ARE STUDENTS ENGAGED OR ADRIFT?: STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AT A BRAZILIAN RESEARCH UNIVERSITY

June 20, 2016
Ana Maria Carneiro, Higher Education Scholar from Brazil, to Discuss the Research University Advantage for Undergraduates at the University of Campinas (Unicamp)
BERKELEY, CA, June 20, 2016 – On June 21st at Berkeley, Ana Maria Carneiro, a visiting scholar at the Center for Studies in Higher Education, will discuss her research on undergraduate student engagement at the University of Campinas (Unicamp), a leading research university in Brazil.
Carneiro partnered with the SERU (Student Experience in the Research University) International Consortium, a collection of 15 leading research universities, to conduct research at her home institution. Over 3,400 undergraduate students replied to the SERU Survey in 2012.  Strategic questions that were analyzed were: Are undergraduate students at the University of Campinas engaged or adrift? What are their main modes of engagement? How do both the extent and patterns of engagement vary based on criteria such as student background, level of study and field of study? The undergraduate survey has the objective of conducting an in-depth study of the undergraduate experience and promoting an institutional culture of evidence and self-improvement, through the systematic analysis and use of data for policymaking. 
In her talk, Carneiro will discuss how the data synthesized from the University of Campinas led to common themes affecting student engagement. She has identified five pillars of engagement that emerged which are: curricular and research engagement with faculty, social and leisure engagement, curricular disengagement, curricular engagement outside of class, and extracurricular engagement. 
Carneiro will demonstrate, from her findings, how the different modes of curricular engagement affect graduation and dropout rates. Her studies revealed that a high level of engagement with curricular activities is associated with higher graduation rates. Her data also showed that engagement in social and leisure activities did not necessarily lead to lower graduation rates.  Further, her findings indicated that high levels of extracurricular engagement led to continued enrollment but to protracted graduation rates.  Carneiro will also address how modes of engagement widely differ within fields of study. 
In summary, Carneiro’s research underscores a correlation between modes of engagement and academic performance among undergraduate students at Unicamp.  Carneiro will argue that SERU is a powerful tool that enables university administrators to evaluate student engagement and apply the results to improve the undergraduate student experience at their institutions.
Carol Christ, Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, University of California, Berkeley  will moderate the discussion. 
Sponsored by: The Center for Studies in Higher Education, UC Berkeley, Room 768 Evans Hall, CSHE Library, Tuesday June 21st, from 12:00-1:00pm.  Lunch to follow.  
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Ana Maria Carneiro is a Researcher at the University of Campinas (Unicamp, São Paulo, Brazil), Center for the Study of Public Policies (NEPP), since 2010.  Her research interests focus on student educational outcomes, the impact of general education on student development, and longitudinal studies applied to higher education impact evaluation. She coordinates the evaluation of the Interdisciplinary Higher Education Program (ProFIS), a higher education program at Unicamp, which serves as an affirmative action program and a general education program. She is an associate coordinator of the Laboratory for the Study of Higher Education (LEES) at Unicamp. Ana Maria Carneiro received her Ph.D. in Science and Technology Policy from Unicamp, her M.S. in Sociology from Unicamp, and her B.S in Social Sciences from Federal University of Gojas.
Carol Christ, is Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, University of California, Berkeley  will moderate the discussion
Center for Studies in Higher Education (CSHE) was established in 1956 and was the first research institute in the United States devoted to the study of systems, institutions, and processes of higher education.  The Center’s mission is to produce and support multi-disciplinary scholarly perspectives on strategic issues in higher education, to conduct relevant policy research, to promote the development of a community of scholars and policymakers engaged in policy-oriented discussion, and to serve the public as a resource on higher education.  http://cshe.berkeley.edu