Youngstown State University has participated in NSSE since 2004. This allows the University to view trends in student perceptions and behavior. NSSE data points are used as Key Performance Indicators to the Board of Trustees for their university strategic plan, and many of their co-curricular units utilize NSSE data as part of their assessment reporting.
A multi-year analysis of NSSE data, particularly around Learning Strategies and Effective Teaching Practices, in combination with data from other student surveys was a key part of YSU’s Institute for Teaching and Learning. From 2013 to 2018, YSU saw downward trends in Learning Strategies and Effective Teaching Practices Engagement Indicators (at the same time their incoming student body had higher GPA and ACT scores). Relevant results from the YSU’s 2018 Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE) revealed faculty reporting engagement in continuous improvement activities at lower rates than desired. In 2019, a team of stakeholders visited academic departments on campus to explore these trends in more detail and find out what faculty needed in terms of institutional support for effective teaching. Utilizing this faculty feedback, the Institute for Teaching and Learning was launched, bringing together assessment of student learning and faculty development initiatives on campus. Since 2019, the Institute for Teaching and Learning has supported 838 unique faculty, staff, administrators, and students on YSU’s campus through workshops and consultation.
Importantly, NSSE and FSSE 2021 results are already showing improvements in some indicators that YSU believes point to the impact of some of the Institute’s programming and services. For example, FSSE results indicate that faculty are spending more time on active learning-type activities over lecture.
To learn more about Youngstown State’s case, such as how it maximized and shared NSSE results and data more widely, visit the NSSE Lessons from the Field webpage.
