Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania College Portrait

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Students
Find out more about the characteristics of students who attend BU.
Admissions
See how many students applied, accepted, and enrolled at BU. Learn more about students’ high school preparation and test scores.
College Costs & Financial Aid
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College Cost Estimator
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Classes and Campus Life
Learn more about professors, where students live, and campus safety at BU.
Student Experiences
Discover ways to be actively involved in your education at BU – inside and outside the classroom.
Majors, Graduation and Next Steps
See which majors are most popular at BU and what recent graduates plan to do after earning their bachelor's degree.
Student Success & Progress
Discover how many students who start at BU finish their bachelor's degree and how long it takes.
Student Learning Outcomes
Figure out what learning gains to expect in critical thinking, writing, and other important subjects at BU.

Student Activities and Involvement at BU

Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Bloomsburg University offers students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. BU measures the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful. The National Survey of Student Engagement (web survey) included all freshmen and seniors enrolled in Spring 2012 with a response rate of 20 percent. With regard to active learning reported by First Year students, 54% frequently discuss readings or ideas from coursework outside of class; 47% frequently work with other students on projects in class, 42% work with peers on assignments outside of class, 25% make frequent presentations in class; and 10% frequently participate in service-learning or community-based projects during a given year. With regard to active learning reported by seniors, 61% have participated in some form of practicum, internship, field experience, co-op, or clinical assignment and 28% frequently assist their fellow students by tutoring or teaching.

When surveyed about enriching educational experiences at Bloomsburg University during the First Year, 14% of students participate in a learning community, 46% say they frequently have serious conversations with students who are different from themselves in terms of their religious, political, or personal beliefs, 44% frequently have serious conversations with those of a different race, 22% frequently engage in spiritually enhancing activities such as worship, meditation, or prayer. By their senior year, 14% of students have taken an independent study class, 8% have studied abroad, and 65% have participated in community service or volunteer work.

Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.

Group Learning Experiences

96.0% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
55.0% of seniors tutored or taught other students
34.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports

Active Learning Experiences

85.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
19.0% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
61.0% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
65.0% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
8.0% of seniors participated in study abroad
99.0% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year

Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success

97.0% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
73.0% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
62.0% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
96.0% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations

Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff

51.0% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
80.0% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
95.0% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
74.0% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class

Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas

62.0% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
89.0% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
43.0% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity

Student Satisfaction

81.0% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
87.0% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
84.0% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive

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