Alumni Survey Report 2016

Alumni Survey Report 2016

Introduction

An Alumni Survey was prepared and administered summer of 2016 to three groups of AUB Alumni: graduates of 2015 and 2016, those who graduated five years ago, and those who graduated ten years ago. Survey was administered online and collected information on the following domains:

Demographic information (gender, age, degree obtained, faculty, etc..)
Employment status.
AUB experience.
Alumni participation and support.

Demographic Information

Survey was answered by 1029 alumnus, nearly 70% of which graduated in 2015/16. A higher percentage of females answered survey (51%), and two thirds were holders of a Bachelor’s degree Table 1. Breakdown of respondents by faculty is reported in Table 2, while Table 3 reports age grouping. Largest percentage of respondents was from FAS followed by FEA then OSB, across the three cohorts of respondents (Figure 1.). With respect to age, half were below 25 years of age and this is understood as 2/3 of them graduated in last two years, while 41% were in the 25-39 age brackets. Only 10% were older than 35 and this is also because sample covered those who graduated ten years ago (Figure 2).

Table 1. Degree Obtained from AUB

Degree / N / %
BA/BS/BBA / 712 / 67%
Master's Degree / 258 / 24%
MBA / 23 / 2%
PhD or MD / 56 / 5%
Other / 116 / 11%

Table 2. Breakdown of Sample by Faculty

Faculty / Total
# % / 2015-16
# % / 5 Yrs. Ago
# % / 10 Yrs. Ago
# %
FAFS / 65 / 6 / 45 / 7 / 9 / 7 / 8 / 5
FAS / 369 / 36 / 231 / 35 / 47 / 35 / 61 / 36
FEA / 305 / 30 / 210 / 31 / 45 / 33 / 41 / 24
HSON / 27 / 3 / 20 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 5 / 3
FHS / 100 / 10 / 63 / 9 / 13 / 10 / 20 / 12
OSB / 157 / 15 / 100 / 15 / 19 / 14 / 34 / 20
Total / 1029 / 669 / 100 / 135 / 100 / 169 / 100
973 / 69% / 14% / 17%

Employment Status

Table 3 reports employment status of respondents for total sample and by cohort. 65% of total sample are employed full-time/part-time or self-employed, while this percentage goes down to 50% to graduates of 2015-16 and goes up to 71-75% to older graduates. 15% (N= 137) of total sample are seeking employment, 82% (N=113) of them come from 2015-16 graduates. 14% are still studying and as expected 91% of them come from recent graduates.

Table 3.Employment Status of Respondents

Total
Sample / 2015-16
# % / 5 Yrs. Ago
# % / 10 Yrs. Ago
# %
Employed full- time / 486 / 54 / 272 / 41 / 88 / 65 / 103 / 61
Employed Part-time / 62 / 7 / 44 / 7 / 5 / 4 / 5 / 3
Self-employed / 36 / 4 / 13 / 2 / 8 / 6 / 11 / 7
Unemployed not seeking an employment / 34 / 4 / 25 / 4 / 2 / 1 / 6 / 4
Unemployed seeking employment / 137 / 15 / 113 / 17 / 12 / 9 / 7 / 4
Student not seeking employment / 122 / 14 / 111 / 17 / 6 / 4 / 4 / 2
No Answer / 91 / 14 / 14 / 10 / 33 / 20
903 / 669 / 100 / 135 / 100 / 169 / 100

Table 4 reports on the extent current job is related to their AUB major. As evident from table 85% of sample report that it is somewhat/very related to what they have studied at AUB same as recent graduates, with the percentage going down to 78% for those who graduated five years ago and going up to 92% for those who graduated 10 years ago.

Table 4. Relationship of Current Job to Major at AUB

Total
Sample% / 2015-16
# % / 5 Yrs. Ago
# % / 10 Yrs. Ago
# %
Not at all related / 75 / 12 / 40 / 11 / 21 / 19 / 11 / 9
Somewhat related / 209 / 33 / 112 / 31 / 35 / 32 / 48 / 38
Very related / 332 / 52 / 193 / 54 / 50 / 46 / 68 / 54
Not applicable / 18 / 3 / 15 / 4 / 3 / 3
634 / 360 / 109 / 127

Table 5. Range of Current Income

Total
Sample% / 2015-16
# % / 5 Yrs. Ago
# % / 10 Yrs. Ago
# %
Under $20,000 / 205 / 33 / 176 / 50 / 15 / 14 / 9 / 7
$20,000 to $25,999 / 77 / 12 / 53 / 15 / 14 / 13 / 5 / 4
$30,000 to $35,999 / 47 / 8 / 28 / 8 / 9 / 8 / 6 / 5
$36,000 to $39,999 / 19 / 3 / 9 / 3 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5
$40,000 to $49,999 / 35 / 6 / 16 / 5 / 8 / 7 / 10 / 8
$50,000 to $59,999 / 22 / 4 / 6 / 2 / 9 / 8 / 5 / 5
$60,000 to $69,999 / 36 / 6 / 15 / 4 / 9 / 8 / 12 / 10
$70,000 or over / 115 / 19 / 13 / 4 / 27 / 25 / 60 / 48
Not applicable / 29 / 5 / 17 / 5 / 8 / 7 / 2 / 2
Prefer not to answer / 36 / 6 / 18 / 5 / 6 / 5 / 11 / 9
621 / 351 / 110 / 125

Table 5 and Figure 3 report range of current income. Higher income, as expected, is reported by older graduates and a higher percentage of them also prefer not to answer this question. It is interesting to note that 48% of respondents in 10 year cohort are in $70,000 and over income bracket and 25% of the 5-year cohort.

*Percentages excluding not applicable and prefer not to answer.

When asked when they secured their first paying job, 25% of total sample reported securing it while enrolled as undergraduate with the percentage going up with recent graduates to 30% and going down with older ones to 20% (Table 6, Figure 4). 87% of our graduates find work within one year of graduation (including while enrolled) and this goes up to 91% with recent graduates and to 82-83% with older graduates which is an excellent outcome for AUB. It is doing much better now in securing jobs for its graduates than before.

Table 6. Point of Securing First Paying Job

Total
Sample% / 2015-16
# % / 5 Yrs. Ago
# % / 10 Yrs. Ago
# %
While enrolled as an undergraduate / 150 / 25 / 101 / 30 / 20 / 20 / 24 / 21
During the first six months after graduation / 307 / 52 / 170 / 50 / 55 / 54 / 60 / 52
During the second six months after graduation / 60 / 10 / 38 / 11 / 9 / 9 / 11 / 9
More than a year after graduation / 52 / 9 / 9 / 3 / 18 / 18 / 20 / 17
I have not yet sought a paying job; I am a full-time student or engaged in other activities / 9 / 2 / 7 / 2 / 1
I have sought a paying job, but I have not found one. / 12 / 2 / 12 / 4
590 / 337 / 102 / 116

Figure 4.

Table 7. Perceptions of First Paying Job and Current One

Descriptions applied to / First Paying Job / Current Job
Was related to my undergraduate major / 397 / 16% / 342 / 10%
Required me to use skills I gained as an undergraduate / 383 / 15% / 351 / 10%
Was related to my desired career paths / 321 / 13% / 376 / 11%
Was work I found meaningful / 313 / 13% / 366 / 11%
Allowed me to continue to grow and learn / 377 / 15% / 416 / 12%
Paid enough to support my desired style of life / 209 / 8% / 298 / 9%
Paid health insurance benefits / 284 / 11% / 332 / 10%
Had opportunity for upward mobility / 215 / 9% / 286 / 8%
Is in a desirable location / 329 / 10%
Overall. Is a satisfying job / 357 / 10%
Total / 2499 / 3454

A higher percentage of respondents found that first paying job was more related to their major and to their career paths and required them to use the skills they gained in college than the current job (Table 7). With respect to changing jobs, 47% had one job only since graduation (probably 2015-16 cohort), 38% had 2-3 jobs, 12% 4-5 jobs since graduation, and 3% more than 6 jobs (Figure 5).

AUB Experience

Evaluating AUB experience involved assessing overall experience, satisfaction with major and with quality of education, and with how AUB prepared them for employment and for the job market. Survey also assessed their personal development and progress in critical areas and extent they were exposed to high impact practices (HIP).

Tables 8-11 and Figure 6 report student satisfaction with overall experience, instruction in their major, quality of instruction, and preparation AUB provided for graduate work and for employment, respectively. As reported in Table 8, 76% of overall sample is satisfied/very satisfied with AUB experience, with 5-year cohort showing a lower satisfaction of 64% while two other cohorts were similar. With respect to satisfaction with quality of instruction in major (Table 9), 35% of total sample rated it excellent, but this rating went up with the older graduates to reach 42% with the 10 year group. However 82-86% rated the quality of instruction as Good/Excellent. Similarly with respect to overall quality of instruction (Table 10), 32% of total sample reported it to be excellent with the percentage going up to 45% with the 10 year cohort of graduates. Also 87-90% rated overall quality of instruction as good/excellent. Table 11 reports the descriptive statistics for these items and they show 76-80% satisfaction levels, except with items related to preparation for employment and graduate work which dropped to 72-74%.

Table 8. Satisfaction with Undergraduate Experience

Total
Sample% / 2015-16
# % / 5 Yrs. Ago
# % / 10 Yrs. Ago
# %
Very dissatisfied / 55 / 7 / 30 / 6 / 39 / 28 / 55 / 32
Somewhat dissatisfied / 71 / 9 / 50 / 10 / 8 / 6 / 7 / 4
Unsure, no opinion / 49 / 6 / 37 / 7 / 4 / 3 / 6 / 4
Satisfied / 388 / 47 / 272 / 52 / 51 / 36 / 48 / 34
Very satisfied / 234 / 29 / 131 / 25 / 39 / 28 / 55 / 39
797 / 520 / 141 / 171

Table 9. Quality of Instruction in Major

Total
Sample% / 2015-16
# % / 5 Yrs. Ago
# % / 10 Yrs. Ago
# %
Poor / 29 / 4 / 20 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 3
Fair / 109 / 14 / 73 / 14 / 16 / 15 / 15 / 12
Good / 378 / 48 / 249 / 48 / 49 / 45 / 57 / 44
Excellent / 279 / 35 / 174 / 34 / 42 / 38 / 54 / 42
795 / 516 / 110 / 130

Table 10. Overall Quality of Instruction

TotalSample% / 2015-16
# % / 5 Yrs. Ago
# % / 10 Yrs. Ago
# %
Poor / 14 / 2 / 9 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1
Fair / 75 / 10 / 51 / 10 / 8 / 8 / 15 / 12
Good / 449 / 57 / 310 / 61 / 54 / 50 / 55 / 42
Excellent / 248 / 32 / 140 / 27 / 43 / 40 / 58 / 45
786 / 510 / 107 / 130

Table 11. Satisfaction Descriptive Statistics

N / Mean / % / Median / %
Satisfaction with AUB undergraduate/graduate experience / 797 / 3.8/5 / 76 / 4.0 / 80
Characterize the quality of instruction in your MAJOR / 795 / 3.1/4 / 78 / 3.0 / 75
Overall Quality of Instruction / 786 / 3.2/4 / 80 / 3.0 / 75
If employed, how well did AUB prepare you for the demands of your current position / 574 / 3.6/5 / 72 / 4.0 / 80
If pursuing graduate studies, how well did AUB prepare you for the demands of your current graduate or professional school? / 391 / 3.7/5 / 74 / 4.0 / 80

Figure 6. Overall Satisfaction by Cohort

With respect to AUB’ reputation, 42% overall view it as stable while 27% view it as improving (Table 12). Highest percentage of those who view it as stable comes from the 10-year cohort, while highest percentage of those who view it as improving comes from recent graduates (29%). Another group of recent graduates also view AUB’s reputation as declining (21%).

Table 12. AUB’s Academic Reputation

AUB's academic reputation is / Total
Sample% / 2015-16
# % / 5 Yrs. Ago
# % / 10 Yrs. Ago
# %
Declining / 148 / 19 / 104 / 21 / 23 / 21 / 19 / 15
Staying the same / 330 / 42 / 207 / 41 / 45 / 42 / 61 / 48
Improving / 212 / 27 / 146 / 29 / 23 / 21 / 32 / 25
Don't know / 90 / 12 / 50 / 10 / 17 / 16 / 16 / 12
780 / 507 / 108 / 128

Respondents were asked to assess extent AUB education impacted their personal development in acquiring important competencies and skills. Overall, highest areas of growth ≥ 60% (Table 13) were noted in learning on their own, taking personal responsibility, and acquiring critical thinking skills (highlighted in green). They also improved in communication, reading and comprehending materials on different topics, and planning and carrying out projects. Their lowest development ≤0.30 occurred in career planning, appreciating the arts, and physical and mental health.

When examining responses by cohort, we find that highest rate of development on these 21st century skills and competencies was reported by the more recent graduates, while lowest by 10-year cohort and this due to the significant changes done by AUB in last five years to revamp its curriculum to meet modern job demands.

Respondents were asked to evaluate their AUB experience in terms of the ‘Big Six’ High Impact practices (Table 14) and the extent they experienced these practices. Percentage agreement for whole sample ranged from 55-96% with the highest agreement on ‘I had at least one professor who made me excited about learning’ followed by ‘I worked on a project that took a semester or more to complete’ then ‘My professors cared about me as a person’. When comparing respondents by cohort, it was clear that more recent graduates have experienced these practices more while the older ones (10-year cohort) the least, and this is due to the fact that AUB has started engaging and encouraging these practices in recent years (Figure 7).

Table 13. Alumni Personal Development

Total sample / 2015-16 / 5 years / 10 years
Extent your education at AUB affect your personal development in each of the following areas? / Very much
% / Some
What
% / Mean / Very much
% / Very much
% / Very much
%
Creative thinking / 39 / 40 / 2.3 / 43 / 45 / 36
Critical thinking / 62 / 28 / 2.6 / 68 / 65 / 60
Communication / 58 / 28 / 2.5 / 64 / 58 / 58
Writing skills / 52 / 32 / 2.5 / 58 / 55 / 50
Effective speaking / 49 / 33 / 2.4 / 56 / 44 / 44
Empirical and quantitative computation / 42 / 38 / 2.3 / 48 / 46 / 42
Reading and comprehending materials on a variety of topics / 57 / 31 / 2.6 / 64 / 60 / 54
Ability to use computers/information technology / 41 / 36 / 2.3 / 45 / 47 / 44
Leading others / 38 / 38 / 2.2 / 44 / 36 / 33
Teamwork / 51 / 32 / 2.4 / 56 / 59 / 50
Planning and carrying out projects / 54 / 30 / 2.5 / 60 / 56 / 51
Learning on your own / 67 / 23 / 2.7 / 74 / 71 / 69
Personal responsibility / 63 / 25 / 2.6 / 70 / 68 / 59
Social responsibility / 46 / 34 / 2.4 / 51 / 51 / 45
Self-confidence in expressing your own ideas / 51 / 32 / 2.5 / 58 / 53 / 47
Physical and mental health / 29 / 37 / 2.0 / 34 / 27 / 25
Career planning / 25 / 33 / 1.9 / 31 / 20 / 20
Appreciating the arts / 25 / 34 / 1.9 / 31 / 25 / 19
Appreciating diversity / 51 / 28 / 2.4 / 58 / 61 / 49
Appreciation for life-long learning / 53 / 28 / 2.5 / 59 / 66 / 51
Understanding other cultures, races or ethnic groups / 46 / 30 / 2.3 / 52 / 51 / 42
Appreciating global perspectives / 46 / 34 / 2.4 / 54 / 46 / 41

Table 14. Experience in terms of Big Six High Impact Practices

S. Agree/Agree %
Level of agreement or disagreement with the following statementsabout experience / Total Sample
% Mean/4 / 2015-16 / 5 years / 10 years
I had at least one professor who made me excitedabout learning / 96 / 3.7 / 97 / 97 / 94
My professors cared about me as a person / 69 / 2.9 / 72 / 68 / 65
I had a mentor who encouraged me to pursue my goals and dreams / 60 / 2.8 / 64 / 58 / 48
I had an internship or job that allowed me to applywhat I was learning in the classroom / 61 / 2.7 / 62 / 69 / 54
I worked on a project that took a semester or moreto complete. / 76 / 3.1 / 80 / 73 / 64
I was extremely active in extracurricular activitiesand organizations / 55 / 2.6 / 57 / 50 / 51

Figure 7. Experience of Big Six HIP

Alumni Participation and Support

The last section of the report attempted to get information on extent of connectedness of graduates to AUB and the support they are willing to provide. Table 15 and Figure 8 report percentages of graduates with some/very strong connection to AUB and the frequently with which they visit campus and AUB website. 86% of respondents have some to very strong connection to AUB and the percentage is higher with recent graduates, they also more frequently visit campus and visit AUB website, so there is a need to motivate older graduates and to strengthen their connectedness to AUB.Other questions were asked more related to the WAAAUB and alumni online community and their publications and responses are reported in Table 16, Figure 9. A large percentage of graduates are aware of the WAAAUB, have an AUB Alumni ID (80%), and 2/3 of them are willing to attend WAAAUB events and 61% are willing to contribute funds. Recent graduates have higher agreement with these statements except for raising funds as 10-year cohort reports 71% willingness to do that, probably because they are more financially able. This same group reported higher receiving and reading of Main Gate, Al Jameaa, and registration in online community, so AUB needs to better orient and encourage recent graduates in these areas. It is also important to note the very low percentage of respondents (19%) who are aware of their campus benefits as alumnus or who have attended an AUB Class Reunion event (10%), especially in the 5-year cohort category.

Table 15. Graduates Connectedness to AUB

Total Sample % / 2015-16 % / 5 years % / 10 years %
Some/Very strong connection to AUB / 86 / 90 / 78 / 78
Frequently visited campus since graduation / 48 / 53 / 42 / 34
Visiting AUB website (occasionally, monthly, weekly, daily|) / 54 / 60 / 43 / 38

Figure 8. Graduates Connectedness to AUB by Cohort

Table 16. Further Alumni Connectedness Items

Questions / Total % / 2015-16 % / 5 yrs. % / 10 yrs. %
Do you receive AUB Main Gate / 46 / 38 / 63 / 66
Do you read AUB Main Gate? / 44 / 37 / 52 / 53
Do you know about WAAAUB, the alumni association of AUB / 92 / 93 / 92 / 93
Are you likely to attend a WAAAUB or WAAAUB Chapter event? / 61 / 64 / 62 / 53
Are you likely to ever volunteer with WAAAUB? / 57 / 60 / 46 / 53
Do you receive the Alumni Electronic newsletter (Al Jameaa)? / 33 / 29 / 35 / 42
Are you aware of the AUB Alumni Online Community? / 36 / 33 / 36 / 44
Did you register on the AUB Alumni Online Community? / 19 / 16 / 27 / 25
Do you have your AUB Alumni ID card? / 80 / 88 / 67 / 68
Are you aware of your campus benefits as AUB alumnus/alumna / 20 / 23 / 8 / 19
Have you attended an AUB Class Reunion event? / 10 / 9 / 4 / 16
Are you willing to contribute or help raise funds for scholarships? / 61 / 58 / 60 / 71

Figure 9.Alumni Connectedness by Cohort

Comments

Some interesting comments were provided by students, below is a summary.

Do you read AUB Main Gate? (If no, please specify why)

AUB news are of no concern to me at the moment
Contains articles about professors/deans and other topics that do not interest me much/It’s a waste of time
Don't know where to find it since I live abroad
Even though i subscribed to it i never receive it
I do not know what it is.
I don't have time
I graduated 25 years ago and in 2016 and I feel strongly connected to AUB.
I just learned about it. I would love to receive it and read it.
I just skim through the titles
I read mostly digital magazines, it’s better for the environment and less costly , there I absolutely no rational reason to still use paper magazines
Sometimes, depending on the time and topics
Suggestion: Create a phone application AUB Main Gate. Easier and practical for people to read on their smartphones.
The title and cover page never compelled me to open it.

Do you know about WAAAUB, the alumni association of AUB? (if no, specify why)

Did not have the opportunity
AUB never felt like much of a community outside of some truly amazing professors. It seems that those who are part of an alumnus community work primarily with the administration and are somewhat blinded by nostalgia. I haven't yet forgotten how snubbed I felt by the administration when I was a student, and unless the new management can prove they care, I am not interested in AUB as a self-aggrandizing institution resting on its own laurels, but as a university which places its students first. The administration would do well to take some pointers from the professors with good student reputations.
I am a council member since 2012
I hear about it, but I don't know much about its activities and the value we get out of it
Never heard of it
A new system should be in place to provide close ties to new grads not just to those from the 70's
No time
Not interested in alumni
They don't market themselves well; Not enough attention is placed on introducing alumni or fresh graduates to it
Unfortunately, we have been having a very bad experience with WAAAUB in Paris over the past 5 years
Would like to get more involved and in contact.

Have you attended an AUB Class Reunion event? (If no, please specify why)

I enjoy them very much
No specific reason
150th anniversary at New York, United Nations
All the AUB alumni that i know don't attend
Annual Iftar 2016
didn't gain friends from major
Extremely expensive
Have attended some unofficial reunion events, meaning they were organized independently from AUB.
I am still connected with some friends from the university years. I never felt the need for a reunion to see them.
I had no time to/ I had other plans.
I have emailed AUB regarding the event that happened in Dubai not too long ago and never received a reply.
I lost enthusiasm...
I personally did not find them exciting.
I still work at AUB and still see many of the people I graduated with
I was waiting for the 10 year anniversary (2016) but it was all classes which discouraged me.
I went to the general one celebrating 50 years, attendance rate was very low
I'm waiting for more time to pass.
It is too commercial; it has to be free for AUB Alumni.
Living abroad
Never gotten a clear communication on them. not well organized
Never invited nor informed about any
No need/no reason to attend
No Reunion event was held yet
Not enough of my friends/ class were going to the reunion
Not interested
Not sure which are official, and which are unofficial. Also unsure that I will meet some of my previous classmates.
Because such events are invariably attended by those blinded by nostalgia, who want to reminisce about what a lovely time they had. Like I said, I still remember being a student. I'll pledge eternal loyalty to the amazing professors who taught me, but the administration needs to treat those who come after me significantly better than I was to earn my admiration.
Planning to attend one
Those things make me uncomfortable.
Timing was not convenient
Wasn't that close to classmates.

Are you willing to contribute or help raise funds for scholarships (if no, please specify)

Already spent $120000 on tuition
As a fresh graduate, I still have loans to pay off
AUB's standard for giving scholarships is absurd.