TBers, 

The paper linked to below  suggests that students report higher levels of engagement and learning at institutions where faculty members use active and collaborative learning techniques, engage students in experiences, emphasize higher-order cognitive activities in the classroom, interact with students, challenge students academically, and value enriching educational experiences. These findings are hardly new news, but worthy of revisiting nonetheless. 

Pages 8-12 are the details of the data analysis and can be skimmed. 

Umbach, P. D., & Wawrzynski, M. R. (2004, June). Faculty do matter: The role of college faculty in student learning and engagement. Paper presented at the annual forum of the Association for Institutional Research, Boston, MA.

BTW, welcome back.