Policy-makers and accrediting bodies should be asking these questions too. The results of the student survey provide the first set of comparative standards for determining how effectively colleges are contributing to learning. Liberal arts colleges, as a group, score higher than all other types of colleges in every area of effective practice that is measured. Similar kinds of colleges vary in their performance. For example, while many small colleges provide very engaging environments, many other small colleges do not.
Colleges tend to be strong in particular areas rather than across the board.
Of all the colleges and universities participating in the survey, only four scored in the top 20 percent on all five benchmarks. The good news is that the new NSSE survey allows us to take stock of our performance and measure our progress. Few students actually meet this expectation. Less than 15 percent come close to following the long-established convention of studying two hours outside class for every hour in class. A commendable 63 percent of seniors participated in community service or did volunteer work.