NSSE ranks TRU in top third: Thompson Rivers University Media Release

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TRU ranked in the top third of Canadian universities in 8 of 10 categories

January 26, 2009

Contact:

Josh Keller, TRU Director Marketing & Communications, (p)250.828.5008 / (c) 250.851.6843
Heather Friesen, TRU Director Institutional Planning & Analyisis, (p) 250.828.5134 / (c) 250.574.2808

NSSE Recipients
In photo: NSSE student prize winners. Jessica Ray, Ann Nguyen, Alex McLellan, Jordon Carter, Jamie Mayes, Peter Hilton, Heather Freisen, Dr. Kathleen Scherf, Ashley Morrison

Thompson Rivers University Senators learned that, according to the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), TRU is a competitor in student engagement amongst the nation’s top schools. According to most recent scores, TRU is ranked in the top third of Canadian universities in 8 of 10 categories.

The results from TRU’s first-ever participation in NSSE show that fourth year students ranked TRU third in Canada in the area of Active and Collaborative Learning. Students turned in excellent scores on questions relating to participation in class discussion, availability of faculty feedback, and interactive learning experiences.

“It is very promising to see evidence that supports TRU’s commitment to student engagement and success,” Heather Friesen, TRU Director of Institutional Planning and Analysis told senate at the Monday, Jan. 25 meeting. “The NSSE survey provides TRU with the ability to evaluate some of the essential components of a high quality undergraduate education, and TRU is among the top institutions in this regard”.

Currently in its tenth year, the NSSE survey includes more than 1200 universities, 47 of which are in Canada. The instrument asks students to report on the qualities of a supportive campus environment, on the availability and their participation in enriching education experiences, and the quality and amount of student-faculty interaction in the academic context. It also encompasses traditional standards such as academic challenge.

The NSSE has become one of the top tools for Canadian students and is reported by such publications as Maclean’s and USA Today.