CSU San Marcos students believe activity aids them
Union-Tribune 1/4/07
That's the assessment of a national study of college students that measures the involvement and educational experience of more than 520 American colleges.
AdvertisementThe survey, released in December, found about 90 percent
of California State University San Marcos students who responded believed
their community involvement and educational experiences directly strengthened
their abilities in four key areas: critical thinking, written expression,
technology use and working in groups.
The National Survey of Student Engagement, conducted annually by Indiana
University, is based on information from more than a quarter-million
U.S. students and is aimed at tracking achievement and civic involvement.
San Marcos and its sister campuses in the California State University system emphasize service learning, the idea that students should practice what they learn in their communities to gain real-world experience and to help society.
The survey found that San Marcos students are devoting more time to school than in the past, with less than one-third working at jobs that involve more than 20 hours per week.
The percentage of freshmen getting involved in nonacademic activities such as sports and clubs has increased 10 percent over the past year, reflecting efforts by the university to build campus spirit.
The survey also found CSU San Marcos students made more class presentations than their peers, 72 percent, versus 31 percent nationally.