Ascend is a psychometrically validated survey tool designed to help college-level instructors collect real-time data on their students’ classroom experiences and learning conditions. When and where trends in student data emerge, the Ascend platform includes information about teaching strategies with a demonstrated correlation to improving student experiences in that area. It’s easy to use: you just share a link with your students and plan for various survey points throughout the term! (A minimum of 3 survey periods is recommended to assess incoming, mid-term, and concluding student conditions.) Once you’ve administered the Ascend survey, reflect on the findings and discover strategies for improvement.

Ascend helps educators understand the extent to which students experience critical learning conditions: Belonging Certainty: the extent to which students perceive that interpersonal and situational cues in their learning environment signal that they belong. Identity Safety: the extent to which a learning environment signals that a student’s identity is valued. Institutional Growth Mindset: the extent to which students perceive that their instructor believes that their abilities are malleable and can be improved with effort, feedback, and using effective strategies for learning. Self-Efficacy: having confidence in and estimation of one’s abilities. Social Belonging: the extent to which students perceive that they belong in their learning environment. Social Connectedness: the creation of bonding relationships in the learning environment. Trust and Fairness: the extent to which students perceive that faculty members treat them fairly in interactions, grading, and other forms of evaluation. For a description of each learning condition as well as specific measures, visit: perts.net/ascend/measures.

Ascend was developed by the Project for Education Research That Scales (PERTS). PERTS is a national nonprofit that helps schools improve the quality and equity of learning conditions, especially those that foster engagement and accelerate learning. PERTS’ evidence-based tools, measures, and services are used by more than 400 schools and colleges, directly impacting over 100,000 students a year.

Below are some quotes from RU-N faculty participants in the AY2023-2024 Student Belonging Institute (SBI), which used Ascend to measure student experience combined with cohort meetings to collectively unpack survey results. “I found the Ascend surveys enlightening regarding how students are feeling about college, Rutgers-Newark, and my class. Although I have always surveyed students in my courses, [Ascend] was a lot more in depth and made me realize other aspects of students' experiences that I hadn't really weighed before.” “[U]sing the Ascend survey tool allowed me to gain a better view and understanding of how students' experience of belongingness and inclusivity fluctuate throughout the semester based on the presence of different stressors.” “Based on my class’s [Ascend] survey results (and trends in the overall data), I realized students need support in increasing their self efficacy and social connectedness. Prior to participating in this training, I had some sense that this is an area students struggle. The surveys helped show that this is a broader issue and that there are steps faculty can take to help students feel like they can succeed in the classroom (and understand the course material).” “Getting feedback from students [using Ascend] on things they were concerned about at the beginning of the term was very helpful. I feel more engaged as a teacher when I have open channels of communication with my students, but [my students] are usually not willing to share or discuss their insecurities with me directly. I think using the Ascend survey, along with intentionally discussing the aggregated feedback with my students, helped us have continuous conversations about what's working and not working. …I actually could see my students saying things like ‘she makes changes based on what we say’ which helped engender trust.”

Any Rutgers-Newark faculty or member of instructional staff can request access to Ascend by filling out this quick interest form. We will then work with you to get you set up in Ascend for the current or forthcoming semester. Note: The P3 may use aggregated Ascend data to assess general trends in the student experience on our campus. Identifying information will NOT be shared. Ascend data will NEVER be used to evaluate teaching unless submitted by the faculty/instructor as part of the promotional process.

Additional Resources: PERTS Support Page for Instructors Using Ascend The Student Experience Project Resource Hub Equity Accelerator