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Abstract Background and Methodology Results: Employment Continued Education Gains and Emphasis Satisfaction with the University Alumni Association Programs and Services Open-Ended Questionnaire Responses Summary and Conclusions
ABSTRACT
This report describes the results of the 2001 administration of the BGSU Short-Term Alumni Questionnaire (1999 Bachelor's
Degree graduates) and the BGSU Long-Term Alumni Questionnaire (1995 Bachelor's Degree graduates). The questionnaires were
designed to collect information about the employment and continued education activities of alumni, their educational and personal
gains, their satisfaction with various aspects of the University, and their awareness of and satisfaction with various Alumni
Association programs and services. Their use supports the University's assessment priority. Results are used in this report
to provide a descriptive profile of the 1995 and 1999 baccalaureate alumni. They are also maintained in databases within the
Office of Institutional Research for use in longitudinal studies.
BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY
The need for information about the post-graduation activities and perceptions of alumni prompted the development of the BGSU
Short-Term and Long-Term Alumni Questionnaires in late 1997. This information constitutes a critical component of BGSU's assessment
efforts. Since no single commercially-available questionnaire would provide the data specifically needed by BGSU in a timely
and cost effective manner, short-term and long-term questionnaires were developed by the Office of Institutional Research
in 1997 following widespread consultation with various sectors of the University. The Office of Institutional Research plans
to administer the alumni surveys to BGSU graduates every three to five years.
Alumni questionnaires were mailed to all 1995 (long-term) and 1999 (short-term) BGSU baccalaureate alumni using mailing labels
provided by the Office of Alumni Affairs. A first mailing was done in April 2001 and a second mailing to non-respondents was
done in May. A total of 410 long-term questionnaires were returned from the group of 2,263 alumni of 1995 in the population;
this represents a 18% response rate. The profile of the long-term respondents closely matched that of all 1995 baccalaureate
alumni with respect to gender, ethnicity, and college. A total of 616 short-term questionnaires were returned from the group
of 2,654 alumni of 1999 in the population; this representing a 23% response rate. There was a high degree of race similarity
between the short-term respondents and the population of 1999 graduates. The largest difference was the under-representation
of male respondents (30% of sample vs. 40% of population). The proportion of short-term respondents who were in College of
Arts and Science (32%) was somewhat low compared with those in the population of 1999 graduates (38%). The proportion of short-term
respondents who were in College of Health and Human Services (17%) was somewhat high compared with those in the population
of 1999 graduates (12%). These limitations and the low response rates require that all results from this survey be interpreted
with some caution.
Alumni questionnaire results were analyzed by noting the percentages of respondents who provided each response to each questionnaire
item. Results were also compared with those of 1998 administration of surveys to 1991 (long-term) and 1996 (short-term) alumni.
In addition, group differences (female vs. male, minority graduates vs. European-American graduates, and college vs. college)
were investigated for 1995 and 1999 alumni and significant differences are noted where they occurred.
EMPLOYMENT Which best describes your current employment status?
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
| employed full-time in a job related to my major |
68 |
68 |
69 |
69 |
| employed part-time in a job related to my major |
7 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
| employed full-time in a job unrelated to my major |
17 |
19 |
12 |
16 |
| employed part-time in a job unrelated to my major |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
| employed as a graduate assistant |
1 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
| unemployed and seeking employment |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| unemployed and not seeking employment |
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
European-American respondents were more likely to report being employed full-time in jobs related to their majors; minority
respondents were more likely to report being employed full-time in jobs unrelated to their majors. Business Administration
alumni of 1999 were most likely to be employed full-time in jobs related to their majors among the alumni of 1999 in all the
colleges.
What is the annual salary of your current job? (Long-Term Alumni) What was the annual salary of your first job after graduation? (Short-Term Alumni)
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
| less than $20,000 |
9 |
10 |
34 |
18 |
| $20,000 - $29,999 |
20 |
13 |
43 |
46 |
| $30,000 - $39,999 |
24 |
30 |
17 |
28 |
| $40,000 - $49,999 |
20 |
17 |
5 |
7 |
| $50,000 and above |
27 |
29 |
1 |
2 |
Compared with 1996 alumni, 1999 alumni were less likely to have a annual salary less than $20,000 for their first job, but
more likely to have a salary between $30,000 and $39,000 a year. Males, on average, reported higher salaries than females.
A significantly greater percentage of alumni from the College of Technology and College of Business Administration had salaries
in the $40,000+ range.
How satisfied are you with your current job? (Long-Term Alumni) How satisfied were you with your first job after graduation? (Short-Term Alumni)
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
| very satisfied |
49 |
51 |
37 |
35 |
| satisfied |
42 |
42 |
43 |
47 |
| dissatisfied |
8 |
7 |
14 |
13 |
| very dissatisfied |
1 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
European-American respondents were more likely to report that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their first jobs
after their graduation than were minority respondents.
How satisfied are you with the way BGSU prepared you for your current job? (Long-Term Alumni) How satisfied are you with the way BGSU prepared you for your first job after graduation? (Short-Term Alumni)
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
| very satisfied |
31 |
34 |
26 |
22 |
| satisfied |
61 |
56 |
60 |
63 |
| dissatisfied |
6 |
8 |
10 |
11 |
| very dissatisfied |
2 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
European-American alumni more often said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their career preparation than did minority
alumni.
How many different jobs have you had since you graduated from BGSU?
| |
Long-Term Alumni only |
| 1991 |
1995 |
| % |
% |
| none |
4 |
5 |
| one |
14 |
13 |
| two |
26 |
32 |
| three or more |
57 |
50 |
Men were less likely to have had three or more different jobs since they graduated from BGSU than were women. What methods did you use to find your first job after you graduated from BGSU?
| |
Short-Term Alumni only |
| 1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
| personal contacts/networking |
53 |
52 |
| newspaper ad |
28 |
26 |
| BGSU Career Services |
25 |
25 |
| co-op/internship contacts |
16 |
19 |
| BGSU faculty |
13 |
10 |
| other BGSU contacts |
7 |
5 |
| employment agency |
7 |
6 |
| recruiter |
5 |
7 |
| alumni career programs |
1 |
1 |
How long did it take you to get your first job after you graduated from BGSU?
| |
Short-Term Alumni only |
| 1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
| I continued in a job I already had |
13 |
10 |
| I found a job before graduation |
28 |
34 |
| less than 3 months |
32 |
31 |
| 3 to 6 months |
15 |
16 |
| 6 to 12 months |
9 |
6 |
| more than 12 months |
4 |
2 |
Men, European-American alumni, and alumni from College of Business Administration and College of Technology were more likely
to find a job before their graduation than were women, minority alumni, and alumni from other colleges.
If you are required to take a licensing or certification examination related to your area of study at BGSU, please choose
one of the following options:
| |
Short-Term Alumni only |
| 1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
| I have taken and passed the examination |
95 |
92 |
| I have taken the exam but do not yet know the results |
2 |
2 |
| I have taken the exam but did not pass |
3 |
6 |
Minority alumni and alumni from College of Business Administration were less likely to report that they have taken and passed
a licensing or certification examination related to their area of study at BGSU than were European-American alumni and alumni
from other colleges.
CONTINUED EDUCATION Since graduation from BGSU have you completed any additional college courses?
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
| No |
39 |
40 |
60 |
67 |
| Yes, I've completed courses, but not towards another degree. |
18 |
16 |
12 |
9 |
| Yes, I've completed courses towards another Bachelor's degree, but haven't yet earned it. |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Yes, I've completed courses towards and earned another bachelor's Degree. |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Yes, I've completed courses towards a Master's Degree, but haven't yet earned it. |
11 |
17 |
12 |
17 |
| Yes, I've completed courses towards and earned a Master's Degree. |
22 |
20 |
8 |
3 |
| Yes, I've completed courses towards a doctoral degree, but haven't yet earned it. |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
| Yes, I've completed courses towards and earned a doctoral degree. |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Yes, I've completed courses towards a law or medical degree, but haven't yet earned it. |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| Yes, I've completed courses towards and earned a law or medical degree. |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Compared with men and the short-term alumni (those who recently graduated), women and long-term alumni were more likely to
take additional course work. Minority alumni of 1995 were more likely to take additional college course than were European-American
alumni of 1995. Education & Human Development alumni of 1995 and Health and Human Services alumni of 1999 more often said
they have taken additional course work since their graduation from BGSU.
What is the most important reason that you continued your education after graduating from BGSU?
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
| for continued career preparation |
56 |
49 |
54 |
53 |
| for preparation for a new career |
11 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
| to increase my earnings |
19 |
24 |
17 |
24 |
| for general self-improvement |
14 |
12 |
14 |
8 |
Female alumni more frequently reported that the most important reason for them to continue their education was continuing
their career preparation.
How satisfied are you with the way BGSU prepared you for additional college work?
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
| very satisfied |
32 |
37 |
33 |
25 |
| satisfied |
61 |
59 |
60 |
69 |
| dissatisfied |
6 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
| very dissatisfied |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
European-American alumni of 1995 more often said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the way BGSU prepared them for
additional college work than did minority alumni of 1995.
GAINS AND EMPHASIS For each of the following items, please indicated how much you feel you have gained as a results of your BGSU education. (Percentage
"Quite a Bit" or "Very Much")
| |
Long-Term Alumni Only |
| 1991 |
1995 |
| being open to new ideas |
NA |
72% |
| developing knowledge and skills applicable to a career |
NA |
68% |
| writing effectively |
70% |
66% |
| relating to others |
61% |
65% |
| thinking critically |
66% |
63% |
| being prepared for further education |
NA |
63% |
| making informed judgments |
NA |
62% |
| solving problems |
67% |
60% |
| understanding my own abilities, interests, and values |
60% |
56% |
| speaking effectively |
61% |
54% |
| making connections between the classes I have taken |
NA |
52% |
| making connections between things I have learned in class and other experiences in my life |
NA |
52% |
understanding cultural, racial and gender differences and how they relate to me, my field of study, and my future career
|
NA |
50% |
| using computers |
39% |
49% |
| developing a better understanding of my career goals |
NA |
45% |
For each of the following items, please indicated how much emphasis you feel BGSU should place in each area (Percentage "Need
to Emphasize More")
| |
Long-Term Alumni Only |
| 1991 |
1995 |
| using computers |
67% |
55% |
| speaking effectively |
45% |
45% |
| developing a better understanding of my career goals |
NA |
43% |
| solving problems |
37% |
38% |
| thinking critically |
39% |
38% |
| developing knowledge and skills applicable to a career |
NA |
37% |
| making connections between things I have learned in class and other experiences in my life |
NA |
36% |
| making connections between the classes I have taken |
NA |
35% |
| writing effectively |
44% |
35% |
| understanding my own abilities, interests, and values |
27% |
29% |
understanding cultural, racial and gender differences and how they relate to me, my field of study, and my future career
|
NA |
29% |
| making informed judgments |
NA |
27% |
| being prepared for further education |
NA |
25% |
| relating to others |
35% |
18% |
| being open to new ideas |
NA |
16% |
Alumni from Health and Human Services were least likely to report that they gained quite a bit or very much in using computers
among the alumni in all colleges. They were most likely to indicate that BGSU needs to emphasize more developing a better
understanding of their career goals.
Minority alumni more often reported that they gained quite a bit or very much in writing effectively. They were, however,
less likely than European-American alumni to report that they gained quite a bit or very much in solving problems, speaking
effectively, thinking critically, making informed judgments, relating to others, being open to new ideas, developing a better
understanding of their career goals, being prepared for further education, making connections between things they have learned
in class and other experiences in their life, and understanding cultural, racial, and gender differences and how they relate
to themselves, their field of study, and their future career. They were more likely than European-American alumni to indicate
that BGSU should emphasize more on 12 out of 15 items listed on the table above, except solving problems, making informed
judgments, and being prepared for further education, for which there were no cross group difference.
SATISFACTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY Regardless of the financial benefits, has your college education improved the quality of your life so far?
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
|
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
|
1996 |
1999 |
definitely probably probably not definitely not
|
79% 18% 2% 1%
|
75% 20% 4% 2%
|
|
69% 25% 4% 2%
|
66% 27% 4% 3%
|
If you could start college over again, would you choose to enroll at BGSU?
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
|
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
|
1996 |
1999 |
definitely probably probably not definitely not
|
34% 52% 13% 1%
|
50% 38% 9% 3%
|
|
40% 44% 12% 3%
|
42% 43% 13% 3%
|
If you could start college over again, would you choose the same major?
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
|
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
|
1996 |
1999 |
definitely probably probably not definitely not
|
25% 40% 25% 10%
|
32% 35% 26% 7%
|
|
37% 34% 21% 9%
|
37% 32% 25% 6%
|
Would you encourage others to enroll at BGSU?
| |
Long-Term Alumni |
|
Short-Term Alumni |
| 1991 |
1995 |
|
1996 |
1999 |
definitely probably probably not definitely not
|
56% 40% 4% 1%
|
66% 30% 3% 2%
|
|
57% 36% 6% 1%
|
57% 37% 4% 2%
|
Compared with the alumni of 1991, 1995 alumni seemed more likely to say they would enroll at BGSU if they could start college
over again and they were also more likely to encourage others to enroll at BGSU.
Minority alumni of 1995 were less likely than European-American alumni of 1995 to report that their college education improved
the quality of their life. They were less likely to choose the same major or to enroll at BGSU again if they could. They were
also less likely to encourage others to enroll at BGSU.
Alumni of 1999 from the colleges of Technology and Musical Arts were less likely than the alumni of 1999 from other colleges
to enroll again at BGSU.
How satisfied are you with each of the following aspects of the department or college from which you earned your BGSU degree? (Short-Term Alumni Only)
| |
very satisfied |
satisfied |
dissatisfied |
very dissatisfied |
| 1996 |
1999 |
1996 |
1999 |
1996 |
1999 |
1996 |
1999 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
| the overall quality of instruction |
33 |
32 |
62 |
62 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
| the overall quality of advising |
19 |
18 |
51 |
51 |
23 |
23 |
8 |
9 |
| ease of access to instructors |
33 |
31 |
57 |
61 |
9 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
| helpfulness in preparing for employment |
17 |
19 |
55 |
55 |
23 |
21 |
6 |
6 |
| helpfulness in preparing for further education |
18 |
15 |
63 |
65 |
16 |
17 |
3 |
3 |
| concern for me as an individual |
23 |
20 |
57 |
59 |
16 |
17 |
4 |
4 |
Alumni from Musical Arts were more satisfied with the help they received in preparing for employment. They were, however,
less satisfied with the overall quality of advisin |