The NSSE is an annual survey that assesses the extent to which first-year and senior undergraduates engage in educational practices associated with high levels of learning and development. The survey is based on the premise that the frequency with which students engage in effective educational practices indicates the quality of the educational experience.

The NSSE assesses student experiences within the following areas:

	Academic and Intellectual Experiences - address issues such as class related participation and activities, working relationships and dialogue between students and faculty, course related use of technology, and paid or voluntary academically related service
	Mental Activities - activities such as memorization, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and application of concepts
	Reading and Writing - numbers of assigned and unassigned books read as well as the number of written reports completed of various lengths
	Challenge of Examinations - extent to which college exams are challenging to students
	Quality of Advising - evaluating the quality of advising received
	Enriching Educational Experiences - student participation in various experiences including internships, volunteerism, learning communities, research, foreign language coursework, study abroad, independent study or self-designed major, and culminating experiences
	Time Usage - time spent by students on various activities on a weekly basis
	Educational and Personal Growth - extent to which institution contributed to student knowledge, skills, and personal development” in various areas
	Institutional Environment - extent to which institution emphasizes certain resources and activities
	Quality of Relationships - information about student relationships with other students, faculty members, and administrative personnel and offices
	Satisfaction - level of satisfaction with student experience at CSUS
	CSU Consortium Questions - six common questions for thirteen CSU-campus consortium