Samford University Leads In High-Impact Education

Trussville AL

11 December, 2021

9:28 PM

Description

Press release from Samford University: December 10, 2021 The annual NSSE survey, involving first-year and senior students, represents empirically confirmed practices in undergraduate education that reflect positive student learning outcomes. NSSE has been in operation since 2000 and has been used at more than 1,600 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. The NSSE questions explore student study habits, educational plans and experiences, time spent out of the classroom, and satisfaction with the campus, faculty and curriculum. Additionally, NSSE also provides results on six "high-impact practices" that are positively associated with student learning, development and retention. According to NSSE, "High-impact practices share several traits: They demand considerable time and effort, facilitate learning outside of the classroom, require meaningful interactions with faculty and students, encourage collaboration with diverse others and provide frequent and substantive feedback. As a result, participation in these practices can be life-changing." Compared to students of other private universities in the southeast as well as peer national doctoral/professional institutions, Samford senior students reported significantly higher participation in all of the high-impact practices assessed: "The results of the 2021 NSSE survey affirm the quality of the student experience at Samford," University Provost Mike Hardin said. "Our faculty and staff are committed to delivering rigorous academic programs in an environment that promotes student engagement through a variety of learning experiences." In addition to the evaluation of high-impact practices, NSSE results serve as an essential data source for various levels of accreditation and academic program review. In commitment to continuous assessment and improvement of the undergraduate experience, Samford administers the survey to its students annually. Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. The Wall Street Journal ranks Samford 1st nationally for student engagement and U.S. News & World Report ranks Samford 37th in the nation for best undergraduate teaching and 97th nationally for best value. Samford enrolls 5,758 students from 48 states and 22 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference, and ranks 1st nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools. This press release was produced by the Samford University. The views expressed here are the author's own.