Institutional Surveys
Institutional surveys support planning efforts by describing what motivates respondents, what is important to them and what respondents think of our efforts. Satisfaction, service levels and opportunities for improvement are common areas where institutional surveys can generate discussion, help us base decisions on objective information and compare results across time or peers.
As part of VCU’s commitment to continuous improvement, IRDS administers and analyzes several institutional surveys. These surveys provide insight into employee and student satisfaction and engagement. Results can be used by faculty and administrators for recruiting, setting priorities, planning, and demonstrating effectiveness.
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) assesses the amount of time and effort first-year students and seniors spend on academic and extracurricular activities, as well as the degree to which institutions emphasize and encourage students to participate in activities that are considered important to their learning and development. Every three years (the typical cycle, nationally, for the survey), the NSSE is administered in the spring to first-year students and seniors. VCU uses the results of this survey to estimate how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college.
- Population: First-year students and seniors
- Frequency: Every 3 years since 2011 (annually before 2011)
- More Info: NSSE’s website contains a variety of resources related to utilizing NSSE data, as well as information about the history and development of the survey.
Year | Snapshot | Pocket Guides | Engagement Indicators | Survey Questions | Executive Summary | Infographics |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | NSSE 2020 Snapshot | NSSE 2020 Pocket Guide Report | NSSE 2020 Main Survey Questions | NSSE 2020 Infographic | ||
2017 | NSSE 2017 Snapshot | NSSE 2017 Pocket Guide Report | NSSE 2017 Engagement Indicators | NSSE 2017 Executive Summary | NSSE 2017 Infographic | |
2014 | NSSE 2014 Snapshot | NSSE 2014 Pocket Guide Report | NSSE 2014 Engagement Indicators | NSSE 2014 Survey | NSSE 2014 Executive Summary | |
2011 | NSSE 2011 Survey | NSSE 2011 Executive Snapshot | ||||
2010 | NSSE 2010 Survey | NSSE 2010 Executive Snapshot |
For assistance accessing information related to our programs, please contact the Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support at irds@vcu.edu