Compare Bethel
NSSE: Bethel Compared with Other Minnesota Colleges and Christian Colleges (Members of the CCCU)
In Minnesota, 10 colleges or universities are participating in publishing their 2007 NSSE data. Eight of 13 members of the Christian College Consortium are also public with their results. All are also members of the 105-member Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCC&U), a helpful comparison group for Bethel in the NSSE survey.
Here is a comparison with other Minnesota schools and with our faith-based peers on each of the benchmarks, followed by discussion of Bethel performance, and student comments from the survey. (To compare Bethel against schools that scored in the top 50% and the top 10%, click here.)
- Level of Academic Challenge
- Active and Collaborative Learning
- Student-Faculty Interaction
- Enriching Educational Experiences
- Supportive Campus Environment
Behind the scores: Bethel faculty maintain a balance of “challenge and support” all four years, aiming for significant intellectual growth not only from receiving information, but from evaluating it. Significantly more Bethel students are writing papers up to 19 pages in length, and 64% are studying 11 hours a week or more, compared with 43% elsewhere. By the time they’re seniors, Bethel students appear to be reading a significantly higher number of texts than do their peers elsewhere, and have completed a great deal more practica or internships. “I appreciate the quality of teaching I have received at Bethel,” says one student. “The professors have challenged me academically and morally.”
Behind the scores: Even in a few larger first-year classes, Bethel students work with each other in smaller groups. Senior-level classes are often 20 students in size, fostering strong friendships within academic majors, and ready assistance from the instructor. Engaged in “learner-based learning” from day one, Bethel students are more likely to have presented in class and to have worked with classmates to prepare group assignments (collaborative learning). “Bethel’s been a huge blessing to me in learning general and specific skills that will help me engage in our world as well as live out my faith,” a student wrote. Another said, “I have been stretched as a student and an individual in many ways. The educational experience…has been phenomenal.”
Behind the scores: Aiming to raise its grades in this area, Bethel is working with faculty to be responsive to students in regards to their performance. Even so, Bethel students as a whole report prompt feedback from faculty “often” or “very often” at higher rates than at peer schools. They are also more likely to have discussed ideas with faculty outside of class. This interaction increases through clubs and departmental activities until, in their senior year, 68% of students report positive relationships with faculty, against the 56% average elsewhere. “I was very impressed with my instructors for being available to us physically and even through phones or emails,” one student wrote. “Their constant encouragement...instilled in us that we could do it.”
Behind the scores: Fostering active and engaged learning has been a goal at Bethel for the last 15 years. Greater foreign language and cross-cultural requirements have been coupled with a robust international studies program that ranks 12th nationally in proportion of students who participate (2007 Open Doors report). Core values aimed at graduating “salt and light” and “world changers” have driven the development of student life, campus ministries, and course work that focus on engagement with our culture and those in need. Bethel students are very significantly more likely to have been involved in community-based projects (service-learning) than their peers. “Bethel has served me well,” a student reported. “I have grown academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. I have been blessed through relationships and have been able to serve using my gifts through organizations.”
Behind the scores: In keeping with a core value to graduate “Christ followers,” Bethel seeks to foster social and spiritual development as well as academic growth. A strong first-year support system is built on relationships, mentoring in residence halls and in academic majors, and a strong campus ministries program. Almost half of Bethel students participate in an organized co-curricular activity from one to 10 hours a week. Though seniors seem to require less of this support, 70% still report experiencing friendly, supportive interaction with other students (vs. a 60% peer average). “I have highly enjoyed my time at Bethel and the opportunities I have had to build my leadership and relational skills,” reported one student. “Thank you for all you do to make our campus and student life what it is!” another student commented.
To see how Bethel performed against schools that scored in the top 50% and the top 10% of the NSSE survey, click here.