deepened sense of spirituality versus 27%
at all NSSE schools and 48% at other Catholic colleges and
universities.
Among freshmen:
85% felt their experiences at college contributed to the development
of writing skills versus 71% at all NSSE schools and 78%
at other Catholic colleges and universities.
78% thought their experiences at college contributed to the
development of speaking skills versus 61% at all other NSSE
schools and 70% at other Catholic colleges and universities.
69% developed a deepened sense of spirituality versus 33%
at all other NSSE schools and 53% at other Catholic colleges
and universities.
79% felt their professors included diverse perspectives in
class assignments and discussions versus 60% at all other
NSSE schools and 63% at other Catholic college and universities.
This year, the Abbey showed strong improvements in the U.S.
News and World Report rankings and benchmarks as well.
The College rose five slots in the overall rankings among
baccalaureate colleges, and a record 35% of this year’s
incoming freshmen came from the top 25% of their high school
class (versus 13% the previous year).Finally, here’s
what The Princeton Review discovered Belmont Abbey students
have to say about their own student body:
" ‘Everyone
is friendly and easygoing’ at
the Abbey, the students said, and ‘It's easy to find
a close-knit group of friends.’ Obviously, many students
are Catholic. However, a substantial proportion of students
aren't Catholic, and BAC's ethnic diversity is noteworthy.
There are ‘traditional and nontraditional students’ here. ‘All
the students seem to meld together and work well with each
other; it doesn't matter if they are old or young, male or
female, [or of any] race and religious belief.’ Overall, ‘Students
are generally happy about being here and very welcoming to
all. The ones that are really active in the school's politics
and [extracurricular] groups are really interested in creating
an environment where students can grow into healthy, proactive,
successful adults---spiritually, mentally, and physically.’”
Cover story on NSSE:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-11-04-nsse-cover_N.htm
For Belmont Abbey’s NSSE scores relative to
participating institutional averages as they appear on USA
Today web site:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-11-04-nsse-how-to_N.htm
What schools across the USA are doing to engage students
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-11-04-nsse-good-things_N.htm
