Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research Releases Findings From 2018 Survey of Student Engagement

Title: Engagement Insights: 2018 Survey Findings on the Quality of Undergraduate Education

Source: Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research

Indiana University’s Center for Postsecondary Research recently released findings from the 2018 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). With nearly 290,000 student respondents from 511 institutions, the report sheds light on how colleges and universities are preparing students for the workforce, as well as the activities and experiences that are important to student learning and development.

Despite not taking full advantage of career preparation resources, the survey revealed that graduating students for the most part have a favorable outlook on their employment options. Only 53 percent of students reported using campus career preparation services, with similar rates of participation in career fairs (49 percent) and career discussions or panels (45 percent). While most students were confident about their future, the level of confidence varied by field of study.

As for differentiation by institution type, respondents at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) reported greater frequency of engagement with career preparation resources. Black first-year students attending HBCUs demonstrated more confidence in their career paths, claimed more knowledge about career options, used more campus resources, were more likely to know what they wanted to do after graduation, and interacted more frequently with faculty than their peers at predominantly white institutions.

To learn more about NSSE Engagement Insights from the 2018 Annual Report, please see the full report here.

—Jinann Bitar