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NSSE 2006 Results

Academic Challenge

On the NSSE benchmark (scale) Level of Academic Challenge, CU-Boulder freshmen provided ratings that were just slightly below those of freshmen at other AAU publics. CU-Boulder seniors, on the other hand, provided ratings that were just slightly above those of seniors at other AAU publics. All of these differences in ratings were very small. The items in the Level of Academic Challenge scale include:

• Hours per week preparing for class (studying, reading, writing, rehearsing, etc. related to academic program)
• Number of assigned textbooks, books, or book-length packs of course readings
• Number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more; number of written papers or reports of between 5 and 19 pages; and number of written papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages
• Coursework emphasizing analysis of the basic elements of an idea, experience or theory
• Coursework emphasizing synthesis and organizing of ideas, information, or experiences into new, more complex interpretations and relationships
• Coursework emphasizing the making of judgments about the value of information, arguments, or methods
• Coursework emphasizing application of theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations
• Working harder than you thought you could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
• Campus environment emphasizing time studying and on academic work

For all but one of these nine benchmark items, the same pattern occurred -- no substantive differences, with any differences showing CU-Boulder freshmen having ratings slightly below those of students attending other AAU publics, CU-Boulder seniors having ratings slightly above.

However, on the item that asked the extent to which your institution emphasizes "spending significant amounts of time studying and on academic work," ratings of CU-Boulder students are below those of other AAU publics by a more noticeable amount, for both freshmen and seniors. Nevertheless, CU-Boulder students and students attending other AAU public institutions differed little in the reported number of hours per week spent preparing for class (studying, reading, writing, etc.).

Last revision 11/04/08