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<div class="style10" align="left"> IN FOCUS: December 15, 2006 </div>
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<div align="left"><b> TOP NEWS </b></div>
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height="15" width="167"><b><span class="style7">CALENDAR </span></b></td>
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<div align="left"><strong>SOUTHWESTERN RANKS ABOVE PEER
INSTITUTIONS IN NATIONAL SURVEY OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT</strong></div>
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<p><strong>December</strong></p>
<p> <strong>19</strong> Women’s basketball vs. University of
Mary Hardin Baylor, 6 p.m.<br>
<br>
<strong>28</strong> Women’s basketball vs. Concordia (Ill.), 5
p.m.<br>
<br>
<strong>29</strong> Consolation/championship basketball game, 1
and 3 p.m.<br>
<br>
<strong>29</strong> Men’s basketball vs. Swarthmore College, 8
p.m.<br>
<br>
<strong>30</strong> Men’s basketball vs. University of
Pittsburgh-Greensburg, 8 p.m.</p>
<p><strong>January</strong></p>
<p><strong>6</strong> Swimming vs. Austin College and University
of the Incarnate Word, <br>
2 p.m.<br>
<br>
<strong>14</strong> Women’s basketball vs. Colorado College, 6
p.m.<br>
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<div align="left">Results from a recent national survey show that
students at Southwestern University rank above students at peer
institutions - and significantly above the national average - when it
comes to being engaged in their academic endeavors.
<p>The findings come from the 2006 National Survey of Student
Engagement (NSSE), which was sponsored by The Carnegie Foundation for
the Advancement of Teaching and administered by the Indiana University
Center for Survey Research. </p>
<p>The NSSE is given annually to first-year students and seniors.
This is the fifth year that Southwestern has participated in the study.
Forty-five percent of eligible Southwestern students responded to the
2006 survey. Nationwide, about 260,000 students from 523 four-year
colleges and universities participated in the survey.</p>
<p>The survey measures five areas that are associated with high
levels of learning and development: level of academic challenge, active
and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching
educational experiences, and supportive campus environment. </p>
<p>Southwestern was in the top 10 percent of schools nationally
in the areas of student-faculty interaction and enriching educational
experiences. It also ranked above its peer group in the other three
areas.</p>
<p>The section on student-faculty interaction asks students
questions such as whether they have discussed ideas from their classes
with faculty members outside of class, worked with faculty members on
research projects outside of class or talked about career plans with a
faculty member or advisor.</p>
<p>The section on enriching educational experiences asks students
whether they have participated in complementary learning opportunities
such as co-curricular activities, internships, community service or
volunteer work, study abroad or a senior capstone project.</p>
<p>"The survey gives us an idea of how well we are doing from the
students' perspective," said Provost Jim Hunt.</p>
<p>Colleges and universities can use the NSSE to identify areas
where changes are needed in policies, curriculum and allocation of
resources.</p>
<p>For example, as a result of student responses to NSSE,
Southwestern has implemented additional social and recreational
opportunities on weekends, more comprehensive health and wellness
services, and living/learning communities. In addition, budgets for
social activities with students and faculty have been created,
collaborative research opportunities continue to develop, and
community-based learning opportunities are expanding. </p>
<p>The NSSE also is one of several new instruments that can help
consumers differentiate between schools.</p>
<p>"Prospective students and their parents can use the survey to
help them find a college or university that provides enriching
educational experiences that meet their goals and objectives," Hunt
said. </p>
<p>To see the results of Southwestern's 2006 NSSE survey, visit <a
href="www.southwestern.edu/nsse">www.southwestern.edu/nsse</a>.</p>
<p>For more information on the National Survey of Student
Engagement, visit <a href="www.nsse.iub.edu">www.nsse.iub.edu</a>.</p>
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<div align="left"><b> EVENTS </b></div>
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<div align="left"><strong>FACULTY FORUM</strong></div>
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<p>There is no Faculty Forum scheduled for Monday, Dec. 18. </p>
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<div class="style8" align="left">MEDIA COVERAGE </div>
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<p align="left">The<em> Austin Business Journal</em> ran an op-ed
piece by President Jake Schrum titled “College education still remains
a bargain.” Read the article online at <a
href="http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2006/12/11/editorial1.html">http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2006/12/11/editorial1.html<br>
</a><br>
The <em>Austin American-Statesman</em> and the<em> Williamson County
Sun</em> ran stories on Southwestern’s inclusion in a new Carnegie
Classification for colleges that demonstrate community engagement. </p>
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<div class="style8" align="left">NOTE</div>
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<p align="left">This will be the last edition of <em>In Focus</em>
for the fall semester. The first issue of the spring semester will be
published Jan. 12. Southwestern University will be closed from Dec. 22
through Jan. 1. Happy Holidays!</p>
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