North Carolina State University
and UNC-General Administration
Baccalaureate Alumni Surveys
Summary of Question Items

Information on Table Layout:

Numbers reported represent the survey question numbers.
Differences in question wording are noted when relevant.

Question Categories:

Overall Satisfaction
Involvement While at NC State
Post-Graduation Activities
Further Education
Employment
Professional Preparation
Goals of Undergraduate Education
Current Personal Habits: Reading, Exercise, and Volunteerism
Alumni Services

Overall Satisfaction

	2009	2006
Evaluation of overall undergraduate education received at NC State	G1	73
Would recommend NC State to friend	G2	74
If starting over, would still choose to attend NC State	G3a	75a
If starting over, would still choose same major	G3b	75b

Involvement While at NC State

Work-related experience while at NC State	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Co-op	E1_1	67_1	54_1	46_1	44_1
Internship	E1_2	67_2	54_3	46_3	44_3
Practicum	E1_3	67_3
Student Teaching	E1_4	67_4
Participate in research	E1_5	67_5	54_2	46_2	44_2
Resident Advisor	E1_6	67_6
Summer employment or part-time job in major	E1_7	67_7	54_4	46_4	44_4
Did not participate in work-related experiences			54_5	46_5	44_5
Work-related experience helpful in securing current position of employment	E2	68	55	47	45

Study Abroad	2009	2006
Participated in study abroad program	B29	34
Duration of study abroad	B30	35
Study abroad improved problem solving skills	B31a	36a
Study abroad impact on work attitudes and skills	B31b	36b
Study abroad help understand problems and issues facing the world	B31c	36c
Reasons for not participating in study abroad	B32

Involvement in School-Related Groups	2009	2006
Academic scholarship program (Caldwell, Park, etc.)	E3_1	69_1
GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) student group	E3_2	69_2
Honor/Professional fraternity/sorority	E3_3	69_2
Intramural/Recreational sports, club teams	E3_4	69_3
Minority student groups	E3_5	69_4
Organizations/Clubs related to your major	E3_6	69_5
Political/Issue groups	E3_7	69_6
Religious groups	E3_8	69_7
Residence Hall Council, IRC	E3_9	69_8
ROTC	E3_10	69_9
Service group/organization	E3_11	69_10
Social fraternity/sorority	E3_12	69_11
Student Government	E3_13	69_12
Student Media/Publications	E3_14	69_13
Union Activities Board groups	E3_15	69_14
University Honors Program	E3_16	69_15
University Scholars program	E3_17	69_16
Varsity athletic teams	E3_18	69_17
Visual/Performing arts/music groups	E3_19	69_18

Post-Graduation Activities

	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Primary activity first year following completeion of degree	D1	57

Further Education

	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Graduate/Professional study	C1	46	38	41	41
Current enrollment status	C2	47	40	43
Institution name	C3a	48a
Institution location	C3b	48b
Academic program/discipline	C3c	48c
Degree(s) completed	C3d	48d
Degree(s) sought/seeking (not completed)	C3e	48e
Scholarships, honors, awards, assistanships received	C5	50
Preparation for graduate/professional study	C4	49	41	44
Interest in graduate/professional school	C6	51	39	42	42
Taken continuing ed., professional development, lifelong ed. courses/seminars/wrkshops	C7	52
Impact of courses on professional career	C8	53
Impact of courses on personal goals or life enrichment	C9	54
Enrolled through McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education	C10	55
Likelihood enrolling through McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education	C11	56

Employment

	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Time to obtain first full-time job	D2	58	43	49	47
Relationship of first job to academic major	D3
NC State preparation for first job	D4	60	46, 52	48
Salary at first job	D5	60	46, 52	48
Resources when in search for a job					46
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: NC State Career Center	D6_1
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: NC State Alumni Association Career Services	D6_2	62_8
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Applied for job via an NC State University career services job listing	D6_3	62_3
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Employer found resume via NC State University carreer services database	D6_4	62_2
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: On-campus interviewing or career fair	D6_5
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: On-campus interviewing		62_1
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Career Fair		62_6
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Technician or other NC State publication	D6_6	62_6
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: NC State co-op experience	D6_7	62_4
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Internship	D6_8	62_5
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Previous experience with the company	D6_9
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Personal connections within the company	D6_10
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Faculty member or job listing found in NC State department	D6_11	62_7
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Professional society	D6_12	62_10
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Third party recuriter or executive search firm	D6_13	62_12
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Employment agency	D6_14	62_12
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Family/friends/classmates/co-workers	D6_15	62_9
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Internet	D6_16	62_11
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Local, city, or national newspaper	D6_17	62_12
Instrumental in locating/getting first job: Other instrumental in locating/getting first job	D6_18	62_13
Current employment status	D7	63	48	50	48
Name of employer	D8a	64a
Type of employment (e.g. self-employed, academic, private)	D8b	64b
Work location	D8c	64c
Occupation	D8d	64d
Current employment same as first			49
Employment relation to degree	D9	59,65	44, 50	51	49_1
Employment not related to degree by choice		59,65	45, 51	52	49_2
Educational requirements for current position		66			50
Salary at current position	D8e	61, 64e	47, 53	53	51
Preparation for current job	D10	61, 64e	47, 53	53	51

Professional Preparation

	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Written communication skills	A1a	1a	1_1	1_1	1_1
Public speaking and presentation skills (prior to 2009, "Speaking skills")	A1b	1b	1_2	1_2	1_2
Comprehension skills	A1c	1c	1_3	1_3	1_3
Listening skills	A1d	1d	1_4	1_4	1_4
Communication skills overall		1	1	1	1
Technical skills/knowledge	A2
Ability to adapt to changing technologies	A3
Ability to apply scientific principles	A4	4	4	4	4
Ability to apply mathematical skills	A5	5	5	5	5
Finding relevant information and ideas from multiple sources	A6a	6a
Bringing information/ideas together	A6b	6b	9_1	9_1	9_5
Thinking creatively	A6c	6c	9_2	9_2	9_4
Planning projects	A6d	6d	9_3	9_3	9_1
Defining problems	A6e	6e	9_4	9_4	9_2
Solving problems	A6f	6f	9_5	9_5	9_3
Logical reasoning skills	A6g	6g
Examining problems from multiple perspectives	A6h	6h
Overall technical knowledge		2	2	2	2
Basic computer skills			3_1	3_1	3_1
Technical Computer skills			3_2	3_2	3_2
Overall knowledge of computer applications			3	3	3
Using knowledge to solve problems overall		6f	9	9	9
Having self-confidence		8d	12_4	11_4	11_4

	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Work attitudes and skills overall		7	11	12	12
Ability to adjust to new job demands	A7a	7a	11_1	12_1	12_1
Working under pressure	A7b	7b	11_2	12_2	12_2
Making decisions under pressure	A7c	7c	11_3	12_3	12_3
Ability to work independently	A7d	7d	11_4	12_4	12_4
Ability to work in teams	A7e	7e	7	7	7
Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds	A7f	7f	11_5	12_5	12_5
Being dependable and punctual	A7g	7g	11_6	12_6	12_6
Professional Development overall		8	12	13	13
Traits overall				11	11
Professionalism	A8a	8a	12_1	11_1	11_1
Conducting work ethically	A8b	8b	12_2	11_2	11_2
Resourcefulness	A8c	8c	12_3	11_3	11_3
Confidence in ability to perform well	A8d
Ability to learn independently	A8e	8e	12_5	13_1	13_1
Ability to grow on the job	A8f	8f	12_6	13_2	13_2
Willingness to accept new responsibilities	A8g	8g	12_7	13_3	13_3
Ability to adapt to changing circumstances	A8h	8h
Leadership and management skills (prior to 2009, "Leadership skills")	A8i	8i	8	8	8

Note: Rate 1) importance to current work and 2) preparation by NC State
Back to Top

Skills/Perspectives gained through undergraduate courses/experiences	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Foreign language skills	A9	9	6	6	6
Skills gained through research/internship.student teaching	A10	10	10	10	10
Skills gained through a study abroad experience	A11	11
Skills gained through a community service or service-learning project	A12	12

Note: Rate 1) current importance and 2) skill development at NC State.
Back to Top

Goals of Undergraduate Education

	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Understanding basic concepts in a broad range of disciplines	B1	13	13	14	14
Ability to use information technologies and search strategies to access information in field	B2
Ability to collect relevant data	B3
Ability to formulate and test hypotheses	B4
Ability to construct clear, precise, and accurate arguments	B5	14
Ability to critically analyze and evaluate ideas and information	B6	15	14	15	15
Ability to understand literature in field	B7	16	15	16	16
Awareness of new scientific knowledge and discoveries	B8	17	16	17	17
Preparing for a career	B9	18	29	30	30
Developing a tolerance for divergent views	B10	19	17	18	18
Understanding diverse cultures and values	B11	20
Understanding the commonality of human problems through a global perspective	B12	21	18	19	19
Understanding how science and technology influence society	B13	21	18	19	19
Recognizing and acting upon ethical principles	B14	22	19	20	20
Being involved in public and community affairs	B15	23	20	21	21
Understanding issues and problems facing the world	B16	24	21	22	22
Understanding the present as it relates to history	B17	25	22	23	23
Understanding issues associated with racial equity (prior to 2009, "Valuing racial equity")	B18	26	23	24	24
Understanding issues associated with gender equity (prior to 2009, "Valuing gender equity")	B19	27	24	25	25
Developing and sustaining an active and healthy lifestyle (prior to 2009, "Commitment to personal health/fitness)	B20	28	25	26	26
Viewing learning as a lifelong process	B21	29	26	27	27
Advancing your appreciation of the arts	B22	30	27	28	28
Advancing your appreciation for the humanities	B23	31
Advancing your appreciation of how social science methods may be used to understand human behavior	B24	32
Understanding my own abilities and interests	B25	33	28	29	29

Note: Rate 1) current importance and 2) satisfaction NC State met goal.
Back to Top

General Education Preparation	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Friends at NC State from different backgrounds			31	32	32
Social Science courses provided insights			32	33	33
Ability to access and use information in professional position	B33	37	30	31	31
NC State encouraged creative and innovative thinking	B34	38	33	34	34
NC State preparation to be competitive with graduates from other institutions	B35	39	34	35	35
Physical education activity courses influence on current health habits	B36	40
Foreign language classes helped gain appreciation for other cultures	B37	41	35	36	36

Impact of teaching and learning technologies used at NC State	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Teaching and learning technologies helped ability to answer questions in field	B26a
Teaching and learning technologies helped ability to solve problems in your field	B26b
Teaching and learning technologies helped ability to use methods of research in field to gain new knowledge	B26c
Teaching and learning technologies helped ability to use information from internet, books, journals, etc.	B26d
Teaching and learning technologies helped ability use skills and technologies of field to complete project/assignment	B26e

Distance education/online courses	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Distance education or online courses taken while at NC State	B27
Satisfaction with variety of distance education or online courses offered by NC State	B28

Current Personal Habits: Reading, Excersise, and Volunteerism

	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Routinely keep up with current events in the news (prior to 2009, "Frequently read newspapers and magazines")	B38	42	36	37	37
Reading for leisure	B39	43	37	38	38
Physical exercise	B40	44
Volunteer work	B41	45

Alumni Services

	2009	2006	2003	1998	1995
Member of NC State Alumni Association	F1	70
Alumni seminars		71a	56a	40_1	40_1
University or alumni speakers in your area	F2a
Career planning assistance and job postings (prior to 2009 "Career planning and placement assistance")	F2b	71b	56b	40_2	40_2
Subscription to NC State alumni magazine	F2c	71c	56c	40_3	40_3
Invitations to NC State alumni events in area	F2d	71d	56d	40_4	40_4
NC State alumni reunions	F2e	71e	56e	40_5	40_5
Information about NC State community		71f	56f
Opportunities to connect with the NC State Alumni Network	F2f
Online directory of NC State alumni	F2g	71g

For more information on NC State Student Surveys 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

Posted: October, 2001
last update: May, 2010

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North Carolina State Universityand UNC-General Administration Baccalaureate Alumni SurveysSummary of Question Items