Institutional Research and Planning Room 306 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: (717)-477-1154 Fax: (717)-477-4077 irp@ship.edu

1998 Alumni Survey I Feedback from alumni yields outcomes data regarding services, academics, and post-graduation activities. Survey information allows for the measurement of participation rates in activities and organizations, the effectiveness of campus services, and personal growth during their education. Summaries of these data can be used to guide university planning efforts. Alumni provide a unique perspective, that of someone who has been in the workforce for three years. While this type of information does not capture more recent changes at the university, by comparing the perspectives of different alumni groups over time, it is possible to assess how changes in university resources impact students. This report focuses primarily on alumni from the class of 1995 while including responses from the classes of 1989, 1992, and 1993 for comparison. Overall, Shippensburg University continues to be highly regarded by both undergraduate and graduate alumni. A greater number of alumni are continuing their education than in the past while undergraduate alumni felt that they were prepared for graduate school. Additionally, undergraduate alumni have an increasing participation rate in both professional and educational organizations. Over 97 percent of undergraduate and 98 percent of graduate alumni are employed full-time or furthering their education. A general increase in satisfaction with university services was found. In relation to satisfaction with academics, class size within courses, quality of instruction in major, and availability of faculty remained favorable for both alumni groups. Undergraduate alumni reported that the university was more adequately meeting alumni demands in the areas of leadership, time management, interpersonal, and concern for the environment. Decreases in disparity score were found in a few areas for graduate alumni. Opportunities for improvement do exist. Both undergraduate and graduate alumni reported somewhat rates of participation in alumni events and programs. The scheduling process and the career development center continue to receive low satisfaction ratings from 1995 alumni while scheduling classes and changing majors are top reasons reported by undergraduates for taking longer than four years to graduate. Nearly one of four undergraduate alumni reported dissatisfaction with general education courses while the importance since graduation of the areas of general education rated low. Graduate alumni reported significant dissatisfaction with instructional facilities and equipment and with the availability and variety of courses.