University of Lynchburg ranks well above the national average of colleges and universities in student engagement, according to the 2014 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
The survey measures how colleges and universities engage their students in activities that are positively related to learning and personal development. LC first-years and seniors ranked the College high in student-faculty interaction, effective teaching practices, supportive campus environment, discussions with diverse others and quality of interactions.
“Our senior class performed at or above expectations,” said Dr. Sally Selden, associate dean for academic affairs. “Students have a great experience here if they stay here. We have a very good climate for students.”
Ninety percent of seniors report that they learned how to think critically and analytically while at LC, while 83-84 percent said they learned to speak and write clearly and effectively.
A total of 93 percent of LC seniors report participation in learning communities, service-learning, research with faculty, internships, study abroad and culminating senior experience compared with 62 percent of all other higher education institutions participating in the survey.
About 90 percent of both freshmen and seniors rated their overall experience as excellent or good.
As is the case nationally, LC students reported spending fewer than 10 hours per week on course reading and fewer than 15 hours preparing for class. “We have the opportunity to push students a little bit harder,” Dr. Selden said.
A total of 169 LC seniors and 140 first-years participated in the survey. Nearly 360,000 college freshmen and seniors were surveyed nationwide at 622 four-year institutions.
The NSSE project is sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
