Freshmen and seniors are being offered the rare opportunity to shape the future of the student experience at The University of Alabama by making their voices heard in a national survey that was last given in 2013.
From now until May 14, UA freshmen and seniors will receive a link to a National Survey of Student Engagement that will ask them questions about participation in University-offered student activities, classes, and other questions related to learning and personal development.
A survey link can be found in the announcement section of the myBama home page. In addition, emails will be sent to students from UA President Dr. Stuart Bell and NSSE with links to the survey and polite reminders to take it.
“The NSSE is a ‘census’ of student engagement at UA,” said Dr. Heather Pleasants, associate director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. “Because the NSSE is currently only given every several years, now may be your only opportunity to share your unique experience with UA in a way that can impact thousands of future UA students.
“Leave your legacy. Take the NSSE today!”
Specifically, the survey results will be employed to determine how students use their time and what they gain from attending UA so that administrators know what areas of student life are working well and what needs improvement.
“All we’re asking you to do is to share the things you think are amazing about the University, and what you think we can improve,” Pleasants said. “There’s really no better way to do that than taking the NSSE.”
Nearly 500 U.S. colleges and universities are participating in the 2019 NSSE.
Pleasants said data gathered from the 2013 survey was used to create the quality enhancement plan that later became Learning in Action.
“The eventual outcome of the project is to impact students’ problem-solving and to integrate their learning in the classrooms with their real lives, whether it’s personal or professional,” she said.
“If you want your perspective to be provided to the people who have the ability to make changes, we need to hear your voice. We value who you are and what you have to say.”
In addition to the standard NSSE survey questions, UA has added additional questions concerning global learning, inclusiveness and engagement with cultural diversity. “We added those pieces because they’re part of the University’s strategic plan,” Pleasants said. “The data we collect in those areas could be really helpful in developing the experiences of our students both inside and outside the classroom.”