Decades of higher education research show that student engagement in the educational process is a central component of student learning. NSSE, the National Survey of Student Engagement, was designed to measure the extent to which undergraduate students actively participate in their educational experience. The survey is given to first-year students and seniors. Five "NSSE Benchmarks" are based on responses to 42 survey questions, grouped to address specific themes of engagement:

• Level of Academic Challenge - How much does the student prepare in advance for class, read assigned books, write papers and reports, work harder than he or she expected?
• Active and Collaborative Learning - How much does the student contribute to class discussions, work with classmates outside of class, participate in community-based projects, make presentations in class?
• Student-Faculty Interaction - How much time does the student spend with faculty talking about grades and assignments, discussing ideas outside of class, working on research projects?
• Enriching Educational Experiences - How much does the student student interact with students of different backgrounds, participate in co-curricular activities, internships and fieldwork?
• Supportive Campus Environment - How much does the campus facilitate good relationships, provide opportunities for social interaction and for academic success?