Tucson Standard

Students at the University of Arizona have reported strong faculty connections and academic support, according to a national survey. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), conducted by the Indiana University School of Education, collects feedback from first-year students and seniors across the United States and Canada. University of Arizona students, including those enrolled through Arizona Online, participate in this survey every three years, with the most recent participation occurring in spring 2024.

The NSSE evaluates student engagement in academic activities, perceptions of coursework, interactions with faculty and peers, and views on the overall campus environment. First-year students rated the university on par or better than its peers on 80% of these indicators, while seniors did so on 90%. Students gave high marks for faculty mentorship and academic feedback as well as institutional support services like supplemental instruction and tutoring resources.

Student scores for effective teaching practices reached their highest levels since 2015 for both first-year and senior students. Nina Bates, director of operations and strategic initiatives in the Office of the Provost, noted that "We were excited to see that faculty engagement remains strong," adding that students find faculty approachable not only for class-related matters but also for career guidance and broader mentorship.

Christine Salvesen, chief retention officer and associate vice provost for student success and retention innovation, stated that NSSE data has been used to refine student success initiatives. "There's a weight that comes with national benchmarking," she said. "When institutions like ours compare results, it helps us validate internal processes."

Kendra Thompson-Dyck, director of assessment and research for student success and retention innovation, highlighted challenges faced by students outside the classroom such as work-life balance and financial stress. In response to these pressures, the university has expanded holistic support services like Thrive Center and Counseling & Psych Services.

"This is our first true post-pandemic NSSE survey," Thompson-Dyck said. "It changed the way they interact with each other."

Lisa Elfring, vice provost for assessment, teaching, and technology emphasized active participation in research as part of enhancing education at U of A. "There is a lot of data showing that these kinds of high-impact practices significantly benefit students," Elfring said.

To foster discussion between students and faculty further, U of A has redesigned classrooms to promote collaboration rather than traditional lecture-style learning environments. Arizona Online courses are developed with an instructional design team focusing on real-time feedback.

"At the institutional level," Elfring said regarding NSSE data validation efforts by faculty members: "What they do is not just appreciated by administrators but by the students themselves."