FSSE institutions may choose to append topical modules on a variety of topics to the core survey. These modules are short sets of questions on salient issues in higher education, and they allow campuses to explore important topics in greater depth.
Institutions may add one topical module to the core survey at no charge and select a second module for an additional fee. Institutions asking consortium questions can append no more than one module to the core instrument. The decision to add a second module, or a first module for consortium participants should be considered carefully. Modules lengthen FSSE's duration and might result in increased survey abandonment. Please note that respondents will receive module questions before consortium questions.
This module, updated for NSSE 2025, examines students' experiences with academic advising and advising practices that reflect NACADA core values. It also asks students to identify who has been most helpful. The module complements a question on the core survey about the quality of students' interactions with academic advisors.Similar NSSE set available.
Adapted from a project of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, this module asks faculty to assess institutional emphasis on conflict resolution skills and examines how often students are encouraged to engage with local or campus and state/national/global issues. The module complements questions on the core FSSE survey about the importance of service-learning, perceptions of student participation in community service or volunteer work, and course emphasis on becoming an informed and active citizen. Similar NSSE set available.
This module, updated in 2025, is the result of an ongoing collaboration between NSSE and the Council of Writing Program Administrators. The questions touch on various aspects of good writing assignments—interactivity, meaning-making, and clarity. Revisions also include questions about the use of generative AI, the use of writing portfolios, and courses on writing. The questions on this module complement questions on the core survey about how much writing students do, the nature of their course assignments, and perceived gains in written expression.Similar NSSE set available.
This module examines environments, processes, and activities that engage and validate cultural diversity and promote greater understanding of societal differences. Questions explore faculty use of inclusive teaching practices and intercultural learning; perceptions of institutional values and commitment regarding diversity; and opportunities for diversity-related programming and coursework. The module replaced the Experiences with Diverse Perspectives module in 2017.Similar NSSE set available.
This module asks about aspects of professional development for teaching such as how important it is for faculty to receive assistance in various areas, and how often they participate in different professional development activities and practices. The module complements questions on the core FSSE survey asking how much time faculty spend working to improve their teaching and the extent to which they display effective teaching practices.
This module is a result of collaborations between NSSE and Strada Education Network and a pilot survey developed by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. This module examines activities that contribute to students’ career plans, influences their career goals, increases confidence in work-related skills, and transferable skills for the workplace and beyond. This module complements questions on the core survey about higher-order learning, reflective and integrative learning, and students’ perceptions of their development in a variety of areas.Similar NSSE sets available: Career & Workforce Preparation and Development of Transferable Skills.
This module asks about both institution-supported and faculty-driven assessment efforts such as surveys and other tools (e.g., portfolios) that are used to gather information about student educational experiences and learning. The module complements questions on the core FSSE survey on how faculty spend their time and the extent that faculty use effective teaching practices.
This module examines opportunities for students to engage in activities that promote greater understanding of societal differences. The module complements questions on the core FSSE survey about students’ experiences with people from different backgrounds, the importance of diverse perspectives in course discussions and assignments, and the importance of encouraging contact among students from different backgrounds.
Developed in partnership with EDUCAUSE, these questions examine the role of technology in student learning, focusing on student use of technology, the extent to which institutional support is valued, and communication. The module complements questions on the core FSSE survey about emphasis on learning with peers, perceptions of students’ interactions with others, and the importance of technology in academic support.
This module was designed to measure instructional staff perceptions of institutional support for instruction and meeting instructor needs. More specifically, these items collect data about faculty practice, support, needs, and motivations to improve the ways in which they support their faculty as well as promote discussion between higher education scholars working to improve inequities within the professoriate. These items complement items on the core about faculty sense of belonging and supportive environments for teaching.
