NSSE data for Student Engagement indicates that first-year students scored lower than expected on the level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, and student-faculty interaction, and higher than expected on the benchmarks of enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment. Western seniors scored higher than expected on the benchmarks of student-faculty interaction and enriching educational experiences, but lower than expected on level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, and supportive campus environment.

Communicating Quality is unique to the mission, vision, and values of Western. Peer institutions have marketing and public relations functions, but finding comparable benchmarks is challenging.

Visits to other institutions and on-site project assessment indicate the Banner Gold implementation project has been successful. Each module was installed on time, within budget, and is being monitored for functionality.

Figure 2.5 Freshman results, including NSSE 2004

Dimension One: Philosophy

Significant evidence supports Western’s claim that it takes an intentional approach to meeting the needs of first-year students.

Implementation of Western’s mission, vision, goals, and Strategic Plan
Positive student evaluations of Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs). Students note the quality of interaction and accomplishment of instructional goals.
First ranking within comparison group for the following: priority of first-year student success, comprehensive approach to helping first-year students succeed, and a coherent approach to helping first-year students succeed.
Increased student participation in Griffon Edge
Better-than-predicted response in enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment

Dimension Two: Organization

Western has appropriate administrative structure and programming to address the needs of first-year students.

Registration and Orientation Program, Griffon Edge
Student Services Office
Intensive Academic Advising Student Success Seminars
Learning Communities
Western Warm-up and Student Government Association Week
S.T.A.R. Peer Advisement Program
Honors Program
Minority Initiatives/Achievement Program
Program for Athletes’ Scholastic Success
First ranking among the seven institutions in the comparison group on priority of first-year student success, comprehensive approach to helping first-year students succeed, and a coherent approach to helping first-year students succeed

Dimension Three: Transitions

Western works to improve the transition of first-year students.

Student Convocation
Debt management tools
Academic policies
Academic advising
Developmental courses
Student success activities
Student Orientation
Griffon Edge activities
Ranks third in the comparison group of seven institutions in helping students transition.
First ranking among the comparison group of seven in conveying to new students the sense that, if they make the effort, they can succeed.

Dimension Four: Faculty

Western students rank faculty high on teaching, faculty development, and involvement with the first year.

Student ratings of relationships with faculty members at 5.49 on a scale of one to seven.
Statistically higher rating than the comparison group of six institutions and the comparison group of all institutions completing the survey on importance placed on the first year, teaching, and faculty development.
Statistically higher score compared to six institutions on supporting faculty work with all students.

Dimension Five: All Students

Western provides services to students deciding on a major.

Of respondents, 84 percent reporting that Western provided the support needed to help students succeed academically.
Significantly higher scores than American Democracy Project schools (ADP) on helping students cope with non-academic responsibilities and providing support to help students succeed academically.
Academic advising system that provides extensive contact with a faculty advisor
Career Services Office
Counseling Center
Financial Aid Office
Center for Multicultural Education
Honors Program
Center for Academic Support
Residential Life Programming

Dimension Six: Engagement

Western provides a culture of engagement and encourages students to participate in service.

Service opportunities for students, faculty, and staff identified and communicated.
Citizen-scholar model Introduced during student orientation.
Active-learning approaches used in first-year courses.
Students, faculty, and staff participating in community service.

Dimension Seven: Diversity

Western students encouraged to participate in multicultural learning experiences.

Significantly higher score than other baccalaureate-general institutions regarding students conversing with students of a different race or ethnicity.
Significantly higher score than the three comparison groups on encouraging contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds and students understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Dimension Eight: Roles and Purposes

Western communicates the roles and purpose of higher education to students.

Evaluation of Learning Communities
Evaluation of Advising System
New Student Convocation
Evaluation of General Education
New Student Orientation
NSSE
Faculty Survey

Dimension Nine: Improvement

Western uses several sources of data to make improvements.

College Student Inventory Results
National Survey of Student Engagement Results
Placement in developmental courses
Developmental Education Committee
Assessment and Benchmarking Committee
Significantly higher score than the mean of the comparison group of six institutions and the comparison group of all institutions on using data to make improvements.

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© Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Dr., St. Joseph, MO 64507
PH: 816-271-4200 | An equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

Figure 2.5 Freshman results, including NSSE 2004

Dimension One: Philosophy

Significant evidence supports Western’s claim that it takes an intentional approach to meeting the needs of first-year students.

Implementation of Western’s mission, vision, goals, and Strategic Plan

Positive student evaluations of Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs). Students note the quality of interaction and accomplishment of instructional goals.

First ranking within comparison group for the following: priority of first-year student success, comprehensive approach to helping first-year students succeed, and a coherent approach to helping first-year students succeed.

Increased student participation in Griffon Edge

Better-than-predicted response in enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment

Dimension Two: Organization

Western has appropriate administrative structure and programming to address the needs of first-year students.

Registration and Orientation Program, Griffon Edge

Student Services Office

Intensive Academic Advising Student Success Seminars

Learning Communities

Western Warm-up and Student Government Association Week

S.T.A.R. Peer Advisement Program

Honors Program

Minority Initiatives/Achievement Program

Program for Athletes’ Scholastic Success

First ranking among the seven institutions in the comparison group on priority of first-year student success, comprehensive approach to helping first-year students succeed, and a coherent approach to helping first-year students succeed

Dimension Three: Transitions

Western works to improve the transition of first-year students.

Student Convocation

Debt management tools

Academic policies

Academic advising

Developmental courses

Student success activities

Student Orientation

Griffon Edge activities

Ranks third in the comparison group of seven institutions in helping students transition. First ranking among the comparison group of seven in conveying to new students the sense that, if they make the effort, they can succeed.

Dimension Four: Faculty

Western students rank faculty high on teaching, faculty development, and involvement with the first year.

Student ratings of relationships with faculty members at 5.49 on a scale of one to seven.

Statistically higher rating than the comparison group of six institutions and the comparison group of all institutions completing the survey on importance placed on the first year, teaching, and faculty development.

Statistically higher score compared to six institutions on supporting faculty work with all students.

Dimension Five: All Students

Western provides services to students deciding on a major.

Of respondents, 84 percent reporting that Western provided the support needed to help students succeed academically.

Significantly higher scores than American Democracy Project schools (ADP) on helping students cope with non-academic responsibilities and providing support to help students succeed academically.

Academic advising system that provides extensive contact with a faculty advisor

Career Services Office

Counseling Center

Financial Aid Office

Center for Multicultural Education

Honors Program

Center for Academic Support

Residential Life Programming

Dimension Six: Engagement

Western provides a culture of engagement and encourages students to participate in service.

Service opportunities for students, faculty, and staff identified and communicated.

Citizen-scholar model Introduced during student orientation.

Active-learning approaches used in first-year courses.

Students, faculty, and staff participating in community service.

Dimension Seven: Diversity

Western students encouraged to participate in multicultural learning experiences.

Significantly higher score than other baccalaureate-general institutions regarding students conversing with students of a different race or ethnicity.

Significantly higher score than the three comparison groups on encouraging contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds and students understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Dimension Eight: Roles and Purposes

Western communicates the roles and purpose of higher education to students.

Evaluation of Learning Communities

Evaluation of Advising System

New Student Convocation

Evaluation of General Education

New Student Orientation

NSSE

Faculty Survey

Dimension Nine: Improvement

Western uses several sources of data to make improvements.

College Student Inventory Results

National Survey of Student Engagement Results

Placement in developmental courses

Developmental Education Committee

Assessment and Benchmarking Committee

Significantly higher score than the mean of the comparison group of six institutions and the comparison group of all institutions on using data to make improvements.

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Ranks third in the comparison group of seven institutions in helping students transition.
First ranking among the comparison group of seven in conveying to new students the sense that, if they make the effort, they can succeed.