*The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, depending on your answers. Written comments will not be
attributed to individual respondents but will be not be edited or censored if you identify yourself in your comment.
The reports and comments generated from this research will be used for improving programs and institutional
services. Positive, anonymous comments may be used for promotional purposes.
I consent and wish to participate in this survey.
*Did you graduate from VIU with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the 2013 calendar year?
Yes
No
Program Review
*What were your reasons for choosing VIU? Select up to THREE (3).
Program of interest
Good reputation
Size of school and/or classes
Friends that attended VIU
Campus location (i.e. in desired town/city)
Campus location (close to home)
To study in Canada
Cost of attending
Research opportunities
Recreational/outdoor activities
To pursue further studies
Don’t know/no response
Other:
*Generally, how satisfied were you with the quality of education you received at VIU?
Very satisfied
Satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
Don't know/no response
*Please rate your level of agreement with the following statements.
Strongly
Strongly
agree
Neutral
Disagree
Don't
know/no
1
I would recommend the program I took at VIU to
others
The program I took at VIU was up-to-date
The instructors were knowledgeable in the areas they
taught
The training materials (texts, handouts, etc.) used in
the program were useful
The technology used in the program was appropriate
to industry standards at that time
I am satisfied with the learning experience at VIU
I am satisfied with the living experience at VIU
I am happy with the support provided by VIU
I felt welcomed at VIU
2
3
4
5
response
*Overall, to what extent do you feel the program you completed in 2013…
Prepared you for further studies
Prepared you for the workforce
Provided you with the skills you needed for a particular
job
Gave you in-depth knowledge of a particular area
Gave you a chance to earn a good income
Helped you find a path for what you want to do in life
Contributed to your growth as a person
To a large
To a moderate
To a small
extent
extent
extent
Don't know/no
No effect at all
response
*Looking back at the university education you completed in 2013, and your experience since, to what
extent was your university experience…
Well worth the
Not at all worth the
investment
investment
Don't
know/no
1
Worth the financial investment required
Worth the personal investment of time required for
classes and studies
2
3
4
5
response
What is your greatest memory or accomplishment that you can relate to your time at VIU?
Transition out of VIU
*Did you feel ready for employment or the next step(s) in your life after your VIU graduation?
Very ready
Somewhat ready
Not very ready
Not ready at all
Don’t know/no response
*The following is a list of some services and experiences available to students to help with career
planning and development. Did you take advantage of any of these services?
No, I was not
No, I was not
aware of it but
aware of it and
would have been
would not have
I was aware, but interested in using been interested in
Yes
Advising Centre
and program
advisors
Counselling
Co-operative
education and
internship
programs
Education abroad
International
Student Services
Campus Career
Centre
Research
opportunities
Work-opportunities
(work op) program
not interested
it
using it
Don't know/no
No
response
What services were not offered at VIU that you would have found helpful?
*Do you still stay connected with instructors and/or VIU staff that you met during your time at VIU?
Yes
No
Don't know/no response
*Do you still stay connected with peers that you met during your time at VIU?
Yes
No
Don't know/no response
*Thinking back, what were your reasons for pursuing post-secondary education upon enrolment to VIU?
Select up to THREE (3).
To earn an academic credential
Get a good job
Fulfill my desire for knowledge
Prepare for graduate or professional school
Train for a specific career
Learn new ways of looking at the world and understanding issues in my life
Satisfy my family’s expectations
Experience life away from home
Meet new friends and have a good time
Learn to be a useful, community-engaged global citizen
Build my professional network
Prepare for life in a rapidly changing and challenging world
To begin process of immigration to Canada
Don’t know/no response
Other:
*How successful do you feel VIU was in helping you fulfill these reasons?
Very successful
Somewhat successful
Not very successful
Not at all successful
Don’t know/no response
You said @@076117. What could VIU have done better to help you fulfill your reasons for attending?
Current lives
*Where are you currently living?
Vancouver Island
Elsewhere in BC
In another Canadian province or territory
United States
Internationally (not US)
Don’t know/no response
Specifics:
City/town
Province/state
Country
*If you are no longer in the VIU region, what was your primary reason for moving?
For employment
To move closer to home/family
I was only in the VIU region for school, I never intended to stay
Not applicable (I never lived in the VIU region)
Not applicable (I still live in the VIU region)
Don’t know/no response
Other:
*What is your primary reason for staying in the VIU region?
Employment
Further education
Family/spouse or friends
Lifestyle choice; I enjoy living here
Don't know/no response
Other:
*Have you taken any subsequent formal post-secondary education or training after graduating from VIU?
Yes
No
Don't know/no response
*What type of education have you pursued since graduating from VIU?
Undergraduate or professional degree (including doctor MD, dentistry DMD, Law, Education/Teacher undergrad, and other
undergraduate degrees)
Master’s Degree
Applied program or technical certification
Professional Association Certification
Don’t know/no response
Other:
What school did you attend following VIU?
What program did you pursue following VIU?
*How well did your program at VIU academically prepare you for the program you took since/are currently
taking?
Very well
Well
Not very well
Not at all well
Don’t know/no response
*What was your primary reason for undertaking further studies?
Requirement for job
Develop a broader or more specialist range of skills or knowledge
To change or improve my career options
I was interested in the content of the course
I enjoyed my first course and wanted to continue studying
I wanted to go on being a student/wanted to postpone job hunting
I had been unable to find a suitable job
Don’t know/no response
Other:
*Was your connection to VIU and its faculty important for your employment opportunities and/or
subsequent schooling?
For example: in providing references, assisting with decision-making, helping in the application process, etc.
Very important
Important
Not that important
Not at all important
Don’t know/no response
*What is your current primary activity? Choose one.
Employed
Self-employed
Not currently working but looking
Not currently working and not looking
Student
Managing home and/or family
Don’t know/no response
Other:
*Is your employment…?
Full-time hours (at least 30 hours of paid work in one week)
Part-time (less than 30 hours of paid work in one week)
Casual (on call or as needed)
Seasonal (fluctuating with seasons, business, or other cycles)
Don’t know/no response
*Is your position permanent, contract, or temporary?
Permanent
Contract
Temporary
Don’t know/no response
*How related is your main job to the program you graduated from at VIU?
Very related
Somewhat related
Not very related
Not at all related
Don’t know/no response
*Does your current position require the credential you completed at VIU?
Yes
No
I am not sure
Don't know/no response
*When you started your main job, how qualified did you feel given your education and training at that time?
I felt overqualified
I felt underqualified
I felt my qualifications and job were equivalent
Don’t know/no response
*In your main job, are you currently satisfied with the following areas?
Don't know/no
Yes
My level of decision-making
My ability to influence change
My level of supervision and/or management
My opportunities to apply critical thinking and analysis
How interesting and challenging my work is
Somewhat
No
response
*Using a scale of 0 to 10, 0 meaning “very dissatisfied” and 10 meaning “Very satisfied”, how do you feel
about your employment right now?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Don't
know/no
response
*Which of the following applies to your situation:
Permanently or temporarily unable to work (illness or disability)
Temporary or seasonal layoff
Lost or quit job
Business conditions (cannot find work/lack of suitable opportunities)
Going to school full-time
Caring for children full-time
Going to school part-time
Other personal or family responsibilities
Personal preference
Retired
On a leave of absence from job / maternity leave
Lack the skills for the job that I want
Just finished school
Just returned to Canada (after travelling, working abroad, etc.)
Awaiting work visa
Currently a volunteer worker
I’m not sure why I am unemployed
Other:
*When did you accept your first job that you consider career-related?
Prior to or immediately after graduation
Within one year of graduation
Between one and two years after graduation
Between two and three years after graduation
I still have not found a job I consider career-related
Don’t know/no response
*Using a scale of 0 to 10, 0 meaning “very dissatisfied” and 10 meaning “Very satisfied”, how do you feel
about your life as a whole right now?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Don't
know/no
response
International students
*When you graduated from VIU, were you an international student?
Yes
No
*Are you currently a permanent resident or citizen of Canada?
Yes
No
Don't know/no response
*Are you planning to become a permanent resident or citizen of Canada?
Yes
No
I have not decided
Don't know/no response
*Select the status that best applies to you.
In Canada on a post-graduation work permit
In Canada on a study permit
In Canada with Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
In Canada with the Federal Skilled Worker Program
In Canada with the Provincial Nominee Program (Skilled Worker or International Graduate)
No longer in Canada but plan/hope to return in the future
No longer in Canada and do not plan on returning
Don’t know/no response
Other:
*How did you hear about VIU prior to attending? Select all that apply:
From web-searching (i.e. the VIU website)
Social media advertisements (i.e. Facebook. Instagram, Twitter, etc.)
An agent in my home country
A VIU representative/recruiter
A family member or friend
Don’t know/no response
School guidance counsellor
Other:
*Reflecting on your time at VIU, to what extent do you agree with the following statements.
Strongly
agree
Strongly
Neither agree nor disagree
disagree
Don't
know/no
1
My Canadian degree means I can progress more quickly
in my chosen career
Having a qualification from Canada means I can
command a higher salary
My Canadian degree provides advantages to immigrating
to Canada
2
3
4
5
response
*Would you recommend VIU to people from home who are considering studying in Canada?
I would actively encourage people to apply
If asked, I would encourage people to apply
I would neither encourage nor discourage people
If asked, I would discourage people from applying
I would actively discourage people from applying
Don’t know/no response
Finance
*During your time at VIU, what was your primary source of funding for your education and lifestyle?
Personal savings
Employment earnings
Family contribution
Student or bank loans
Scholarships and bursaries
Sponsorships
Don’t know/no response
Other:
*What was your secondary source of funding for your education and lifestyle, besides @@076165?
Personal savings
Employment earnings
Family contribution
Student or bank loans
Scholarships and bursaries
Sponsorships
Don’t know/no response
Other:
In order to better understand employment outcomes of our graduates, we ask for an estimate of your
current yearly income, before deductions, tips, and commissions.
Less than $30,000
$30,000 to less than $60,000
$60,000 to less than $90,000
$90,000 or more
Don’t know/no response
VIU is interested in knowing more about your occupation as this will help us plan programs to better support students.
This information is optional- you can "skip" by pressing the "next" button below.
Sector/industry:
Job title:
Company or organization:
Do you have any other comments about any of the subjects raised in this survey?
Donation selection
VIU has pledged to donate $5.00 to the participant’s fund of choice for every completed survey. Please
select the fund you wish your contribution to be allocated.
If you have any questions regarding the funds, feel free to contact William Litchfield (William.Litchfield@viu.ca), Director of Advancement
and Alumni Relations.
The Emergency Student Bursary: a fund to support students needing emergency financial support
The Inspiration Fund: a fund directed to support the greatest needs at VIU
I have no preference
Please confirm that you did not graduate from VIU in the calendar year of 2013. If you did graduate from VIU
in 2013, please go back and change your previous answer.
I did not graduate from VIU in the calendar year of 2013.
Thank you for taking the survey! We value your feedback.
If you are curious about the many benefits you as a VIU alumni are eligible to receive, check out the VIU Alumni
webpage.
By completing this survey, you have contributed to helping VIU students achieve their goals. Thank you!
We are sorry, but this survey is for students that graduated from VIU in 2013. Thank you for your time.