UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER
ALUMNI SURVEY 2001
Dear Alumna/Alumnus:
To help us evaluate our undergraduate programs, we would like you to take a few minutes to
respond to this alumni survey. A $2 bill is enclosed inside the front page of this survey as a token
of our gratitude to you for your time and input.
We would like to know what your experiences were as an undergraduate of CU-Boulder and
how useful your degree has been to you since you've left campus. Because you were on campus
for some time, your opinions are invaluable to us.
We’re asking for input from a sample of CU-Boulder alumni, and your name was selected at
random as a part of this sample. To ensure that the survey results give us an accurate picture of the
undergraduate experience, your participation is critical.
We will use repeated mail contacts to encourage all sample members to return their completed
questionnaires. Please help us by completing and returning your questionnaire now! We expect it
will take about 15 minutes.
All of your responses will be kept strictly confidential
in that your name will never be associated with your responses.
Thank you for your help with this important effort! With your assistance, we can learn more
about and work to improve the undergraduate experience at CU-Boulder. We hope your
undergraduate degree is serving you well in the world.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Byyny
Chancellor
______________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS
• Please answer every question.
• Please do not remove the coded label. It has an ID number that lets us know who has and has not
responded, for purposes of the follow-up.
• Drop the completed questionnaire in the U.S. mail. The return address and postage are on the back
page of the questionnaire, so no envelope is needed. Please do not fold or staple the questionnaire.
• Questions or concerns? Contact Cathy Kerry by phone (303-492-3763) or e-mail
(Cathy.Kerry@Colorado.edu).
THANK YOU!
Office of Planning, Budget, and Analysis
Telephone (303) 492-3763
015 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0115
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Questions 5 – 12 ask about the first job you had after
receiving your undergraduate degree and about your current
job. Each question asks for two responses: one based on your
first job, and one based on your current job. In answering each
question, use the “First Job” response column when referring
to your first job, and use the “Current Job” response column
when referring to your current job.
EMPLOYMENT
1. What were you primarily doing six to nine months after
receiving your undergraduate degree at CU-Boulder?
1 Working full-time (30 or more hours per week)
– > When did you obtain this job?
1 Employed on job while enrolled at CU-Boulder
2 Secured job before or by graduation
3 Secured job after graduation (number of weeks
after graduation _____)
2 Working part-time (fewer than 30 hours per week)
3 Attending graduate school or professional school
4 Serving in the military
5 Was unemployed but seeking employment
6 Was unemployed and was not seeking employment
• If you had a job after graduation but are currently
unemployed, leave the “Current Job” column blank and
just answer the “First Job” column.
• If your current job is the same as your first job, just
answer the “Current Job” column.
• If you have not been employed since you received your
undergraduate degree, skip to question 13.
5.What was the job title (e.g. counselor, teacher, geologist) of
your first job? Your current job?
2. Are you currently enrolled in a formal, degree-granting
educational program (e.g. Ph.D., master’s, second
bachelor’s, business, medicine, law)?
1
2
3
4
First Job
_______________________
Yes
– >Are you employed as an intern or a research,
teaching, or graduate assistant?
1 Yes
2 No
No, but I've been admitted and will be enrolled within
the next year
No, but I plan to enroll within the next two years
No
6.What was the zip code of your first job’s business address?
Your current business address? (for geographical distribution
purposes)
First Job:
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
First Job
Current Job
1
2
3
4
Yes, full time
Yes, less than full time
No
4. Are you currently employed in a job (Include selfemployment -- other than the military or a position
associated with an educational program)?
1
2
3
4
Current Job:
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
7. Was your first job related to the degree you received from
CU-Boulder? Your current job?
3. Are you currently employed by the military or national
guard'?
1
2
3
Current Job
_____________________
1
2
3
4
Same Field
Related field
Different Field, by choice
Different field, not by choice
8. How helpful was the preparation you received at CUBoulder for your first job and for the work you are doing now?
First Job
Current Job
Yes, 30 or more hours per week
Yes, under 30 hours per week
No, but I am seeking such employment
No, and I am not seeking such employment
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2
3
4
2
1
2
3
4
Not at all
Slightly
Moderately
Considerably
9. Listed below are typical occupations of college graduates. In
the boxes below enter the code number for your first job after
completing your bachelor’s degree, and for your current job.
First Job
11. How satisfied were you with your first job? Your current
job?
First job
Current job
Current Job
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2
3
4
5
01 Agriculture and forestry
02 Arts/studio, performing, writing
03 Executive/administrative/management
04 Communications/media, film, advertising, journalism
05 Computer analyst/programmer
06 Engineering/architecture
07 Marketing and sales
08 Medicine/dentistry/veterinary medicine – other health
diagnosing practitioners
09 Other health professions (nursing, therapists, dietitians, etc.)
10 Government/politics
11 Homemaking
12 Law
13 Religion/Ministry
14 Science/technology (nonacademic)
15 Skilled trades
16 Social sciences/social work/recreation
17 Teaching/research/administration (elementary-secondary)
18 Teaching/research/administration (college)
19 First job other: ______________________________
20 Current job other: ____________________________
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2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Very dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Neutral
Satisfied
Very satisfied
Questions 13-15 ask about the types of writing you currently do
in your job or educational program.
13. Rate the extent to which you use the following forms of
writing in your current job/educational program.
a. Emails
b. Letters, memos
c. Reports (technical, exec summaries)
d. Articles
e. Books
First job pre-tax annual starting salary
Current job pre-tax annual salary
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2
3
4
5
6
7
Very dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Neutral
Satisfied
Very satisfied
12. How satisfied were you with the pay of your first job? Your
current job?
First Job
Current Job
10. In the first column, circle the number that best describes your
starting salary immediately after graduation. In the second
column, circle the number that best describes your current
salary. If either job was part-time, give the approximate fulltime equivalent annual salary.
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2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
Not at
All Some
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
A
Lot
3
3
3
3
3
14. To what extent do you use the following styles of writing in
your current job/educational program?
Not at
A
All Some Lot
a. Instructions (technical, programming)
1
2
3
b. Neutral summary of facts
1
2
3
c. Interpretation of facts from a stated
point of view
1
2
3
d. Proposal for action/non-action, giving
reasons
1
2
3
e. Persuasion appealing mainly to
emotion
1
2
3
Less than $10,000 per year
$10,000 to 19,999 per year
$20,000 to $29,999 per year
$30,000 to $39,999 per year
$40,000 to $54,999 per year
$55,000 to $79,999 per year
$80,000 per year or more
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20. Please tell us about the highest degree you've obtained or are
currently working on.
15. Which of the following writing skill areas are most
important to you in your current job/educational program?
Degree: _________________________________________
None Little Some Much Critical
a. Fluency (e.g., vocabulary,
efficient revising)
b. Correctness (grammar,
spelling, punctuation, etc.)
c. Brevity
d. Organization
e. Tailoring to a given
audience
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
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Area of Study: ___________________________________
Institution: ______________________________________
Location: _______________________________________
Have you received this degree yet?
1 Yes
1
2
3
4
2 No
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YOUR UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
21. For each item below, circle the number that best describes
your satisfaction with the following aspects of your
undergraduate experience at CU-Boulder.
16.What is the highest degree you ultimately plan to earn?
1 No further degree
2 Another baccalaureate
3 Master’s degree
4 Specialist degree (e.g. Ed.S.)
5 Professional degree (e.g. medicine, law, theology)
6 Doctoral degree (e.g. Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A.)
1 Very dissatisfied
2 Dissatisfied
3 Neutral
4 Satisfied
5 Very Satisfied
17.Have you taken any courses toward an additional degree
since receiving your baccalaureate at CU-Boulder?
1 Yes
2 No
If you answered “No,” please skip to question 21.
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18.What degree were you seeking when taking these graduatelevel courses?
1
2
3
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5
6
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
Overall undergraduate experience
Academic experience overall
Academic experience in your major
22.Overall, did your program of study at CU-Boulder meet your
educational goals?
No further degree
Additional baccalaureate
Master’s degree
Specialist degree (e.g. Ed.S.)
Professional degree (e.g. medicine, law, theology)
Doctoral degree (e.g. Ph.D., Ed. D., D.B.A.)
1
2
3
Yes, definitely
Yes, somewhat
Not at all
23. Would you recommend CU-Boulder to a friend considering
college?
1
2
3
4
5
19.What education program were you in when taking these
graduate-level courses?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2
2
2
Business
Engineering
Humanities
Law
Medicine, health
Natural science
Social science
Teaching
Other (describe): ___________________________
No, under no circumstances
No, probably not
Yes, with strong reservations
Yes, with some reservations
Yes, with no reservations
Please comment:
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24.Each item below deals with a general skill or knowledge area. For each, please make two judgments. First, indicate how important you
think the area has been for your general success since graduation. Second, indicate the extent to which UCB has helped you acquire
this skill/knowledge.
For each item, circle the numbers that correspond to your answers.
Degree of Importance Since
Graduation
None Little Some Much Critical
a. Applying abstract theories to practical issues............
b. Synthesizing knowledge from many fields................
c. Leadership..................................................................
d. Current ethical and moral issues..................................
e. Dealing with people from diverse cultures and
backgrounds..........................................................
f. Critically analyzing real-world problems...................
g. Writing.......................................................................
h. Public speaking..........................................................
i. Mathematics and quantitative reasoning.....................
j. World affairs...............................................................
k. Literature....................................................................
l. History (American, World).........................................
m. Non-Western culture and thought.............................
n. Foreign language........................................................
o. Scientific methods, concepts, and findings................
p. Managing time and tasks............................................
q Computing skills and applications.............................
r. Interpersonal relations.................................................
Extent to which UCB has helped
you acquire this skill/knowledge
Very
None Little Some Much Much
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25. Today’s Date: ____ ____ - ____ ____ - ____ ____
Month
Day
Year
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YOUR TURN FOR COMMENTS
Praise, gripes, and suggestions are all welcome. Remember, everything you tell us will be kept confidential. (Please use the other side
of this page, if you need more space for comments on any question.)
26.If you could change one thing about your major program, what would it be?
27.What is the one best thing you remember about your major program?
28.What was the most significant learning experience during your time at CU-Boulder?
29.Other than in the area of academics, in what way has your time at CU-Boulder influenced you and helped you develop as a person?
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!!!!
Please drop the completed questionnaire in the U.S. mail.
Please do not fold or staple the questionnaire.
You may tape the pages closed if you wish, but you don’t need to.
\\PBA-EX-1\ia$\ir\survey\alumni\alm01\svyfinal.doc--4/09/01
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