National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Benchmarks

The NSSE is a national survey that measures the extent to which college students are engaged in their education. Kalamazoo College last participated in the NSSE in 2009. Based on NSSE results, Kalamazoo students demonstrate an exceptional level of engagement.

Level of Academic Challenge At Kalamazoo College, there are no “easy” courses.  Faculty across the board have high expectations.  They also make themselves available outside of class and provide students with timely feedback.  The result is exceptional learning.   “ Kalamazoo College prepares a person for new experiences that range widely across continuums of geography, culture, and class.” "This organized confusion molded me into a flexible and more courageous person. I realized that great things could happen in short periods of time." "Kalamazoo College prepared me well for being flexible and able to deal with change. It has allowed me to be a problem-solver."	Level of Academic Challenge Benchmark Comparisons * 2009 Data, Seniors
Active and Collaborative Learning Students at Kalamazoo College are actively engaged in their learning.  Class sizes are small, allowing for full participation in class discussions.  These discussions frequently continue outside of class.  Over 60% of Kalamazoo students are involved in the local community through service-learning courses and co-curricular activities.  “Kalamazoo College is a breeding ground for ideas that inspire discussion and action. It’s a verb more than a noun.” “The ideas and goals of the College’s Institute of Service-Learning have forever affected my way of thinking and my commitment to social justice and education issues”	Active and Collaborative Learning Benchmark Comparisons * 2009 Data, Seniors
Student-Faculty Interaction A 12:1 student-faculty ratio, a curious, engaged student body, and a dedicated, hard-working faculty make for personal and rewarding relationships between students and faculty.  At Kalamazoo College, student-faculty interaction goes beyond the classroom to include working together on research projects, college committees, and community projects, and the connections students and faculty form last well beyond graduation. “At Kalamazoo College there is an interaction between teacher and student that ignites a fire." “My professors prepared me not only academically, but also as a whole, confident, critically-thinking person." “My art professor showed me that you figure things out by doing them. You learn how to make pots or watercolors or sculptures by making them. He taught me not to be afraid, not to be dismayed by failure.”	Student-Faculty Interaction Benchmark Comparisons * 2009 Data, Seniors
Enriching Educational Experiences This is the area in which Kalamazoo College really shines.  Through the K-Plan, students engage in long-term study abroad (80% of graduates), career internships and externships (60%), foreign language coursework (100%), and a senior individualized project (100%).  Through these experiences students grow by leaps and bounds both intellectually and personally. “Global knowledge, sharing, and collaboration are THE skills of the 21st century and Kalamazoo College students have a tremendous advantage” “The Kalamazoo Plan transforms you, or distills you, or frees you. My dreams change and what I am capable of continually expands. This makes me powerful. This makes me a Kalamazoo College graduate.” “During the 10-hour shifts we went from the ER to the trauma bay, learning about patients from other doctors, analyzing labs and radiology work, and eventually talking with patients directly, learning their stories. Thanks to that experience I am more eager than ever to apply for and attend medical school.”	Enriching Educational Experiences Benchmark Comparisons * 2009 Data, Seniors
Supportive Campus Environment Kalamazoo College is a small residential campus with a dedicated faculty and staff who put the students first.  Because the academic program is demanding and the pace fast, the College offers resources to help students succeed, including a Biology-Chemistry Success Center, a Writing Center, and a Math Center.  The College completed a renovation and expansion of its library and student center. “Every single time I walked across the campus quadrangle, I saw a face I knew.” “My economics professor cared that I understood the concepts he was teaching. That was more important than grades.” “I had experienced nothing like my visit to Kalamazoo College. The human relationships felt different and better, so fundamental and promising.”	Supportive Campus Environment Benchmark Comparisons * 2009 Data, Seniors