The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is an important point of reference for all of UNCP’s planning and assessment. Student engagement embodies two critical features of collegiate quality. The first is the amount of time and effort students put into their studies and other educationally purposeful activities. The second is how the university deploys its resources and organizes the curriculum and other learning opportunities to get students to participate in activities that are associated to student learning.

The NSSE makes available comparisons for ten Engagement Indicators and six High Impact Practices.  The ten indicators are organized into four themes: (1) Academic Challenge, (2) Learning with Peers, (3) Experiences with Faculty, and (4) Campus Environment. The six High Impact Practices (HIP) have positive associations with student learning and retention. High-Impact Practices (HIPs) share several traits: They demand considerable time and effort, facilitate learning outside of the classroom, require meaningful interactions with faculty and students, encourage collaboration with diverse others, and provide frequent and substantive feedback.