2003 NSSE Summary: Level of Academic Challenge

2003 Items That Match 2004 Institutional Benchmark Report: Freshmen
Profile Category: Averages and Significance
Level of Academic Challenge UNK Masters All Masters All
9a:Preparing for class (studying, reading , writing, doing homework or lab work, analyzing data, rehearsing, and other activities related to your academic program) 3.56 3.91 4.11 <.01/-.21 <.001/-.32
Specific Item Examples:
1c: Prepared two or more drafts of paper before handing in 2.76 2.74 2.7
1d: Worked on paper/project that required integrating ideas or information from various sources 2.93 3.05 3.06 <.05/-.16 <.05/-.17
1f: Come to class without completing readings or assignments 2.11 1.98 2.01 <.05/.19
3: To what extent have your examinations during the current year challenged you to do your best work 5.35 5.49 5.54 <.05/-.18
4b: Number of books read on your own (not assigned) for personal enjoyment or academic enrichment 1.89 2 2.01
5a: Number of problem sets that take you more than an hour to complete 2.57 2.5 2.52
5b: Number of problem sets that take you less than an hour to complete 2.78 2.68 2.58 <.05/.17
6: In a typical week, how many homework problems take you more than 15 minutes each to complete 2.87 2.67 2.68 <.05/.17 <.05/.15
1i: Put together ideas or concepts from different courses when completing assignments or during class discussions 2.33 2.45 2.49 <.05/-.15 <.05/-.19
2a: Memorizing facts, ideas, or methods from your courses and readings so you can repeat them in pretty much the same form 2.99 2.97 2.93
4a:Number of assigned textbooks, books, or book-length packs of course readings 3.32 3.42 3.49 <.05/-.18
4c: Number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more 1.24 1.26 1.24
4d: Number of written papers or reports between 5 and 19 pages 2.39 2.41 2.44
4e: Number of written papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages 3.27 3.31 3.3
2b: Analyzing the basic elements of an idea, experience, or theory, such as examining a particular case or situation in depth and considering its components 2.95 3.09 3.15 <.05/-.18 <.001/-.26
2c: Synthesizing and organizing ideas, information,arguments, or experiences into new more complex interpretations and relationships 2.76 2.82 2.88
2d: Making judgements about the value of information, arguments, or methods, such as examining how others gathered and interpreted data and assessing the soundness of their conclusions 2.78 2.8 2.83
2e: Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations 2.84 2.96 3.01 <.01/-.20
1r: Worked harder than you thought you could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations 2.56 2.61 2.61
10a: Spending significant amounts of time studying and on academic work 2.98 3.12 3.18 <.05/-.19 <.001/-.27

2003 Items That Match 2004 Institutional Benchmark Report: Seniors
Profile Category: Averages and Significance
Level of Academic Challenge UNK Masters All Masters All
9a:Preparing for class (studying, reading , writing, doing homework or lab work, analyzing data, rehearsing, and other activities related to your academic program) 3.58 3.95 4.13 <.01/-.21 <.001/-.30
Specific Item Examples:
1c: Prepared two or more drafts of paper before handing in 2.5 2.56 2.51
1d: Worked on paper/project that required integrating ideas or information from various sources 3.35 3.34 3.34
1f: Come to class without completing readings or assignments 2.16 2.02 2.07 <.05/.18
3: To what extent have your examinations during the current year challenged you to do your best work 5.28 5.48 5.45 <.05/-.17
4b: Number of books read on your own (not assigned) for personal enjoyment or academic enrichment 2.18 2.19 2.21
5a: Number of problem sets that take you more than an hour to complete 2.34 2.38 2.35
5b: Number of problem sets that take you less than an hour to complete 2.56 2.27 2.18 <.001/.24 <.001/.32
6: In a typical week, how many homework problems take you more than 15 minutes each to complete 2.63 2.61 2.61
1i: Put together ideas or concepts from different courses when completing assignments or during class discussions 2.81 2.82 2.85
2a: Memorizing facts, ideas, or methods from your courses and readings so you can repeat them in pretty much the same form 2.75 2.77 2.72
4a:Number of assigned textbooks, books, or book-length packs of course readings 3.08 3.27 3.34 <.05/-.28 <.001/-.24
4c: Number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more 1.56 1.65 1.66
4d: Number of written papers or reports between 5 and 19 pages 2.71 2.63 2.66
4e: Number of written papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages 3.6 3.08 3.11 <.001/.43 <.001/.41
2b: Analyzing the basic elements of an idea, experience, or theory, such as examining a particular case or situation in depth and considering its components 3.11 3.25 3.28 .05/-.19 <.01/-.23
2c: Synthesizing and organizing ideas, information,arguments, or experiences into new more complex interpretations and relationships 2.95 3.04 3.07 .05/-.14
2d: Making judgements about the value of information, arguments, or methods, such as examining how others gathered and interpreted data and assessing the soundness of their conclusions 2.75 2.95 2.96 .01/-.22 <.01/-.23
2e: Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations 3.06 3.19 3.2 <.05/-.15 >.05/-.17
1r: Worked harder than you thought you could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations 2.6 2.72 2.71 <05/-.15
10a: Spending significant amounts of time studying and on academic work 2.97 3.11 3.15 <.05/-.18 <.01/-.23