University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students can make their voices heard by filling out a quick, 8-minute survey.
Invitations went out today to freshmen and seniors to complete the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). Administered by the Center for Postsecondary Research based at Indiana University Bloomington, NSSE is considered one of the most important nationwide student surveys in higher education. This survey is distributed by hundreds of institutions across North America each year and has been taken by approximately five million students in more than 1,600 institutions since its inception in 2000.
NSSE results will help UH Mānoa better understand students’ behaviors, including how they spend their time in and out of the classroom, and how the institution is enhancing the student experience.
“NSSE survey results have helped many units make improvements to their work and services,” UH Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno said. “It is also the only survey that enables us to compare UH Mānoa students’ experiences with other post-secondary institutions in the U.S. This survey will also play a critical role in UH Mānoa’s 2021 WASC accreditation process. I strongly encourage our first year students and seniors to take a few minutes to complete this important survey.”
When UH Mānoa last distributed the survey in 2015, 32 percent of eligible students completed the survey, doubling the response rate from 2011 and 12 percent higher than other U.S. universities within UH Mānoa’s tier.
Using the 2015 responses, Mānoa Institutional Research Office (MIRO) developed a series of data tools that allowed campus decision makers to access survey results through different customizable filters. A higher survey response rate made it possible for colleges and departments to get more reliable and useful data to assist them in making improvements.
“Many offices have reported that NSSE results are helpful in their assessment, accreditation, program review and service improvement efforts,” MIRO Director Yang Zhang said. “MIRO plans to create a series of new data tools to compare this year’s results to the 2015 responses.”
Students can make their voices heard
Freshmen and seniors are strongly encouraged to complete the survey through an invitation sent to their email accounts. Students who complete the survey by the March 3 deadline will be entered into a prize drawing for one of two pairs of Apple AirPods ($250 each), 15 UH Bookstore gift cards ($50 each), or 30 Starbucks gift cards ($25 each).
MIRO will host two NSSE fairs in the Campus Center Courtyard on Tuesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 27, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Students are encouraged to stop by for snacks, music and a chance to win prizes. In addition, MIRO is hosting two free yoga sessions at the Andrews Outdoor Theatre on Thursday, February 13 and Tuesday, March 3, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
For more information, please visit UH Mānoa’s NSSE survey administration page.
—By Marc Arakaki
