National study puts Wheaton among country's best colleges

Wheaton is among the top 15 percent of colleges and universities nationwide on four of five key components of quality in undergraduate education, according to results from the 2002 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The report, which surveyed 613 colleges and universities, affirmed that Wheaton excels in providing students with a high-quality academic experience.

"The NSSE study emphasizes what matters most to us at Wheaton: the knowledge, skills and experience that students take away after their four years at the college," said President Dale Rogers Marshall. "This study affirms what so many graduates have been telling us: Wheaton prepares students for a lifetime of learning, leadership and success."

[Wheaton's NSSE benchmark results are online at http://www.wheatoncollege.edu/nsse.]

The NSSE study, now in its third year, is seen as a much-needed alternative to the various college rankings, and as a useful tool for colleges and universities seeking to enhance their educational programs. Student engagement represents the combination of the effort students devote to educational activities and what colleges do to prompt students to take advantage of these programs. Many studies show that engagement is a strong predictor of how well a student learns.

Based on Wheaton's results in the NSSE survey, the college was chosen as one of 20 exceptionally effective institutions that will be studied in greater depth. This effort, called Project DEEP, seeks to examine the everyday workings of educationally effective colleges and universities to learn what they do to promote student success. Participating institutions were chosen based on higher-than-predicted graduation rates as well as better-than-predicted scores on the NSSE.

"Wheaton has a long-standing dedication to challenging students academically in a friendly, supportive learning community and that tradition shows in the NSSE report," says President Marshall. "We're pleased with the results, and with the invitation to be part of a more in-depth study about what makes for a quality undergraduate education. Wheaton College has an ongoing focus on how we can continually improve the college and move up in the competitive environment of higher education today."

The NSSE report categorizes its findings into five measures of quality undergraduate education: 1) level of academic challenge; 2) active and collaborative learning; 3) student interaction with faculty members; 4) enriching educational experiences; and 5) supportive campus environment. All of these factors have been shown by research to enhance student learning.

Each of the five benchmark measures in the NSSE survey is comprised of a number of individual survey questions. For instance, each institution's rating on academic challenge is derived from data collected through nine related questions that focus on how much effort students invest in their coursework and the extent to which classes emphasize analytical and critical thinking.

Nationally, Wheaton rated above the 90th percentile in the level of academic challenge students face, the amount of personal attention they receive from faculty and the quantity and quality of enriching educational experiences the institution provides. The college scored above the 85th percentile in providing a supportive campus environment and above the 60th percentile in providing opportunities for active and collaborative learning.