NipU remains positive even with a slip in McLean's ratings

Nipissing University
News Release

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Nipissing University is getting some positive results in the Maclean’s annual University Rankings Issue released November 10, 2010. As in previous years, Maclean’s uses two prominent surveys, the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Canadian Undergraduate Survey Consortium (CUSC), to balance their ranking system in order to provide a student perspective.

Nipissing ranked in the top 10 out of 57 universities in the section of Maclean’s that discusses student satisfaction using the Canadian Undergraduate Student Consortium survey (CUSC). In the survey, 93 percent of students agree or strongly agree that they are generally satisfied with the quality of teaching they have received. (37% strongly, 56% agree). And, 90% of students agree or strongly agree that they are satisfied with their decision to attend Nipissing (50% strongly, 40% agree).

Nipissing ranked well above the national average using the National Survey of Student Engagement. In the category How would you evaluate your entire educational experience at this university?, first-year students gave a 91 per cent positive rating (46 per cent excellent and 45 per cent good) and senior students gave a 90 per cent rating (46 per cent excellent and 44 per cent good). In the category If you could start over, would you go to the institution you are now attending?, first-year students gave an 89 per cent positive rating (55 per cent excellent and 34 per cent good) and senior students gave an 87 per cent rating (54 per cent excellent and 33 per cent good).

“Our students clearly enjoy the experience of being a Nipissing student, and they are at the forefront in terms of job placement, and going on to graduate studies and professional schools,” said Dr. Lesley Lovett-Doust, Nipissing University president. “We listen to our students and that is why we have placed such a high priority on building our new research wing, with opportunities for undergraduates to take part in original research, as well as the new library that will be ready in summer 2011 and are planning a new Health and Wellness research complex on campus. Clearly our “reputational” aspect needs some work, but we are a relatively young university. This year, Nipissing became the home of the Schulich School of Education; our faculty and staff, across the disciplines, are deeply engaged in academic excellence, and I am hopeful that an appreciation of quality education will become a greater part of the Maclean's criteria for overall ranking.”

Nipissing scored in the top 15 in categories relating to Student Support, specifically in Scholarships and Bursaries, and Student Services.

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