What is National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)?

NSSE surveys first-year students and seniors about their participation in university programs and activities that support student learning and personal development. NSSE isn't an assessment of student learning, rather results from NSSE point to areas where KSU is performing well and aspects of the undergraduate experience that could be improved.

The questionnaire collects information across five categories:

  1. Participation in dozens of educationally purposeful activities
  2. Institutional requirements and the challenging nature of coursework
  3. Perceptions of the college environment
  4. Estimates of educational and personal growth since starting college, and
  5. Background and demographic information.

KSU will use its NSSE data to identify aspects of the undergraduate experience inside and outside the classroom that can be improved through changes in policies and practices more consistent with good practices in undergraduate education.

 

Respondent Incentives

Your response to the National Survey of Student Engagement helps KSU provide better support for all students.

Students who complete the survey by April 18 will be eligible to win prizes.
A full list of available prizes are included below.

Random Drawings for Prizes

  • Each week students who have completed NSSE will be eligible to win one of 50 $25 gift cards to the KSU Bookstore. The best part? Even if you win a gift card, your name stays in the pot and you have the chance to win again. 

    After April 18 we will randomly select 10 students to receive a $100 gift card to the KSU Bookstore. Yes. Even if you've already won a $25 gift card you are eligible to receive a $100 gift card.

    Complete the NSSE early for more chances to win!

  • After April 18, two survey respondents will be selected at random to receive a 12.9-inch, 128GB iPad Pro tablet. 

Competitions

  • The College with highest percentage of eligible students who complete the NSSE will receive a spring cookout!
  • The Residence Life Hub with the highest percentage of eligible students who complete the NSSE will receive a spring cookout!
  • The Council with the highest percentage of eligible students who complete the NSSE will receive a spring cookout!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • To be eligible for NSSE students must have met the following criteria:

    • Classified as either a first-year or senior student during the Fall 2022 term
    • Enrolled in both Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 terms
    • 18 years of age or older
    • Not participating in a dual enrollment program

    Students who are eligible to participate in NSSE will receive an email from "nsse@nssesurvey.org" with an individualized link to the survey.

  • Yes. Confidentiality of student data is a high priority at KSU and NSSE. NSSE will only release identifiable survey responses to the institution at which that student is enrolled, and even then only to personnel designated as our official contacts at that institution.

    In the United States, our use of student data is regulated by the U.S. federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act [FERPA, 34CFR 99.31(a)6(i)], which allows educational institutions to share student data with outside agencies conducting research for the purpose of improving instruction.

  • NSSE has very specific criteria that is used to determine who is and is not eligible to participate in the survey. Here are some common reasons you may not have received an invitation to participate in NSSE:

    • You are a first-year student who is enrolled as a Dual Enrollment student
    • You were not enrolled at KSU for both Fall 2022cand Spring 2023 terms
    • You were not categorized as a first-year or senior during the Fall 2022 term
    • You are under the age of 18
    • Your KSU NetID recently changed

    If you have more specific questions about your eligibility, please email us at nsse@kennesaw.edu and we would be more than happy to answer your questions.

  • Nope. No mistakes here. You likely entered KSU as a first-year student with enough AP, CLEP, or transfer credits to be classified as a sophomore, but have still earned fewer than 30 credits at KSU. For the purposes of NSSE, you are still included as a first-year respondent and are eligible to participate in the survey (and win prizes!).

  • Via Email

    Students who are eligible to participate in NSSE will receive an email from "nsse@nssesurvey.org" with an individualized link to the survey.

    Each email contains a personalized link that is unique to you, so please don't forward your survey emails. If your friends are eligible to participate they will receive an email as well.

    If you missed the first email, don't worry. We will send out reminder emails with a link to the survey on the following dates:

    • March 15
    • March 21
    • March 29
    • April 4

    Via Login

    You can also access NSSE by logging in at National Survey of Student Engagement and using the Login ID provided by NSSE in the emails received above. If you don't have your Login ID, you are also able to select "Don't know your Login ID" to have your Login ID sent to your KSU email account. 

    But don't wait until the last minute to share your feedback. The earlier you complete NSSE, the more chances you have to win prizes!

  • The exact length of NSSE depends on your unique responses, but NSSE estimates it will take about 17 minutes to complete the survey. 

  • NSSE will present survey data to KSU in an Institutional Report that summarizes responses from all students who completed the survey at KSU. They will also provide survey results to KSU so we can further examine the information in different ways to enhance the educational experience. This may include comparing undergraduate experiences between students who are full or part-time or between different academic major groups.

    KSU used data gathered from the 2016 NSSE to support an initiative aimed at integrating more undergraduate research opportunities into course design. Learn more about this initiative. 

    In addition, KSU's data will be combined with data from students in the U.S. and Canada to generate an overall profile of the undergraduate student. This data set will be used to conduct research to improve undergraduate education. Individual student responses are not identifiable in any reports NSSE provides to institutions. Learn more about NSSE on the IR website.

  • The project is located at Indiana University Bloomington and is directed by Alexander C. McCormick, a faculty member in the School of Education. The Center for Survey Research at IUB, directed by Ashley Clark, administers the survey. Dr. McCormick and Ms. Clark are supported by dozens of others who help design, analyze, and report survey results to your institution and the other participating institutions around the country.
  • No. Only students who respond to NSSE before the April 18 deadline will be eligible for a chance to win prizes.

Earn SBL Credit!

Earn the "Share Your Voice" item on Scrappy's Bucket List by completing NSSE!

Can you complete 63 before your degree?

NSSE Cafes

Wanting to learn more about NSSE? Have a question? Join us during one of the NSSE cafes and enjoy free refreshments!