Why the New Benchmark Report Format? Summary of Key Changes and Rationale Summary of Key Report Changes: • Comparison group scores computed at the student level and not the institution level • New comparisons provided against above average (top 50%) and high performing (top 10%) reference groups on each benchmark • Statistical tests, effect sizes, and detailed statistics provided for all comparisons • Engagement Index and decile charts discontinued Rationale To focus more squarely on students and institutional improvement and to provide more instructive and reliable statistical comparisons with peer institutions, NSSE revised its benchmark comparison report. While institutional benchmark scores are calculated the same way, comparison group scores in this report are now calculated at the student level. For example, students attending a master’s university are compared with students attending other master’s universities. Calculating comparison group scores at the student level is consistent with the means and frequency reports provided in your NSSE Institutional Report in August. A major advantage of this approach is that your scores can be statistically compared to your consortium or selected peer schools, Carnegie class, and the national norms. With this in mind, this year’s revised report provides comparisons to two new reference groups: (a) above-average institutions with benchmark scores in the top 50% nationally and (b) high-performing ...