Sometimes More Is Better: Development and Implementation of a Graduate Alumni Survey To Increase Response Rates and Evaluate Strategic Planning. AIR 1994 Annual Forum Paper

This study explored the utility of developing an alumni survey specifically designed for graduate alumni to increase response rates and provide specific information for planning. The previous year's survey of graduate alumni had seen a very low participation rate and those that had responded offered several negative comments on the survey design. Various representatives of the Graduate School and the Assessment Committee developed a new survey to provide data which would distinguish graduate student programs from undergraduate programs, assist in program improvement, and obtain feedback on relevant components of the strategic plan. Development included a review of surveys used by other universities many of which proved to be narrowly focused on a particular school or department. Items were drawn from previously developed alumni surveys with many items revised to target the graduate experience. Potential survey items were reviewed by a panel of current graduate students with an assessment director making final selections and the Graduate School doing a final review. The new survey was mailed to 1,199 alumni of two recent graduating classes. Response rate was 30.34 percent, a 105 percent improvement from the previous year. The number of omitted items on returned surveys also significantly decreased. (Contains 11 references and 6 tables.) (JB)