Fall 2008 Graduate Survey
Assessment Day Presentation
Office of Assessment
Fitchburg State College
History and methodology
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Model: UMASS-Dartmouth
Inherently interesting target group
May also stand in for alumni data
Approach: Banner workflow generates email
warning of survey, link then sent via either
Tk20 (N = 40) or SelectSurvey (N = 610)
Sample and return rate
• About 650 graduation applicants for Fall 2008/
Winter 2009/Spring 2009
• Respondents = 240 (37%)
• 202 usable records (102 GR, 100 UG)
• Degree programs represented:
– Bio, Business, Comm. Media, Computer Science,
CJ, Econ., Education, English, EXSS, History, Human
Services, ITEC, IDIS, Nursing, Political Science,
Psychology, Sociology
Topical sections
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Classwork in major(s)
Non-major classwork
Library/media center
Perceptions of learning
Experiences with co-curriculum and student
services
• Future plans
Results – Major studies
• Baseline: Overall satisfaction with FSC.
– 3.76 (5-point scale) UG, 4.10 GR, SDs < 1.
• Eleven items
– Availability of classes, frequency of course offerings,
class size, quality of instruction, quality of texts,
faculty availability, timeliness of coursework, learning
facilities, major-related extra-curricular activities,
relevance to career goals, level of challenge.
• UG items of interest: class size (3.95), quality of
instruction (3.89), frequency of course offerings
(3.32)
Results – Gen Ed
• Same item set as major coursework.
• Scores generally about 0.10 lower than
corresponding items in the major.
• UG items of interest: class size (3.69 vs. 3.95),
faculty availability (3.67 vs. 3.86), match to
career goals (3.39 vs. 3.66).
Results - Library
• Five items: resources, accessibility, staff
quality, staff as teachers, library facilities.
• Align with domains of the LibQual survey.
• Response means: 3.81 – 4.07.
Results – Learning Perceptions (I)
• Ten items: written communication, oral
communication, quantitative skills, dealing
with diversity, conducting research, accessing
information, using computer technology,
critical reasoning, leadership, teamwork.
• Five-point scale, “very weak” to “very strong.”
Results – Learning Perceptions (II)
• Perception of end state typically about 4.35
• Perception of change typically about 0.40.
• Items of interest:
– quantitative skills end state 4.11
– research skills change 0.72
– accessing information change 0.60.
Results – Student Affairs
• Laundry list of 30 student services and offices,
plus a question on extra-curricular campus life
overall.
• Five point scale, mean 3.77.
• Highly variable response numbers, little
variation in results.
• Outlier: parking (2.96)
Typical Academic Affairs Questions
• How many graduates go on to careers in their
fields of study?
• How long does it take graduates to get their
careers launched?
• How do graduates assess their earning power
and how successful are they in their chosen
fields?
• How many graduates go on for more formal
education?
Results – Future Plans
• Most (UG, 78%, GR 67%) look forward to fulltime employment in field of study.
• 34% (UG) have full-time jobs or job offers, 9%
have part-time jobs or job offers.
• Mean reported UG starting salary in field of
study: $32,700. Mean reported GR starting
salary in field of study: $39,900.
• Only 17% of UG grads anticipate graduate
school in the next 12 months.
Overall
• Issues with the survey size and data collection
process limit inputs.
• Small Ns so far for most programs.
• Some useful info for academic departments
and College offices.
Questions
http://www.fsc.edu/assessment/Fall2008AlumniSurvey.cfm