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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M University (FAMU) scored higher than comparable institutions in three areas of effective educational practice based on a 2008 report from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
FAMU scored higher than other respective comparable institutions in:
- Student-faculty interaction – Students see first-hand how experts think about and solve practical problems by interacting with faculty members inside and outside the classroom. As a result, their teachers become role models, mentors, and guides for continuous, life-long learning;
- Active and collaborative learning – 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; and
- Level of academic challenge – Challenging intellectual and creative work is central to student learning and collegiate quality.
The benchmarks are based on 424 key questions from the NSSE survey that capture many vital aspects of the student experience.
Now entering its tenth year, the survey annually provides comparative standards for assessing effective educational practices in higher education. Five key areas of educational performance are measured: 1) Level of Academic Challenge; 2) Active and Collaborative Learning; 3) Student-Faculty Interaction; 4) Enriching Educational Experiences; and 5) Supportive Campus Environment.
“At Florida A&M University, we pride ourselves in creating an intellectual and creative learning environment for our students,” said FAMU Provost Cynthia Hughes Harris. “Some great things are taking place in our colleges and schools where our students and faculty members are truly excelling.”
The report is based on information from nearly 380,000 randomly selected first-year and senior students at 722 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. The report, Promoting Engagement for All Students: The Imperative to Look Within, provides an overview of survey findings and points to accomplishments as well as areas where improvement is needed.
“At a time when U.S. standards for higher education are being evaluated in a competitive global context, NSSE data provide real insights into the qualities of the campus learning environment,” says Molly Corbett Broad, president of the American Council on Education.
The NSSE 2008 report is sponsored by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
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