Faculty and student voices wanted in national surveys
By Kendall Sternberg, University Communications
Instructor and student feedback from national surveys helps shape teaching, learning and career readiness at the U of A.
This spring, the University of Arizona is inviting faculty and students to share their perspectives through two national surveys that offer valuable insights into the campus academic experience: the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE).
NSSE, administered to first-year students and seniors, examines how students spend their time, what they gain from their coursework and how they interact with faculty, peers and campus resources. FSSE, which is open to anyone who taught at least one undergraduate course in fall 2025 or spring 2026, gathers faculty perspectives on teaching practices, student engagement and expectations.
Jenna Rickus
Why participation matters
The surveys provide a comprehensive view of engagement inside and outside the classroom, said Jenna Rickus, senior vice provost.
"The combined findings help us advance our Academic Success Goals, strengthen institutional strategy and ensure every Wildcat benefits from a rigorous, supportive, and high-quality educational environment," she said.
Participation in FSSE plays an important role in providing the university with a complete and accurate picture of the academic experience. All eligible faculty and instructors have been emailed an invitation with links to the survey, which takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey is open from March 17 to May 11.
"Our faculty and instructional community are at the heart of the University of Arizona's academic excellence," said Andrea Romero, vice provost for faculty affairs. "By sharing their perspectives, faculty and instructors help us enhance teaching effectiveness, support continuous improvement, and elevate the overall quality of the educational experience we provide."
Andrea Romero
Equally important is the role employees play in encouraging student participation in NSSE. Faculty and staff can help by reminding students about the survey, emphasizing its impact and reinforcing that their voices matter. The Office of the Provost is encouraging participation through a video, which outlines how higher response rates lead to more meaningful data, which ultimately benefits students, faculty and programs across campus.
From engagement to career outcomes
Thanks to a new career and workforce preparation module, insights from NSSE will also play an important role in advancing career readiness efforts at the university. The Center for Career Readiness recently received a Lumina Foundation award recognizing its work to better understand and enhance how students prepare for careers. The award highlights the university's commitment to preparing students for success beyond graduation and underscores the importance of engagement in and out of the classroom.
As part of this effort, data from the National Survey of Student Engagement — including responses from the new career and workforce preparation module — will help shape efforts to create more hands-on learning opportunities and better connect what students learn in the classroom to their future careers, said Emily McCarthy, executive director at the Center for Career Readiness.
“This gives us insight into how students are building confidence in their career readiness and where we can better support them,” she said. “The data helps us shape strategies that expand experiential learning and ensure students are gaining the skills they need for success after graduation.”
Taking a few minutes to participate – and encouraging students to do the same – can have a lasting impact in shaping the university's future.