California State University, Long Beach         Page 4
Student Experiences and Perceptions
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences.  Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Click Here   for examples of how Cal State Long Beach evaluates the experiences of its students.
 
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys.  Results from a selected survey are reported for a common set of statements selected for the Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA).  Following are selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).  The questions have been grouped together according to factors that have been known to contribute to student learning and development.  Results for senior respondents are reported below.
Click Here  for information on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
Text Box: Student Satisfaction 81.62% of seniors would attend CSULB if they started over again. 84.3% of seniors rate their entire educational experience as good or excellent. 76.45% of seniors report that other students are friendly or supportive.
Text Box: Group Learning Experiences 92.38% of seniors worked with classmates on a group project. 48.65% of seniors tutored or taught other students. 14.35% of seniors spend at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports.
Text Box: Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success 94.62% of seniors believe CSULB provides support for student success. 63.45% of seniors rate the quality of academic advising at CSULB as good or excellent . 56.73% of seniors report that CSULB provides help in coping with work, family and other responsibilities. 93.5% of seniors report working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor’s standards or expectations.
Text Box: Active Learning Experiences 91.7% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year. 80.27% of seniors spend at least 6 hours per week preparing for class. 6.73% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member. 32.74% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience. 8.74% of seniors participated in study abroad. 42.83% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
Text Box: Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff 44.39% of seniors believe that the campus staff are helpful, considerate, or flexible. 66.81% of seniors believe that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic. 88.12% of seniors report that faculty members provide prompt feedback on their academic performance. 95.96% of seniors discuss readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class.
Text Box: Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas 95.97% of seniors report that they often try to understand someone else’s point of view. 89.24% of seniors report their experience at AU contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. 88.79% of seniors often have serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity.
VSA TEMPLATE - BETA TEST 10/11/07 Version 1.0