De Anza College students are statistically more civically engaged in their community when compared to the national average, according to the Community Engagement Survey conducted by De Anza College Office of Institutional Research and Planning.

The Community Engagement Survey is part of a larger national survey of community colleges to help determine and measure student involvement on and off campus.

The purpose of the survey is to assess students’ civic outcomes and measure the institutional characteristics that contribute to the community.

“[The survey seeks to] better understand how we prepare students to have a positive impact on the community and be informed citizens,” said Mallory Newell, director of the Office of Institutional Research and Planning at De Anza.

While there was an email explaining the purpose of the survey when it was distributed to students, many still do not understand what it is for.

“We still have no idea what it’s for,” said Tascha Guasch, 22, nursing major, of the survey.

While students may feel puzzled by the survey, the results from participants in the 2013 survey show De Anza students are more actively involved in the community than the national average. De Anza compares its statistics to a nationwide survey conducted by civicyouth.org in 2012.

Forty eight percent of students at De Anza have signed a petition, compared to the national average of 17 percent. Forty eight percent have participated in a national election, compared to the national average of 26 percent. Sixteen percent have participated in a march, rally or protest, compared to the national average of 11 percent.

The survey shows De Anza students are more involved with their community after one year of attending the college.