Results of ACT's 2008 alumni outcomes survey available UND participated in ACT’s 2008 Alumni Outcomes Survey. This survey was administered in the spring 2008 to the 2004-2005 baccalaureate graduates. The instrument assesses alumni perceptions of UND’s impact on their personal and professional growth and development, as well as general background questions, employment history, and education information. Prior administration of this survey was in spring 2006. In general, alumni have a very positive opinion of UND. Alumni show high satisfaction in academic programs and report general education courses a valuable component of their education. On the other hand, alumni report their greatest dissatisfaction with their current career is that of salary. Alumni also express dissatisfaction with the availability of adequate financial aid as well as with faculty availability outside of class time. Below are some findings from the 2008 Alumni Outcomes Survey: * The five highest degrees of satisfaction are found in the areas of quality of the program in my major/field, class size relative to the type of course, overall quality of instruction, variety of courses offered, and general condition of buildings and grounds. * UND alumni report greater levels of involvement in professional, civic, athletic, and social activities and organization while attending school than national norms. Levels of involvement in these organizations and activities are also increasing over time. * 95 percent of alumni rate UND as excellent or good. * When asked about their first, full-time job after completing their first program at UND, over half of alumni respondents (58 percent) report their first job was highly related to the major of their first program. When comparing this nationally, 48 percent of alumni from public colleges report their first job being highly related to their major. * Alumni rate the importance of developing and using effective leadership skills higher than previous alumni outcomes results; the mean score increased from 3.55 in 2006 to 3.62 in 2008, while increasing its rank to No. 3 compared to No. 6. National norms have this particular item ranked No. 9 in importance. * Alumni were asked the extent to which they agreed with 11 statements about UND. * Respondents indicate high agreement (over 75 percent responding “strongly agree” or “agree”) on three of 11 items: academic success was encouraged and supported at this school (85 percent), overall the school had an intellectually stimulating atmosphere (85 percent), and there was a sense of personal safety/security on the campus (83 percent). * The highest level of dissatisfaction was under the item I encountered few course scheduling or course availability problems which received rating of “strongly disagree” or “disagree” from 20 percent of respondents as well as the financial aid available to me was adequate for my needs at 18 percent disagreement. The “aid availability” mean score has been decreasing significantly from surveys in 2006 and 2004. The item which had the largest drop in mean score from 2006 was the statement of most faculty were readily available to students outside of class time, which received a mean of 3.82 in 2008, down from 3.98 in 2006 and 4.01 in 2004 (scale: 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree). * Nine student services were rated for satisfaction. The two items scoring in the high satisfied portion (mean score>=4.0) were library services (mean=4.33) and health and wellness programs (mean=4.11). These two services also showed an increase in satisfaction mean score from 2006. The remaining seven items fell into the neutral part of the scale (mean score =3.0); in order from highest to lowest mean score are registration procedures (mean=3.82), academic advising (mean=3.74), academic support service (e.g. tutoring, study skills) (mean=3.71), personal counseling services (mean=3.66), orientation/instruction of campus computing (mean=3.63), career planning and placement services (mean=3.40), and financial aid counseling and related services (mean=3.31). Of the seven “neutral” items, the only two which increased in mean score from 2006 to 2008 were personal counseling services and career planning and placement services. The complete report is available on the UND-IR Web site at http://www.und.edu/dept/datacol/reports/subFolder/act2008Alumni/act2008alumni.htm If you have questions about the study, or would like further information or detail, please contact either Sue Erickson or me. -- Carmen Williams, Director, Institutional Research, carmenwilliams@mail.und.nodak.edu, 7-4358