Prepared by the Office of Institutional Research, July 11, 2012
The Office of Institutional Research electronically administered the 2010-2011 Graduate Alumni
Survey in February 2012. The survey population was derived from students who completed a graduate degree in either Fall 2010 or Spring 2012. The total number of alumni surveyed was 569 with 103 graduates responding. The survey completion rate was 18%. Open ended responses have been recoded and reported in aggregate to protect the confidentiality of the respondents.
What degree or degrees did you receive? Please check all that apply.
Answer
Social Science/Humanities (MA)
N
12
Education (MA & PhD)
Business Administration (MBA)
21
35
Engineering/Computer Science (PhD, ME or MS) 8
Public Administration (MPA)
Nursing/Health SCI (DNP, MS or MSN)
Interdisciplinary Sciences (MSc), Math, or Other Science
10
8
9
How do you maintain connections with the department in which you were enrolled?
%
12%
20%
34%
8%
10%
8%
9%
N %
27 29%
Answer
Through a faculty member in my department
Through the department head/program chair
Through Alumni Activities on campus
Through my academic advisor
I do not maintain a connection
Other
Other
LinkedIn
Facebook
Alumni Network
Classes/ classmates
16 17%
10 11%
11 12%
42 45%
8 9%

How often do you visit campus?
Answer
Three or more times per year
Two to three times per year
Once per year
Every few years
Never
Total
Response %
22 23%
14 15%
13 14%
9 10%
36 38%
94 100%
Statistic
Min Value
Max Value
Mean
Variance
Standard Deviation
Total Responses
Please tell us why you visit campus:
Value
1
5
2.76
2.68
1.64
94
Response N %
Attend events 11 30%
27%
Use campus resources
Visit faculty
Enrolled in courses
9
4
3
24%
11%
8%
During your graduate studies at UCCS, were you a full-time student?
Answer
Yes
Sometimes
No
Total
N %
67 71%
7 7%
20 21%
94 100%

In addition to your program at UCCS, did you earn a master's degree or doctoral degree elsewhere?
Answer
Yes
No
Total
N %
16 17%
78 83%
94 100%
Please indicate the academic discipline of Master's or Doctoral Degree that you earned elsewhere.
Answer
Engineering/Computer
Science
Law
Medicine/Nursing/Health
Sciences/ Dentistry
Education
Business
Public Affairs
Social Science
Natural Science
Other
Response %
2 14%
1 7%
3 21%
1 7%
3 21%
2 14%
1 7%
1 7%
2 14%

What would you have done had you not attended UCCS as part of your graduate program?
Answer
I would have attended a different graduate program in my immediate area.
I would have enrolled in an online graduate program.
I would have attended a graduate program outside of the
Colorado Springs metro area.
I would have delayed attending graduate school.
I would not have attended graduate school anywhere.
Other
N %
29 24%
19 16%
30 25%
21 17%
10 8%
13 11%

After graduating from UCCS, did you enter the job market in a field related to your graduate degree?
N % Answer
I already had a job related to my graduate degree
Yes, within six months of graduation.
Yes, within one year of graduation.
Yes, within two years of graduation.
I entered the job market, but not in a field related to my graduate degree
I did not enter the job market.
I did not enter the job market because I was not seeking employment.
Total
Are you currently employed?
49 53%
20 22%
5 5%
0 0%
8 9%
6 6%
5 5%
93 100%
Answer
Yes, full time.
Yes, part time.
No, but seeking employment.
No, and not seeking employment.
I am retired
Total
N %
75 81%
11 12%
4 4%
3 3%
0 0%
93 100%

What is your current annual salary?
Answer
Less than $20,000
$20,000 to $29,999
$30,000 to $39,999
$40,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $59,999
$60,000 to $69,999
$70,000 to $79,999
$80,000 to $89,999
$90,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to
$129,999
$130,000 to
$149,999
$150,000 or more
Total
N %
11 13%
6 7%
14 17%
13 16%
5 6%
3 4%
7 8%
7 8%
4 5%
10 12%
1 1%
2 2%
83 100%

Please estimate what you think your salary might be had you not earned a graduate degree from UCCS.
Answer
Less than $20,000
$20,000 to $29,999
$30,000 to $39,999
$40,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $59,999
$60,000 to $69,999
$70,000 to $79,999
$80,000 to $89,999
$90,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to
$129,999
$130,000 to
$149,999
$150,000 or more
Total
N %
10 12%
13 16%
10 12%
9 11%
9 11%
3 4%
5 6%
5 6%
5 6%
11 14%
In which sector of the economy is your employment (primary position)?
0 0%
1 1%
81 100%
Answer
Agricultural
Construction
Education
Engineering
Finance
Government
Insurance/Real Estate
Law
Manufacturing
Medicine/Nursing/Health
Military
Non-Profit or Nongovernmental organization (NGO)
Retail or Wholesale
Technology or Computer
Science
N %
1 1%
0 0%
24 28%
8 9%
3 3%
9 10%
2 2%
0 0%
5 6%
11 13%
7 8%
9 10%
2 2%
5 6%

Other
Where was your primary residence immediately after graduation?
Answer
In Colorado
Springs/or surrounding areas.
Outside of
Colorado Springs, but in Colorado
Outside of
Colorado
Outside of the U.S.
Total
Have you relocated since graduation?
N
11 13%
%
56 63%
14 16%
12 13%
7 8%
89 100%
Answer
Yes
No
Total
Please tell us why you decided to relocate.
N %
26 29%
63 71%
89 100%
Response N %
40%
Spouse/Partner 5
Military 4 16%
To continue education
To be closer to family
3
3
12%
12%
How would you rate the quality in the following areas?
Question
Primary College of
Academic Work
Overall Instruction
Academic
Challenge or Rigor excellent good fair poor very poor
N Mean
27 45 1.89
31 40 11 3 1 86 1.87
23 39 2.06

Statistic
Min Value
Max Value
Primary College of
Academic Work
1
5
Overall Instruction Academic Challenge
1
5 or Rigor
1
4
Standard Deviation 0.75 0.85 0.83
Please indicate your level of agreement that corresponds to each statement below.
Question strongly agree agree neither agree or disagree disagree strongly disagree
N
I learned the technical skills expected in my degree program.
I learned the theoretical foundations expected in my degree program.
My studies at UCCS met the educational goals I had in mind when I enrolled.
My studies at UCCS helped me get a job.
UCCS prepared me well for my field of specialization.
Overall, I am satisfied with the education I received at UCCS.
I would recommend UCCS to a prospective student.
Mean
20 56 4 4 2 86 1.98
35 43 6 1 2 87 1.76
27 46 7 2 4 86 1.95
19 15 19 6 6 65 2.46
14 45 17 2 4 82 2.23
28 45 7 3 3 86 1.93
28 41 11 1 4 85 1.96

Statistic I learned the technic al skills expecte d in my degree program
.
My studies at UCCS met the education al goals I had in mind when
I enrolled.
My studie s at
UCCS helpe d me get a job.
UCCS prepared me well for my field of specializatio n.
Overall, I am satisfied with the educatio n I received at UCCS.
I would recommen d UCCS to a prospectiv e student.
Min
Value
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Max
Value
5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Mean 1.98 1.76 1.95 2.46 2.23 1.93 1.96
Varianc e
Standar d
Deviatio n
I learned the theoretica l foundatio ns expected in my degree program.
0.68 0.67 0.92 1.60 0.87 0.87 0.94
0.83 0.82 0.96 1.26 0.93 0.93 0.97
How would you rate the overall quality of your education at UCCS, in the following areas?
Question
Oral Communication
Quantitative Skills
Scientific Reasoning
Qualitative Skills
Analytical Reasoning
Reading Skills
Writing Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Computer Skills
Multicultural
Awareness (sensitivity to others unlike you) excellent good fair
24
26
18
28
31
23
30
32
10
39
37
35
42
36
36
36
38
40
14
15
22
13
15
15
12
12
24 poor
3
4
2
0
2
1
2
1
2 very poor
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
N
81
82
78
84
84
76
81
83
77
Mean
1.99
1.96
2.14
1.86
1.86
1.96
1.86
1.78
2.27

Approximately, how long did it take to complete your graduate education?
Answer two years or fewer three years four years five or more years
Total
N %
41 48%
24 28%
10 12%
10 12%
85 100%
What one piece of advice would you give to a new graduate student at UCCS (top 5 responses)?
Develop relationships with your faculty
Gather practical experience/ look for internships
Take your time
Network
Get to know your cohort/peers

Please rate the quality of services you feel you received from the following departments while attending UCCS.
Question
Admissions and Records
Advising in your major or degree program
Advising in the Student
Success Center
Disability Services
Campus Housing
Campus Recreation
Center
Student Orientation
Family Development
Center
Financial Aid/Student
Employment
Information Technology
(IT)
Multicultural Office for
Student Access,
Inclusiveness, and
Community
Office of Campus
Activities
Tutoring/Excel Learning
Centers
UCCS Bookstore
UCCS Career Center
UCCS Health Center
UCCS Public Safety
University Testing Center
Veteran and Military
Affairs Office excellent good
21
3
2
8
42
5
6
14 fair
10
1
3
N
83
Mean
2.11
11 17 4 0 0 32 1.78
8
0
0
5
0
0
0
9
11
35
1.78
2.09
2.29
12 10 2 0 0 24 1.58
13
3
9
11
3
47
13
13
23
8
17
4
3
7
3 poor very poor
10 0
1
1
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
78
21
25
45
14
In your opinion, what was the single most important advantage of going to UCCS (top 5 responses)?
2.08
2.14
1.76
2.11
2.00
Location
Convenience
Access and quality of faculty
High academic standards

Cost
Class size
In your opinion, what was the single most important disadvantage of going to UCCS (top 3 responses)?
Lack of resources and opportunities for graduate students
Disorganization
Lack of diversity in the community
Approximately how many faculty members took an interest in your educational and career goals?
Answer none one two three or more
Total
Did you work off campus while enrolled at UCCS?
N %
13 15%
11 13%
18 21%
42 50%
84 100%
Answer
Yes, Full-time
Yes, Part-time
No
Total
N %
52 61%
17 20%
16 19%
85 100%

Are you affiliated with the military?
Answer
I am a member of the military
I am a veteran
My spouse is in the military
My mother or father is/was in the military
No, I am not affiliated with the military
Other
Were you a Colorado resident when you started at UCCS?
N %
6 7%
5 6%
8 9%
9 11%
58 68%
5 6%
N %
65 76%
21 24%
86 100%
Answer
Yes
No
Total
Why did you choose to attend UCCS (top 5 responses)?
Location
Program
Cost
Offered Distance Education
Availability/convenience
Your gender is?
Answer
Male
Female
Transgender
N %
32 38%
52 62%
0 0%

Your primary ethnic group is:
Answer
Nonresident
Alien
Race or
Ethnicity
Unknown
Hispanic
American
Indian or Alaska
Native
Asian
Black or African
American
Native
Hawaiian or
Other Pacific
Islander
White
Two or more races
Total
Are you a first-generation student?
Answer
Yes
No
Total
N %
2 2%
1 1%
6 7%
0 0%
1 1%
3 4%
0 0%
66 79%
5 6%
84 100%
N %
34 40%
50 60%
84 100%

Please mark the level of education achieved by your parent(s) and or step-parent(s) if applicable:
Question
Don’t Know
Less than High
School
High School
Graduate
Associate’s Degree
(2-year)
Baccalaureate
Degree (4-year)
Master’s Degree
Professional or
Doctoral Degree
Not Applicable mother
0 father
3 stepmother
3 stepfather
10 9 1 2 22
31 30 5
14 13 1
23 16 5
2
4
2
3
N
8
70
30
47
7 13 2 2 24
3 6 0 0 9
0 0 17 17 34
How many dependents (children or elderly persons that you care for) were in your household during your graduate studies at UCCS?
Answer
2
3
4
None
1
5 or more
Total
N %
55 65%
7 8%
13 15%
6 7%
3 4%
0 0%
84 100%