Converse Scores Among Nation’s Top Colleges in 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

The NSSE survey asked randomly selected freshmen and seniors key questions about their educational experiences. Use the links to view Converse student responses to selected 2007 survey questions, compared with the figures from other schools in the survey.

Converse students give high ratings for their experiences in the each of the survey’s five benchmarks of excellence, exceeding the national average across the board:

• Level of academic challenge
• Active and collaborative learning
• Student-faculty interaction
• Enriching educational experiences
• Supportive campus environment

Among the most striking findings of the survey is that 61% of Converse seniors evaluate their entire educational experience as “excellent,” which is nearly twice the national average.

Converse’s commitment to small class sizes, lively classroom interactions, and creative teaching and learning both in and out of the classroom creates an ideal environment for engaged learning. Converse scored in the top 10% of colleges in the nation for enriching educational experiences. Some of Converse’s highest scores include:

• Converse freshmen are 2X as likely to ask questions or contribute to class discussions
• 2X as many Converse students discuss their career plans with faculty
• 2X as many Converse students study abroad
• Nearly 2X as many students study a foreign language
• 2X as many Converse freshmen interact with faculty on activities other than coursework
• 2X as many Converse students receive regular feedback from faculty on academic performance

Converse also received high scores on encouraging students to take advantage of cultural and social opportunities:

• 2X as many Converse seniors often attend music and theatre performances, art exhibits, athletic events, guest lectures, etc.
• 2X as many Converse freshmen have discussions about ideas from classes with others outside of class
• 66% of Converse students say they often have serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity of their own
• 55% of Converse freshmen said their college environment enables them to “thrive socially"

Full details of the report can be found on the NSSE Website