Colleges and universities promote high levels of student achievement by emphasizing the importance of academic effort and setting high expectations for student performance. Indicators include the amount of time students report spending on academic tasks and developmental emphases of coursework (i.e., analysis, synthesis, judgment, application).

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Active learning and cooperation among students encompass activities such as students’ participation in class, interaction with others in and out of class, and thinking about what they are learning in different settings. Students learn more when they are intensely involved in their education and are asked to think about and apply what they are learning in different settings. Collaborating with others in solving problems or mastering difficult material prepares students to deal with the messy, unscripted problems they will encounter daily during and after college. View Graph

Students see first-hand how experts think about and solve practical problems by interacting with faculty members inside and outside the classroom. The NSSE asks about specific interactions with faculty in terms of research, career advising, feedback, course-related discussion, and campus committee/activities interaction.

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Complementary learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom can augment the academic program. Internships, co-curricular activities, community service, international experiences, and senior capstone courses provide students with opportunities to synthesize, integrate, and apply their knowledge. Such experiences make learning more meaningful and, ultimately, more useful because what students know becomes a part of who they are.

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Students perform better and are more satisfied at colleges that are committed to their success and cultivate positive working and social relations among different groups on campus, including faculty, administrators, and their peers.

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