This document summarizes results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) comparing students who were not retained at the university to a control group of students who were retained. It found that students who were not retained reported less engagement in several key areas: - They were less likely to discuss or integrate ideas from multiple courses or include diverse perspectives in class work. - Fewer planned to participate in internships, volunteer work, or a culminating senior experience. - They felt the institution emphasized social and academic support as well as campus events and activities to a lesser degree. - They reported gaining less broad knowledge and skills, like using technology, from their educational experience. - A higher

1. SCOTT A. NIKOLAI,
PH.D.
Work Sample
UW-Oshkosh (August 5, 2015)

2. Work Sample
NSSE 06, 08, 11
• Differences between Not
Retained Freshmen (n = 84)
and Control Group UWP
Freshmen (n = 100)
• Control Group
• Criminal Justice (NSSE 06)
• Mechanical Engineering (NSSE
08)
• Biology (NSSE 11)

3. Question 1. In your experience at your institution during the current
school year, about how often have you done each of the following?
(% saying “never” or “sometimes”)
 (divclass) Included diverse perspectives
(different races, religions, genders,
political beliefs, etc.) in class discussions
or writing assignments
 (intideas) Put together ideas or concepts
from different courses when completing
assignments or during class discussions
 (workhard) Worked harder than you
thought you could to meet an
instructor’s standards or expectations
 (oocideas) Discussed ideas from your
readings or classes with others outside
of class (students, family members, co-
workers, etc.)
Not Retained Retained
divclass 61.9% 50.5%
intideas 66.7% 55.0%
workhard 64.3% 50.0%
oocideas 62.7% 50.5%

4. Question 7. Which of the following have you done or do you plan to do
before you graduate from your institution?
(% saying “have not decided” or “do not plan to do”)
 (intern04) Practicum, internship, field
experience, co-op experience
 (volntr04) Community service or
volunteer work
 (forlng04) Foreign language coursework
 (indstd04) Independent study or self-
designed major
 (snrx04) Culminating senior experience
(capstone course, senior project or
thesis, comprehensive exam, etc.)
Not Retained Retained
intern04 25.6% 16.2%
volntr04 38.6% 26.3%
forlng04 66.3% 50.5%
indstd04 81.7% 69.8%
snrx04 71.6% 43.5%

5. Question 10. To what extent does your institution emphasize
each of the following? (% saying “very little” or “some”)
 (envdirs) Encouraging contact among
students from different economic, social,
and racial or ethnic backgrounds
 (envsocal) Providing the support you
need to thrive socially
 (envevent) Attending campus events and
activities (special speakers, cultural
performances, athletic events, etc.)
 (envcompt) Using computers in
academic work
Not Retained Retained
envdirs 50.0% 59.6%
envsocal 66.6% 56.5%
envevent 48.1% 41.4%
envcompt 29.3% 20.2%

6. Question 11. To what extent has your experience at this institution
contributed to your knowledge skills, and personal development in the
following areas? (% saying “very little” or “some”)
 (gngenled) Acquiring a broad general
education
 (gnspeak) Speaking clearly and
effectively
 (gmquant) Analyzing quantitative
problems
 (gmcmpts) Using computing and
information technology
Not Retained Retained
gngenled 28.9% 18.2%
gnspeak 45.8% 35.7%
gnquant 33.7% 25.5%
gmcmpts 34.0% 26.2%

7. Question 11. To what extent has your experience at this institution
contributed to your knowledge skills, and personal development in the
following areas? (% saying “very little” or “some”) [CONTINUED]
 (gndivers) Understanding people of
other racial and ethnic backgrounds
 (gnethics) Developing a personal code
of values and ethics
 (gncommun) Contributing to the welfare
of your community
 (gmspirit) Developing a deepened sense
of spirituality
Not Retained Retained
gndivers 51.8% 59.2%
gnethics 47.6% 55.6%
gncommun 58.6% 66.7%
gnspirit 62.2% 73.2%

8. Questions 13 & 14
Question 13. How would you rate your
entire educational experience at this
institution?
13
27.4
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Q13
% saying “poor” or “fair”
Not Retained Retained
Question 14. If you could start over
again, would you go to the same
institution you are now attending?
13
29.7
0 10 20 30 40
Q14
% saying “definitely no” or
“probably no”
Not Retained Retained

9. Question 27a. What is the highest level of education that your parent(s)
completed? (% saying “high school education or less”)
37
49.4
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Q27a
Not Retained Retained

10. WHAT WAS DONE
WITH THE NSSE
DATA?
• Reviewed by governing bodies and Provost’s Office
• UWP resolved to use NSSE more often in future
• Revamped First Year Experience courses

11. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?