Achieving Student Learning Outcomes
December 2012
What do alumni say about skills, abilities, and learning experiences?
In November, 633 alumni responded to the School-wide senior survey, resulting in a 28% response rate
of the students who earned bachelor’s degrees during 2007-2011. Selected results are below; additional
results will be included in the January newsletter (as I expect everyone is too busy at this time of the
semester to read a lengthy report.)
Summary

The majority of respondents (87%) would attend Mines if they could make their college choice over
again.

Respondents are employed either full time (84%) or part time (6%). 19% are currently enrolled in
Master’s or doctoral programs.

Respondents highly rated the usefulness of the courses in their majors and field camp.

Respondents gave relatively low ratings to their advisement experiences.

Respondents gave high ratings to their abilities to retrieve and interpret technical information, think
critically, and find new information.
Have you advanced professionally?
Given greater responsibility or leadership role
Received promotion
Received a special recognition or award
Total
45%
37%
18%
100%
How useful were the following experiences in preparing you for current career and/or attendance
at graduate school?
Courses in your major field of study
Field session/field camp
Internship
Courses in the core curriculum
Laboratory experiences as a part of a course
Interactions with faculty outside of class
(excluding research)
Capstone experience/project
Research with a faculty member
Cooperative education
Overseas/international study
Very
useful
60%
49%
46%
37%
35%
Somewhat
useful
32%
32%
18%
46%
47%
Not
useful
4%
14%
2%
13%
11%
Not
applicable
4%
5%
33%
4%
7%
26%
22%
20%
11%
5%
42%
33%
16%
36%
5%
9%
13%
4%
5%
5%
23%
32%
60%
49%
85%
How well did your education at Mines contribute to your development of the following
skills/abilities?
Retrieve and interpret technical information
Think critically about a wide range of crossdisciplinary issues
Find new information and use it effectively
Convey technical/scientific information, in writing, to
a variety of audiences
Communicate information graphically
Orally communicate technical/scientific information to
a variety of audiences
Adjust to an ever-changing professional environment
Work effectively in a diverse work environment
Develop a commitment to enhance the profession
through leadership and service
Appreciate diverse approaches to solving society’s
problems
Appreciate diverse approaches to understanding
society’s problems
Be dedicated to stewardship of the environment
Work effectively in an international environment
Very much
75%
Somewhat
23%
Not at all
3%
65%
62%
32%
36%
3%
2%
55%
51%
40%
44%
5%
5%
46%
45%
38%
48%
44%
52%
6%
11%
10%
36%
46%
18%
34%
52%
14%
33%
27%
22%
53%
54%
49%
14%
19%
29%
This newsletter is published by the assessment office:
Kay Schneider, Director
http://inside.mines.edu/assessment