Fall 2008 Alumni Survey

Assessment Day PresentationOffice of Alumni and Development

Fitchburg State College

History and methodology

• Academic, Administrative, and Student Affairs all need alumni feedback.

• Many academic departments do surveys for program evaluation and/or accreditation.

• ACT, 2005, $3000.00• Ruffalo-Cody, 2006, $12,000.00• Select Survey™, 2008, $0.00• 67% of items alumni-office related, 33%

academic/career related.

Sample and return rate• Approximately 10,000 recent grads (within last

three years) and Alumni Association members solicited via Contact magazine and alumni e-newsletter.

• Respondents = 257 (2.57%), 51 >2004, 206 <2004– 2005, 25%; 2006, 32%

• Degree programs represented: – Bio, Business, Comm. Media, Computer Science, CJ,

Econ., Education, EXSS, Geo/Earth Science, History, Human Services, ITEC, Math, Nursing, Poli. Sci., Psych., Sociology, “Other.”

Results – Alumni Affairs

• Satisfaction with communications from FSC.– 82% state that they feel “very” or “somewhat” in

touch with the College.

• Participation in alumni activities.– 17% have actually attended alumni events.

• Interest in alumni events.– About 40% express interest in general and special

reunions and networking or educational events.

Results – Student Affairs

• No specific items on the survey.• Offers to speak, provide internships, recruit

for jobs• References in open-ended comments section.– Greek life– Student professional organizations– Other clubs and activities– Residence life (esp. service as an RA)– Disability services

Typical Academic Affairs Questions

• How many graduates go on to careers in their fields of study?

• How long does it take graduates to get their careers launched?

• How do graduates assess their earning power and how successful are they in their chosen fields?

• How many graduates go on for more formal education?

Results – Academic Affairs (I)

• High satisfaction (58% “very satisfied,” 31% “satisfied”) with education from FSC.

• Up to 85% claim to have worked full- or part-time in their fields of study; 61% still working in or retired from major fields.

• 32% had jobs on graduation, 34% found work within 6 months.

Results – Academic Affairs (II)

• Recent grads mostly entry-level or experienced professionals; less-recent grads advanced professionals, managers, and above.

• Recent grads more likely than less-recent grads to describe compensation as “below average” for their career fields (29% vs. 16%)

• 56% had at least some graduate study (39% recent, 60% less-recent).

Overall

• Not a lot for most individual programs.• Some useful info and contact data for

academic departments and College offices.• Need better insight into liberal arts/social

science “career tracks.”• Need better outreach to recent graduates.

Questions

http://www.fsc.edu/assessment/Fall2008AlumniSurvey.cfm