Celebrate Learning
Page 7
How Engaged Are TCC’s Students?
by Dr. Kevin David
In Spring 2011, 992 TCC students completed the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE). The sample was representative of TCC’s student body in terms of gender, race and ethnicity, and age, but there were more full-time students in the sample (65%) than
in the entire student body for that semester (40%). Responses from TCC’s students on five benchmark measures were compared to the average of a three-year cohort of participating colleges (benchmark scores were standardized to have a mean of 50). The five benchmark
measures are: Active and Collaborative Learning, Student Effort, Academic Challenge, Student-Faculty Interaction, and Support for Learners. As the figure below indicates, TCC students’ responses were the same as or higher than the average of the CCSSE cohort on three of the
five benchmarks. Moreover, the TCC scores from 2011 were the same as or higher than those from 2009 on all five benchmarks.
70
TCC 2009
TCC 20 11
CCSSE Cohort
60
50
48 48
50
49
51 50
49 50 50
50 50
47
48 48
50
40
30
Active and
Collaborative
Learning
Student Effort
Academic
Challenge
Student-Faculty
Int eraction
Support for
Learners
When examining specific items from the Spring 2011 administration, TCC students reported the highest levels of engagement on the following items (with corresponding benchmark in parentheses):
Asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions (Active and Collaborative Learning)
Used email to communicate with an instructor (Student-Faculty Interaction)
Received prompt feedback (written or oral) from instructors on your performance (Student-Faculty Interaction)
Number of written papers or reports of any length (Academic Challenge)
Providing the financial support you need to afford your education (Support for Learners)
The items on which TCC students reported the lowest level of engagement were as follows (with corresponding benchmark in parentheses):
Made a class presentation (Active and Collaborative Learning)
Tutored or taught other students (paid or voluntary) (Active and Collaborative Learning)
Worked with instructors on activities other than coursework (Student-Faculty Interaction)
Helping you cope with your non-academic responsibilities (work, family, etc.) (Support for Learners)
Providing the support you need to thrive socially (Support for Learners)
Overall, TCC students appear to be near the average levels of engagement in all areas measured by the CCSSE. Although there seem to
be some clear areas in which TCC students are exceptionally engaged, there are also several areas for improvement and growth.