Helicopter parents, notorious for hovering over their college-age children, may actually help students thrive, according to this year's National Survey of Student Engagement. Students whose parents intervene on their behalf--38 percent of freshmen and 29 percent of seniors--are more active in and satisfied with college, says the monstrous annual report affectionately known as "Nessie." Nessie has always emphasized what it calls "deep learning," and this year's report focuses on four activities it says promote that. For freshmen, the report looks at learning communities, which take different forms but usually involve at least two courses focused on a theme. For seniors, it examines study abroad, research with a faculty member, and culminating experiences like a major project, "capstone" course, or internship. The eight-year-old survey is a fixture in student affairs, and nearly 1,200 colleges have used it at least once. Participating colleges get detailed measures of their students' "engagement," or the extent to which they are immersed in academics and campus activities. The report evaluates institutions' performances in five categories: level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experiences, and supportive campus environment. The survey is administered by the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research and financed by participating colleges.