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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 2003 1998 1995
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      
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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
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Study Abroad 2009 2006 2003 1998 1995
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        
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Involvement in School-Related Groups 2009 2006 2003 1998 1995
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      
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Post-Graduation Activities

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