National Survey of Student Engagement
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
Spring 2026 Administration
This survey collects information about the experiences of undergraduate students in their first year and senior year on campus from over 600 institutions across the United States and Canada. In this survey, respondents are asked to share their perceptions about UW-Whitewater related to their academic activities as well as their interactions with faculty. The findings from this survey will be used at UW-Whitewater to understand and improve the undergraduate experience at our institution.
Participation in this survey is completely voluntary. All responses to the survey are kept confidential and the data collected will be reported in the aggregate. For specific information on how participants will be treated, what they can expect should they choose to participate, and their rights to withdraw from the survey, please read the NSSE Consent Agreement.
The 2026 NSSE Survey will open on March 2nd, 2026 and will close on May 2nd, 2026. Undergraduate students with freshman status and those who achieved senior standing by the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester will be invited to participate in the survey.
UW-W participates in the NSSE survey on a three-year cycle. The last time that the NSSE was administered at UW-W was Spring 2023. For more information on the results of previous NSSE surveys, please review the results linked below.
UW-W participated in the NSSE in Spring 2023 as part of a UW System consortium. As a result, the 2023 survey contained a few additional questions especially designed for students in the UW system.
The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is being conducted by UW-Whitewater and the Center for Postsecondary Research (CPR) at Indiana University at Bloomington. The CPR is a national organization that has conducted the NSSE survey since 2000. CPR reports the results of the survey in its own publications, as well as in other venues, such as the Chronicle of Higher Education.
If you have any questions about UW-Whitewater’s participation in this survey, please contact the Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning at 262-472-5671 or irp@uww.edu.
Snapshot
The Snapshot report is a concise collection of key findings from our institution’s NSSE administration. Additional details about these and other results appear in the reports referenced throughout.
2023 | 2020
Engagement Indicators
Engagement Indicators (EIs) provide a useful summary of the detailed information contained in the NSSE responses. By combining responses to related NSSE questions, each EI offers valuable information about a distinct aspect of student engagement. Ten indicators, based on three to eight survey questions each, are organized into four broad themes: Academic Challenge, Learning with Peers, Experiences with Faculty, and Campus Environment.
2023 | 2020
High-Impact Practices
The High-Impact Practices report provides information on six HIPs that students are surveyed about. Three are relevant for first-year students and all six are relevant for seniors. Overall HIP participation and response frequencies are included in this report.
2023 | 2020
Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons
The Frequencies and Statistical Comparisons report presents item-by-item student responses and statistical comparisons that allow you to examine patterns of similarity and difference between your students and those at your comparison group institutions.
2023 | 2020
Multi-Year Report
Multi-Year Reports are available to institutions participating in multiple NSSE administrations since 2013, the year of the last survey update. The report presents year-to-year results for Engagement Indicators, High-Impact Practices (HIPs), and key academic challenge items to illustrate patterns of change of stability.
2023 | 2020
Respondent Profile
The Respondent Profile presents both student- and institution-reported demographic information, allowing for examination of similarities and differences between UW-W students and those at our comparison group institutions.
2023 | 2020
Starting in 2013, NSSE allows participating institutions to add up to two topical modules -- short sets of questions on designated topics such as academic advising, civic engagement, diversity on campus, technology, and/or writing.
NSSE topical modules administered at UW-Whitewater:
In addition to topical module questions, UW-Whitewater is a member of the UW comprehensives consortium that submits a short list of additional questions to be included in the NSSE survey every three year.
Academic Challenge
Challenging intellectual and creative work is central to student learning and collegiate quality. Colleges and universities promote student learning by challenging and supporting them to engage in various forms of deep learning. Four Engagement Indicators are part of this theme: Higher-Order Learning, Reflective & Integrative Learning, Learning Strategies, and Quantitative Reasoning. These bar charts represent the responses submitted by seniors in 2023.
Learning with Peers
Collaborating with others in mastering difficult material and developing interpersonal and social competence prepare students to deal with complex, unscripted problems they will encounter during and after college. Two Engagement Indicators make up this theme: Collaborative Learning and Discussions with Diverse Others. These bar charts represent the responses submitted by seniors in 2023.
Experiences with Faculty
Students learn firsthand how experts think about and solve problems by interacting with faculty members inside and outside of instructional settings. As a result, faculty become role models, mentors, and guides for lifelong learning. In addition, effective teaching requires that faculty deliver course material and provide feedback in student-centered ways. Two Engagement Indicators investigate this theme: Student-Faculty Interaction and Effective Teaching Practices. These bar charts represent the responses submitted by seniors in 2023.
Campus Environment
Students benefit and are more satisfied in supportive settings that cultivate positive relationships among students, faculty, and staff. Two Engagement Indicators investigate this theme: Quality of Interactions and Supportive Environment. These bar charts represent the responses submitted by seniors in 2023.
