Lake Wales, FL - Results from the 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Study show Warner Southern College students are among the most satisfied in five categories of educational practice as compared with students of peer institutions. These categories are Level of Academic Challenge, Active and Collaborative Learning, Student-Faculty Interaction, Enriching Educational Experiences and Supportive Campus Environment. For the last four years, Warner Southern College has participated in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE - pronounced "Nessy").

NSSE collects information annually from samples of first year and senior students about the nature and quality of their undergraduate experiences. Colleges and universities use the information gathered in this survey to measure the extent to which students engage in effective educational practices that are linked to learning, personal development, satisfaction, as well as likelihood for their persistence and graduation.

In 2007, more than 313,000 first-year and senior students from nearly 610 different four-year colleges and universities participated in the NSSE survey. While the average institutional response rate was 36%, Warner Southern College's response rate was 44%, an early indicator of commitment and satisfaction. Survey responses for each participating institution are collected, analyzed, and compared with all other participating institutions as well as other peer groups. For Warner Southern College these peer groups are defined by the institution's Carnegie Classification (Baccalaureate Colleges with Diverse Fields of Study) and membership in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

Overall, looking at five specific indicators or benchmarks of effective educational practice, Warner Southern College significantly outperformed peer groups in each of the categories listed above.

Warner Southern continually looks to improving the student experience. Participating in NSSE is one of the ways to measure the effectiveness of various on-going initiatives at the college. Students have responded well to College Experience classes for new students and Warner Experience classes for new transfer students, the opening of two new residence halls, a low faculty to student classroom ratio, as well as opportunities to be involved in meaningful service work.

These survey results confirm the strength of the programs at Warner Southern College. They also serve as a catalyst for improvement activities to document student learning and satisfaction with the institution. As Warner Southern College enters its 40th year as a four-year, post-secondary institution located in Lake Wales, Florida, the institution enjoys record enrollment and a student body that is engaged and thriving. Additional information about Warner Southern College is available on-line at www.warner.edu.

Warner Southern College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, bachelor, and masters degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Warner Southern College.