Using Quality Tools to Analyze NSSE Data Dr. Patricia LaGrow Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Charles Hughes Department of Physics and Engineering Department of Physics and Engineering Dr. Ed Cunliff Assistant Vice President for Planning & Analysis Assistant Vice President for Planning & Analysis Ms. Karen Henderson Director of Assessment Director of Assessment

Snapshot of UCO Current student enrollment is 15,952 (12,298 FTE students) First-time freshmen is degree programs 426 full-time faculty adjunct faculty Average age is 24 16% of all college degrees in Oklahoma are granted by UCO

UCO’s Experience with NSSE Administered Spring 2001 with a 33% response rate (42% for all NSSE 2001 institutions) Administered Spring 2003 with a 34% response rate (43% for all NSSE 2001 institutions) Next administration is Spring 2006

Reaction to NSSE Results NSSE administered on the national level in 2001 and 2003 –2001 = disbelief –2003 = verification that action was needed

CQI Process UCO Continuous Quality Improvement process uses Action Teams to study issues and make recommendations

CQI Action Teams Issues Addressed Include: –Student Engagement –Data Integrity –Transfer Students

Action Team Worksheet A.Identifying Title B.Goal (100 words or less) C.Organizational areas most affected D.Critical processes most affected Commissioned by Provost (signed)

CQI Processes Used with NSSE Dashboard Analysis Paredo Chart Key Issues for Focus Fishbone Diagram Identifying problem areas Determining root causes

Dashboard Analysis

Dashboard (cont.)

Pareto Chart Histogram summarizing differences between groups of data and showing the relative importance of each difference.

Our “Pareto Chart”

Key Issues for Focus 1.Students don’t spend a lot of time preparing for class 2.Lack of participation in civic activities 3.Relationships between students, faculty, and other students is poor 4.Inadequate communication between faculty and students

Fishbone Diagram Students Methods Resources Instructional materials Faculty

Fishbone Diagram Activity Situation –Students don’t spend a lot of time preparing for class. Fishbone diagram uses areas to identify causes –Methods –Instructional Materials –Faculty –Students –Resources Break-up into 4 discussion groups and complete the fishbone diagram.

UCO’s Fishbone Diagram from 2003

UCO Action Team Report – Root Causes, OFIs & Rationale Root Cause - Many courses at UCO are not considered rigorous. –Emphasize faculty expectation (OSRHE Policy) –Provide teaching resources in training and enhancement methods –Identify and intervene “at risk” students –Support out-of-class student support systems

UCO Action Team Report – Root Causes, OFIs & Rationale Root Cause - The ability and motivation of faculty and staff to devote the time and energy necessary to engage students on a personal basis are waning. –Establish a two-track tenure system –Explore capping enrollment to better match the resource of faculty and facilities –University initiatives emerge from the strategic plan Increased full-time tenure track faculty.

Conclusion UCO next NSSE administration is Spring 2006 NSSE is included in the UCO electronic dashboard indicators The academic plan includes the NSSE as a measure

Contacting us: Patricia LaGrow Chuck Hughes Ed Cunliff Karen Henderson Websites: