Marquette ranks higher than many other Jesuit and doctorate-granting colleges and universities in several areas, according to the results of a survey issued to then-freshmen and seniors last spring.
The National Survey of Student Engagement, which was established in 1999, was given to the students to evaluate their feelings on different aspects of the university, according to Mark McCarthy, assistant vice president of Student Affairs.
"The results of the survey give us the opportunity to look at where we are doing well and what we can do to improve," McCarthy said.
Although the NSSE assesses 473 institutions, Marquette paid closer attention to its comparison to the 17 Jesuit colleges and universities in the NSSE as well as other doctorate-granting institutions, he said.
Two particular results of different categories showed Marquette to be at a higher level than national averages.
Marquette rated strong in academic challenges posed to students as well as academic and social support provided on campus.
The class of 2007 rated the level of academic challenge at Marquette higher than 97 percent of other Jesuit and doctorate-granting institutions, with the class of 2004 rating Marquette higher than 90 percent of other colleges and universities.
Students also consider Marquette's campus more supportive academically and socially than average for the study, with members of the class of 2004 rating Marquette higher than students at 99 percent of all other Jesuit and doctorate-granting institutions that took part in the survey, McCarthy said.
John Brunner, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration, agrees with the results of the level of academic challenge at Marquette. As a transfer student, he said, "the level of academic challenge is a little higher" than what he considers to be average.
There also were two categories in which Marquette needed improvement, according to the survey. The university ranked low in faculty and student interaction outside the classroom and in its use of collaborative and group learning.
The class of 2007 said the interactions between students and faculty were 79 percent higher and group and collaborative learning 83 percent higher than other colleges and universities, while the past seniors rated the categories 86 percent and 79 percent, respectively, compared to other institutions.
Though Marquette is not doing horribly in these categories, there is room for improvement, McCarthy said.
Jason Luecht, a sophomore in the College of Health Sciences, said he disagrees with the perceived percentage of faculty and students interaction outside the classroom.
"Students organizations are trying to hold events in which faculty and students interact outside of class." Luecht said.
The results of the NSSE were presented recently to the deans of the colleges and schools within Marquette, McCarthy said. The deans, along with department chairs, will discuss how to implement changes to improve lower ratings and to help foster the development of high-rating areas.
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on May 5 2005.