Alumni Survey 2011, Five Years Out (2006 graduates)
Executive Summary and Analysis of Qualitative Data
There were 799 alumni surveys returned out of 2,159 reachable graduates1 for a 37% return rate. The
number of responses given below will not total 799 because some former students gave responses falling
into more than one category and others chose not to respond to these questions. What follows are the
number of alumni comments that fell into the various categories in response to the following questions:
What had the most positive impact on you during your time at Eastern? (A total of 645 alumni responded to
this question.) And, What had the most negative impact on you during your time at Eastern? (A total of
421former students responded to this question.)
What had the most positive impact on you during your time at Eastern?
No response:
Total responses:
154
645 (81% of returned survey respondents)
Academics: 521 (81%)2
Relationship with professors/advisors: 292 (45%)
Specific programs; small class sizes; overall education, career: 229 (36%)
Two hundred ninety-two of the 521 former students who answered this question indicated that their
professors/advisors had had the most positive impact on their time at Eastern. Faculty were applauded for
bringing real-world experience into the classroom, for their knowledge in their fields, for being easily
accessible to students and for providing support to their students. Alumni remain thankful for the small
sizes offered by EIU; 48 (7%) former students listed small class sizes as having the most positive impact on
their education. Small class sizes are linked to the availability and approachability of faculty and are seen
as fostering those one-on-one relationships. Specific programs, classes, assignments, and degree
requirements were chosen by 77 (12%) alumni as the most important feature of their education. Students
valued assignments and requirements that went beyond the classroom and provided real world experiences
such as internships (45 alumni), study abroad (14 alumni), research projects, and group projects. Forty-two
alums (7%) indicated that obtaining their degree or their overall education was the most prized aspect of
their association with Eastern.
Student Life: 245 (38%)
Relationships/social activities/Greek system/housing: 158 (24%)
Involvement/activities/recognized student organizations/athletics: 87 (13%)
Social activities, relationships with peers, and living arrangements are an important aspect of the college
experience as evidenced by the 38% of positive impact comments related to these areas. Social activities
and personal relationships/freindships were given as the top choice for 109 alumni while 38 people directly
mentioned their sorority or fraternity as having the most positive impact. Eleven alums (2%) indicated that
their housing experiences had been the most positive. Eleven alumni (2%) indicated that their on-campus
employment had had the most positive impact with several people indicating these positions had offered
them valuable skills and support. Twenty-five individuals (4%) listed their involvement with
1
There were 2205 potential graduate responders in this cohort. A total of 20 graduates were unreachable because of
bad addresses, were deceased, or had “do not solicit” orders. The above total reflects the number of alumni who
received the survey.
2
Percentages are taken from the total number of responses to each question, rather than the total number of alumni in
the cohort or the total number of returned surveys.
Executive Summary & Analysis
Prepared by the Center for Academic Support and Assessment, October 2011
volunteer/service/religious organizations as the most positive experience at Eastern; 24 listed
athletics/intramurals; and 27 offered various RSOs and activities.
University-wide Issues: 84 (13%)
Facilities; services; community; diversity: 55 (9%)
Personal growth: 29 (4%)
Alumni comment on the friendliness of the campus atmosphere. Other comments related to specific offices
that had aided individuals in their time on campus. Twenty-nine alums listed positive outcomes such as
becoming independent, developing responsibility, and achieving goals.
What had the most negative impact on you during your time at Eastern?
No response:
Total responses:
surveys)
Nothing negative:
378
421 (53% of returned survey respondents; 383 negative impact (48% of returned
38 (9% of negative comments)
Academics: 232 (55%)
Relationship with professors/advisors: 85 (20%)
Specific programs; scheduling; overall education, career: 127 (30%)
Like the responses to the positive impact question, the responses to the negative impact question elicited
the most comments related to academics with 85 comments concerning faculty/advisors and 127 related to
majors/courses/degree requirements. Former students complained of choices being limited in terms of
times of classes or certain courses being offered only once a year. Others found little value in general
education requirements or had specific criticisms concerning courses or majors. Some repeated issues were
other students not pulling their weight in group projects, being misadvised, having trouble understanding
faculty with accents, and not enough opportunities for “real life experience” in the classroom and out of
the classroom.
Student Life: 69 (16%)
Relationships/social activities/Greek system/housing: 59 (14%)
Activities/recognized student organizations/athletics: 13 (3%)
Thirty-five negative comments related to student life focused on students’ partying too much, being
apathetic, and interpersonal relationships. Eleven comments related to the Greek “atmosphere” or life as
being too prominent on campus or other issues related to fraternities and sororities. Thirteen comments
related to housing and included issues such as not getting along with roommates, the quality of the food
served in the dining halls, and various housing rules and policies. Students did not complain about not
having enough to do in Charleston or on campus.
University-wide Issues: 94 (22%)
Facilities; services; community: 47 (11%)
Personal growth/finances: 47 (11%)
Of the 47 negative comments related to the community, facilities and services, 8 were related to a lack of
parking for students on campus, which shows a decrease from previous years. Twenty-seven concerned
campus facilities with many of these comments focused on the construction of Doudna. Personal issues
and finances included topics such as commuting to school, the problems of having a family and/or job and
attending school, finding career goals late, or issues with responsibility and time management. Sixteen
alumni expressed concerns over the cost of college or issues with financial aid.
Executive Summary & Analysis
Prepared by the Center for Academic Support and Assessment, October 2011