There were several items on the Alumni Survey that were designed to elicit
information on alumni related activities. For this purpose, a subset of alumni
was selected to give feedback on questions that focused on the extent to which
respondents were engaged in the university subsequent to earning their degree
at CSUDH. These respondents consisted of 149 new alumni that graduated within
the past five years and 160 old alumni that graduated over five years ago,
totaling 309. There was an additional engagement question asked of all respondents
about the degree to which they were informed about campus events and news.
Furthermore, the Alumni Relations sub-sample and the respondents that graduated
over five years ago were asked about the extent to which they felt connected
to the campus.
Respondents were asked to rate the degree to which they felt connected to
the campus on a scale of 1 (none) to 10 (strongest). There was quite a dispersion
of these individual ratings.
The mean rating for
this item was 5.21 and the standard deviation was 2.6. This result indicates
that as a whole, our alumni feel a moderate sense of connectivity to the campus.
Compared to the respondents that graduated over five years ago (mean=5.16),
the degree to which the newer alumni felt connected (mean=5.41) was only very
slightly stronger, so the length of time that has elapsed since graduating
barely has an affect on the respondents’ sense of connectivity. A review
of the statistics by ethnicity
shows some differences in the levels of connectivity. The highest levels were
reported by African-Americans (mean=6.04) and Hispanics (mean=5.95), followed
by Asian/Pacific Islanders (mean=5.05) and Whites (mean=4.64). It is apparent
that, although there are many exceptions in the individual
ratings by ethnicity, there was a greater proportion of Whites that
reported low levels of connectivity compared to the two other large groups:
African-Americans and Hispanics. This may be an area of concern from a diversity
point of view and is an issue that should be explored further by a survey
which more specifically addresses dimensions of diversity at CSUDH. Currently
there is insufficient data to make a definitive judgment on the subject, but
it could have something to do with the composition of the student body or
how long students are at CSUDH since, historically, a greater proportion of
Whites compared to African-Americans or Hispanics started as transfer students,
which means they would have spent fewer terms at CSUDH before graduating.
All respondents to the Alumni Survey were asked to rate the extent to which they were informed about CSUDH. Generally speaking, respondents fit into three generally equal categories: perception of being informed, uninformed and somewhere in between. As indicated by the combined ratings of “very” or “adequately” informed, alumni that were informed constituted 38.1% of the total respondents. This suggests that 61.9% were at least moderately uniformed about CSUDH. These uninformed alumni are further categrized by the middle ratings of “not very well informed” (31.1%) and the combined lowest ratings of “poorly” or “not at all” informed (30.8%). Considering that these perceptions are all from alumni for whom we had valid addresses and took the initiative to respond to the survey, these ratings seem low. It appears that we need to do a better job keeping alumni informed about events and developments at CSUDH.
Comparing the responses by the subpopulations shows basically no difference between new or old alumni as far as the percent that felt adequately or very well informed (38.4%, 37.9%). However, more old alumni (33.7%) felt “poorly” or “not at all” informed than was the case for new alumni (25.7%). Distance learning alumni provided the largest proportion of these low ratings (35.3%).
There were small differences
by ethnicity in the perceptions of being informed. As a group, White
respondents gave more bipolar ratings, with 39% indicating they were at least
adequately informed and almost as many (35.2%) indicating they were poorly
informed at best. The remaining (25.8%) indicated the middle level, “not
very well” informed. Only 30.7% of Hispanics indicated they were at least
adequately informed and just as many (30.0%) felt uninformed. African-Americans
and Asian/Pacific Islanders were similar to each other in that 42% felt at
least adequately informed and 23% felt uninformed.
The sample of respondents who completed surveys that contained specific questions
on Alumni Relations issues was asked to select how
they would prefer to receive information about CSUDH. The vast majority
(73.6%) indicated that they preferred to get their information via standard
mail. A much smaller proportion (17.2%) indicated Email as
their preferred choice for getting information about CSUDH. Only 8.8% indicated
that they would rely on the CSUDH web site and almost none (0.4%) would want
to wait for a phone call from CSUDH.
The sample of alumni designated to provide feedback to Alumni Relations issues
was asked to indicate their degree of interest in participating in various
alumni events, presuming that they had the opportunity to do so. Based on
their indication of being either “very interested” or “somewhat interested,”
the alumni event that clearly generated the most interest was “professional
development seminars” (70.9%). This was followed by “social/cultural
events (mixers)” (51.2%), “on/off
campus special events”(46.7%), class
reunions (36.1%) and sporting
events (30.6%). In the last four events, undergraduate alumni showed
more interest than did graduate alumni. This was especially true for class
reunions where twice as many undergraduate than graduate alumni showed at
least some interest.
In conjunction with the question above regarding interest in alumni events, respondents were also asked to indicate the barriers that have prohibited them from participating in alumni activities. Respondents were asked to mark “Yes” or “No” next to a list of possible barriers that were listed on the survey. The barriers selected, in descending order, were: lack of time (85.1%), uninformed (70.1%), distance from campus (60.1%), lack of interest in subject matter (51.6%), not a value (47.4%), don’t know anyone (34.9%), too expensive (27.0%), and disability (8.7%).
Of greatest concern to CSUDH are responses to this item over which the campus
has some influence. An alumnus who has no information about campus events,
or is uninterested in activities that are available, or see limited value
in participation is disengaged. Building a vital alumni will require programming
that involves and invigorates the many CSUDH graduates who could potentially
be active in campus activities.
The Alumni Relations sample was asked to choose from list of eight
types of groups or chapters that the Alumni Association could develop
(create/offer). The most frequently chosen type of group/chapter was departmental/professional
(60.5%), a possible focus of alumni activities for the future. This was followed
by cultural (40%), special interest/other (24.5%), honor’s
(23.0%), recreation/sports (17.0%), service clubs (15.5%), religious
group (13.5%), and fraternities and sororities (13.5%).
The Alumni Relations sample was asked to select no more than five items from a list of nine alumni services/activities that they felt should be created or enhanced by the Alumni Association. The most frequently chosen items from this list of services/activities involve practical career building opportunities that could be offered to graduates or students. Identifying job opportunities for graduates, (selected by 79.6% of the respondents), and networking with alumni (44.8%) were chosen as services that are currently available and that should be enhanced.
Other services listed on the survey which are currently available and recommended for enhancement are:
Providing financial support (e.g. donations) (35.8%)
Providing feedback to university (35.1%)
Serving on boards, committees, etc. (28.0%)
Participating in the alumni groups/chapters (24.0%)
Volunteering at events (17.9%).
Of the services that are not currently available, alumni most often
selected mentoring students (65.6%). Also of importance were opportunities
for them to recruit students for internships (44.4%).
The survey asked the Alumni Relations sample of respondents to provide information regarding important services that the Alumni Relations office could offer. They were to select any number of benefits and services which would interest them from a list of thirteen items. The most frequently chosen items were career networking (55.7%) and discounts at stores (books, computers, etc.) (55.7%). Also very popular was employment links on the Alumni Web site (49.4%) and a mentor program for former alumni (48.2%).
The remaining items were:
Library borrowing privileges (45.1%)
Alumni travel opportunities (45.1%)
Affiliation with fitness center (41.6%)
Alumni ID card (39.6%)
Group insurance (home, car, travel) (24.3%)
Alumni achievement award (18%)
Permanent E-mail/mail forwarding service (17.6%)
Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard) (13.7%)
Other (3.5%)
Respondents were also asked to indicate the types of Alumni Association programs that they would prefer to attend. They were given four overlapping types of categories and could select as many as they wish. Almost half (47%) selected alumni & spouse/significant other, in which both alumni and their spouses could attend. Just over a third (35.3%) selected programs to be utilized by strictly alumni. There was a 5.6% overlap in that some respondents wanted opportunities for both arrangements. A third of the respondents selected a family program offering activities (33.6%) and affinity group/chapter (13.8%) was selected by the least number of respondents.