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

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.

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.

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.

European-American alumni more often said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their career preparation than did minority alumni.

Men were less likely to have had three or more different jobs since they graduated from BGSU than were women.

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.

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

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.

Female alumni more frequently reported that the most important reason for them to continue their education was continuing their career preparation.

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

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

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.

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