North Carolina
State University
2006 Baccalaureate Alumni Survey
This document lists survey questions and response options for the 2006 Baccalaureate Alumni Survey. To view results for an individual question, click on the question number.
Section
I: Professional Preparation
This first section asks about a range of skills related to professional development. First, please select the appropriate bubble to indicate
how well you were prepared in each area through your program of study at NC State (Scale: Excellent, Good, Average, Fair, Poor). Next, indicate how important the area is to you in your current profession, including graduate/professional school. If you are not currently employed or in school, simply indicate how important these skills are to you now in general (Scale: Very Important, Important, Moderately Important, Limited Importance, Not Important).
b.
Conducting work activities in an ethical manner
c.
Resourcefulness
d.
Confidence in your ability to perform well
e.
Ability to learn independently
f.
Ability to grow on the job
g.
Willingness to accept new responsibilities
h. Ability to adapt to changing circumstances
i. Leadership and management skills
These next few questions ask you about skills you might have gained through various courses or experiences you had as an undergraduate. First, rate the skills you developed as a result of the experience(Scale: Excellent, Good, Average, Fair, Poor). Second, indicate how important such skills are to you now in your job, in school, or simply in general (Scale: Very Important, Important, Moderately Important, Limited Importance, Not Important).
10.
Skills/perspectives gained through research, internship, co-op,
or student teaching experience
11.
Skills/perspectives gained through a study abroad experience
12.
Skills/perspectives gained through a community service or service-learning
project
Section
II: Goals of Undergraduate Education
The following are educational goals held by NC State. First, please indicate how important
you think these goals should be for an undergraduate education (Scale: Very Important, Important, Moderately Important, Limited Importance, Not Important). Second column, please indicate how satisfied you are that your
undergraduate education at NC State met each goal (Scale: Very Satisfied, Somewhat Satisfied, Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied, Somewhat Dissatisfied, Very Dissatisfied).
13.Understanding the basic concepts
in a broad range of disciplines
14.Ability
to construct clear, precise, and accurate arguments
15.
Ability to critically analyze and evaluate ideas and
information
16.
Ability to understand current literature in my field
17.
Acquiring an awareness of new scientific knowledge
and discoveries
35. Was your study abroad program(s) for: (Mark all that apply)
Summer/short term
One semester
Two semesters or longer
36. To what extent did your study abroad experience: (Scale: A great deal, Some, A little, Not at all)
a. Help improve your problem solving skills (e.g., thinking creatively, finding relevant information and ideas from multiple sources, etc.)
b. Have a positive impact on your work attitudes and skills (e.g., ability to adjust to new job demands, ability to work with people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, etc.)
c. Help you better understand problems and issues facing the world.
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements (Scale: Tend to Agree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Tend to Disagree, Disagree).
37.
Through my experiences at NC State, I know how to access and use the information
I need in my professional life.
38.
My undergraduate experiences and courses at NC State encouraged me to think
creatively and innovatively.
39.
My education at NC State has prepared me to be competitive with graduates
from other institutions.
40.
My physical education activity course(s) at NC State had a positive influence
on my current exercise/health habits.
If you had
foreign language courses at NC State, please answer item 41. If not, skip
to question 42. 41. Foreign language courses at NC
State helped me gain an appreciation for other cultures.
42.
I routinely keep up with current events in the news
(e.g., through news programs, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, etc.).
43.
I read for leisure on a regular basis (excluding
reading to keep up with current events).
44. How often do you typically engage in physical exercise?
Never
About once per month
Two or three times per month
About once per week
Two or three times per week
More than three times per week
45.
How often in the past year have you volunteered your time to a non-profit
group, charity, community group, or similar organization?
Never
A few times
About once per month
Two or three times per month
At least once per week
Section
III: Further Education
46.
Are you currently enrolled in a degree-granting program in graduate/professional
school? (please read all options before marking the most appropriate
response)
Yes - am currently enrolled (mark
your response and continue with item #47)
No - was enrolled and already completed a degree (mark
your response then skip to item #48)
No - was enrolled at one time but withdrew before completing any degree (mark your response
then skip to item #48)
No - have applied and been accepted but have not (yet) enrolled
(mark
your response then skip to item #48)
No - have applied but have not been accepted (mark
your response then skip to item #51)
No - have never applied to graduate/professional schoool (mark
your response then skip to item #51)
47.
As defined by your institution, what is your current enrollment status?
Full-time
Part-time
Do not know
48.
If you have ever been accepted, are currently enrolled, or have
already completed a graduate/professional degree, please provide us with
information about your program of study. If you've attended more than one
school or been in more than one program, please use the most recent.
a.
Institution name: ____________________________
b.
Institution location:
City: ______________________________
State:
If
outside the U.S., country: ________________________
49.
How well prepared were you for graduate/professional school?
Excellent preparation
Good preparation
Average preparation
Fair preparation
Poor preparation
50. While in graduate/professional school did you receive any scholarships,
honors, awards, or assistanships? (Mark all that apply, then skip to item
52)
Scholarship
Honor/Award
Teaching Assistantship
Research Assistantship
Other Assistantship (not teaching or research)
51.
If you are not currently enrolled or have not already
completed a graduate/professional degree, what is your level of interest
in continuing your education through graduate/professional school?
High interest
Moderate interest
Low interest
Not interested at all
52.Since
receiving your undergraduate degree,
have you taken any continuing education, professional development, or lifelong
education classes/workshops/seminars, either on a campus or through distance
education?
53.
To what extent has this course(s) had an impact on your professional
career?
Very significant impact
Somewhat significant impact
Limited impact
No impact at all
54.
To what extent has this course(s) had an impact on your personal
goals or life enrichment?
Very significant impact
Somewhat significant impact
Limited impact
No impact at all
55.
Did you enroll in any of the credit or noncredit courses through
NC State's McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education (either
on or off-campus)?
Yes
No
Don't know
56.
How likely is it that you would consider enrolling in a continuing
education, professional development, or lifelong education course (either through the McKimmon Center or elsewhere) within
the next five years?
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
Not at all likely
Section
IV: Employment
57. Which of the following best describes your primary activity during the year after completion of your undergraduate degree? (Mark all that apply)
Worked full-time
Worked part-time
Military Service
Homemaker
Attended graduate/professional school full-time
Attended graduate/professional
school part-time
Travel
Other (please
specify) _____________________
58. How long did it take you to get your first full-time permanent
job after completing your undergraduate degree?
Continued in job had before completing degree
Accepted position prior to or upon graduation
1-6 months
7-12 months
Over 1 year
Have looked for but not yet obtained a full-time permanent job (mark your response then skip to item #63)
Have not looked for a full-time permanent job (mark
your response then skip to item #63)
59.
Was your first full-time permanent position related to your
undergraduate academic major? If not, was this by choice?
Yes, directly related
Yes, somewhat related
No, not related (by choice)
No, not related (not by choice)
60.
How well prepared were you by NC State for your first full-time
permanent position?
Excellent preparation
Good preparation
Average preparation
Fair preparation
Poor preparation
61.
Within what general range was your starting salary at your
first full-time permanent job? (Remember, all information will
remain confidential.)
Under $20,000
$50,000 - $54,999
$20,000 - $24,999
$55,000 - $59,999
$25,000 - $29,999
$60,000 - $64,999
$30,000 - $34,999
$65,000 - $69,999
$35,000 - $39,999
$70,000 - $74,999
$40,000 - $44,999
$75,000 or over
$45,000 - $49,999
62. Which of the following were instrumental in helping you to locate
and/or get your first full-time
permanent job? (Mark all that apply)
On-campus interviewing
Employer found your resume via an NC State University career services database (e.g., ePack)
Applied for job via an NC State University career services job listing (e.g., ePack)
NC State co-op experience
Internship
Career Fair (please specify)
Faculty member or job listing found in an NC State department
NC State Alumni Association Career Services (e.g., online career center, directory)
Family/friends/classmates/co-workers
Professional society (members, newspaper, publication, etc.)
Not employed, but seeking employment (mark your response
then skip to item #67)
Not employed, not seeking employment (mark your response
then skip to item #67)
64.
If you are currently employed, please provide us with information
about your job. (Remember individual responses will be held strictly
confidential.)
a.
For whom do you work? (name of company, business, branch of Armed
Forces, or other employer) _______________________________
b.
Which of the following best describes the type of place you work?
(select one)
Self-Employed
Academic
Private, for profit business or organization
Private, not for profit business or organization
Federal, state, or local government
c.
Work location:
State:
If outside the U.S., country: ____________________
d. Briefly
describe your occupation (please be as specific as possible about
the kind of work you do, e.g., "high school math teacher")
______________________________________
e.
Within what general range is your current salary per year?
Under $20,000
$50,000 - $54,999
$20,000 - $24,999
$55,000 - $59,999
$25,000 - $29,999
$60,000 - $64,999
$30,000 - $34,999
$65,000 - $69,999
$35,000 - $39,999
$70,000 - $74,999
$40,000 - $44,999
$75,000 or over
$45,000 - $49,999
65.
Is your current position related to your undergraduate academic major? If not,
was this by choice?)
Yes, directly related
Yes, somewhat related
No, not related (by choice)
No, not related (not by choice)
66.
How well prepared were you by NC State for your current position?
Excellent preparation
Good preparation
Average preparation
Fair preparation
Poor preparation
Section V: Involvement while at NC State
67.
In which of the following work-related experiences did you participate
while at NC State? (Mark all that apply)
Cooperative Education Program
Internship
Practicum
Student teaching
Research with faculty
Residence advisor
Summer employment or part-time job in major
68.
If you participated in any of the above work-related experiences, was that experience(s) helpful in securing
your current position of employment?
Yes
No
Not applicable
69.
In which of the following school-related groups (clubs, organizations,
programs) were you involved in while at NC State as an undergraduate student?
(Mark all that apply)
Academic scholarship program (Caldwell, Park, etc.)
Honor/Professional fraternity/sorority
Intramural/Recreational sports, club teams
Minority student groups
Organizations/Clubs related to your major
Political/Issue groups
Religious groups
Residence Hall Council, IRC
ROTC
Service group/organization
Social fraternity/sorority
Student Government
Student Media/Publications
Union Activities Board groups
University Honors Program
University Scholars Program
Varsity athletic teams
Visual/Performing arts/music groups
Section
VI: Alumni Services
70.
Are you a member of the NC State Alumni Association?
Yes
No
71.
Regardless of whether or not you are a member, to what extent do you (or
would you) value the following NC State Alumni Association services? (Scale: A lot, Some, A little, Not at all)
a.
Alumni seminars and short courses in your discipline
b. Career
Planning and Placement assistance
c.
Getting the Alumni Magazine
d. Hearing
about NC State events in your area
e.
NC State reunions
f. Being
kept informed about the NC State community
g.
Online directory of NC State Alumni
72.
Are there any other services or activities you would like the NC State Alumni
Association to provide? If so, please describe.
Section
VII: Conclusions
73.
All things considered, how would you evaluate the overall undergraduate
education you received at NC State?
Very Strong
Strong
Weak
Very Weak
74.
Would you recommend NC State to a friend considering college?
b. would you still choose the same major field of study?
Yes
No
Not Sure
Finally, please tell us in your own words about your experiences at NC State, and what you think could be done to improve the University. After removing personally identifying information, your comments will be grouped with those expressing similar concerns and shared with the relevant units on campus so they can appreciate their successes and learn from their mistakes. However, in asking you to share your comments we must also inform you that our promise to maintain your confidentiality does not apply where the university has a legal duty to act on the information you provide, such as reports of criminal activity or unlawful harassment.
76.
What two recommendations would you make to the Chancellor for ways to improve
undergraduate experiences at NC State?
For more information on the
2006 Baccalaureate Alumni Survey contact:
Dr. Nancy Whelchel, Associate Director for Survey Research
Office of Institutional Planning and Research
Box 7002
NCSU
Phone: (919) 515-4184
Email: Nancy_Whelchel@ncsu.edu
