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Survey Results

Institutional surveys are a valuable tool used by the University to gather feedback from students at various stages of their academic journey. These surveys help inform decision-making, support planning and assessment efforts, and contribute to the continuous improvement of programs and services. By exploring the results, you can gain insights into the Nipissing student experience, identify areas of strength and opportunity and better understand how student perspectives can shape positive change within the institution. 

The results shared on this page include data from several key surveys: the Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC), which focuses on undergraduate students; the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which explores academic engagement and learning experiences for undergraduate students; the Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey (CGPSS), which captures the voices of graduate students; and Ontario University Graduate Survey (OUGS), which gathers data on alumni employment and experiences six months and two years after graduation.  

 

Stage of Study

Student Start Year

1st Year

Middle Years

4th Year

Post Graduation

  
  UG UG UG

UG

BED

2016

NSSE 2017

  

NSSE 2020

OUGS 2020

OUGS 2018

2017

  

CUSC 2020

CUSC 2021

OUGS 2021

OUGS 2019

2018

CUSC 2019

CUSC 2020

  

OUGS 2022

OUGS 2020

2019

NSSE 2020

  

NSSE 2023

  

OUGS 2021

2020

  

CUSC 2023

CUSC 2024

  

OUGS 2022

2021

CUSC 2022

CUSC 2023

      

2022

NSSE 2023

        

2023

          

2024

 CUSC 2025        

2025

          

Survey Information

Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC)

The surveys aim to collect information about what students expect of their university, their motivations for going to university, whether they have a goal in mind, and their self-reported development. The three surveys will contain common questions to help universities assess how their students change as they progress through their education.

Who?

  • Undergraduate Students
  • CUSC operates on a three-year cycle, alternating between: graduating students, first-year students, and middle-year students. 

What?

Core questions found on all three CUSC surveys include:

  • Demographics/ personal profile 
  • Students' academic profile
  • Use of and satisfaction with various facilities and services
  • Experiences with faculty
  • Financing education

         

       
  

  • Whether the university experience exceeded, met, or fell short of expectations
  • Assessment of the overall university experience
  • Open-ended questions - Which aspects of your experience were the most negative/ most positive?

The survey typically commences in January and closes in April.  Results are provided back to the participating institutions in July. 

CUSC Results

First Year

Middle Years

Graduating Year

National Survey of Students Engagement (NSSE)

NSSE annually collects information about first-year and graduating students' participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development. The questionnaire gathers information across five key areas: students' engagement in educationally purposeful activities, institutional expectations and academic rigor, perceptions of the university environment, self-assessed educational and personal development, and demographic and background details.

Note: Nipissing participates in NSSE every three years.

Engagement Indicators

NSSE developed ten Engagement Indicators organized within four engagement themes as shown below.

Theme Engagement Indicators
Academic Challenge Higher-Order Learning
Reflective & Integrative Learning
Learning Strategies
Quantitative Reasoning
Learning with Peers Collaborative Learning
Discussions with Diverse Others
Experiences with Faculty Student-Faculty Interaction
Effective Teaching Practices
Campus Environment Quality of Interactions
Supportive Environment

High-Impact Practices

High-Impact Practices (HIPs) demand considerable time and effort, facilitate learning outside of the classroom, require meaningful interactions with faculty and students, encourage collaboration with diverse others, and provide frequent and substantive feedback. NSSE asks about participation in six HIPs:

  • Service Learning
  • Learning Community
  • Research with Faculty
  • Internship or Field Experience
  • Study Abroad
  • Culminating Senior Experience

The survey typically commences in February and closes in June.  Results are provided back to the participating institutions in November.

NSSE Results

Ontario University Graduate Surveys (OUGS)

The Ontario University Graduate Survey (OUGS) is conducted annually by the Ministry. The survey is administered to graduates from undergraduate programs, two years after their graduation (i.e., 2025 survey polls 2023 graduates), to obtain information about graduate employment outcomes. Survey topics include: 

  • employment rate 
  • relatedness of employment to skills and subject of study 
  • level of education required for their employment 
  • salary range, etc. 

The survey typically commences in November and closes in April.  Results are provided back to the participating institutions in July. 

OUGS Results

Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey (CGPSS)

The Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey (CGPSS) is a comprehensive national survey designed to gather feedback from active graduate and professional students across Canadian universities. It aims to assess students' experiences and satisfaction with their academic programs and institutional services. The survey data is used for institutional benchmarking and national reporting.
 

Who?

  • Graduate and professional students at participating Canadian universities.

What?

  • Collects feedback from graduate and professional students on their academic and institutional experiences.
  • Provides data for institutional, regional, and national benchmarking.
  • Includes optional institution-specific questions for tailored insights.
  • Offers anonymized datasets for in-depth analysis and reporting.

The survey typically commences in January and closes in April.  Results are provided back to the participating institutions in May. 

CGPSS Results

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