comparative alumni research 2005 update decade comparison: 1990s graduates to earlier graduates...

Comparative Alumni Research 2005 Update

Decade Comparison: 1990s Graduates to Earlier Graduates

Lutheran Educational Conference of North America

April 2005

This presentation highlights differences between all graduates (Lutheran and non-Lutheran) of Lutheran colleges and Flagship public universities with significant differences noted between the decades.

This research demonstrates that there is significant progress being made at Lutheran colleges in terms of student experiences. While the charts also highlight progress at Flagship publics relative to Lutheran colleges, the statistical differences tested are between decades (not the type of institution).

Alumni Research Update

Purpose:• refresh and maintain credibility of LECNA comparative alumni research

• addition of 1994-1999 graduates to alumni database

• corresponds to recent public sector research with 1970-1999 graduates

Highlights:

Part I - Trends in Education• research defines recent trends in education

• some advances by Lutheran colleges are mirrored by public universities, while others are not

• Lutheran colleges maintain many advantages over public universities

Part II - Lutherans and Non-Lutherans (in separate presentation)• Lutherans are more likely to experience positive interaction and interactive

classroom experiences at Lutheran Colleges than at Public Universities

• also uncovered: for some measures, Lutherans report different experiences at Lutheran Colleges than Non-Lutherans

Part I:Trends in Education

Among Graduates of Lutheran Colleges and Flagship Public Universities

Recent graduates of Lutheran Colleges were more likely than their older peers to experience many aspects of interaction with faculty and students.

In nearly every case, graduates of Lutheran Colleges continue to be more likely to experience these interactions than graduates of Flagship Public Universities.

87%

33% 32% 34%

90%95%

All years 1970-1989 1990-1999 All years 1970-1989 1990-1999

Lutheran college alumni Flagship public alumni

Many Small Classes with Fewer than 20 Students

Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering …(rating a 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=did not benefit at all, and 5=benefited very much)

S

S = Significant difference between decades

High Quality, Teaching-Oriented Faculty

92% 90% 94%

77% 78% 75%




No significant difference between decades

A Majority of Classes Taught by Professors

96% 96% 97%

79% 79% 79%





80% 77%84%

47% 44%51%



Professors Who Challenged, But Helped Meet Those Challenges


Q. 2 How much did your college experience include the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=never, and 5=always)

S

86%80%

93%

55%51%

61%



Personal Interaction with Professors



S

Found a Mentor in College


Q. 4 Who, if anyone, did you meet at your college who was a mentor or role model for you?

84% 81%87%

59%54%

68%



S

S

Professor Was a Mentor in College

Q. 4 Who, if anyone, did you meet at your college who was a mentor or role model for you?

65% 63%69%

43%37%

52%



S


Conversations with Professors Outside of Class



61%53%

71%

29% 26%35%



S

Friendships Developed from Classroom Experiences



66% 65% 69%

52% 48%

59%



S

Interaction with Other Students With Shared Interests

85% 84% 87%

76% 76% 78%





34%28%

42%

28% 28%37%



Informal Student Study Groups



SS

41% 37%46%

20% 19% 21%



Participated in Tutoring Other Students


Q. 5 While in college, did you participate in…?

S

Active Involvement

Recent college graduates (from both Lutheran Colleges and Flagship Public Universities) were more likely than their older peers to say they experienced active classroom involvement and personal development …

Extensive Classroom Discussions



71%66%

80%

45%38%

58%



S

S

Student Presentations in Class



41%34%

53%

33%28%

41%



SS

Classes that Included the Perspectives of Women and Minorities



46%40%

56%

36%28%

50%



SS

The Integration of Values and Ethics in Classroom Discussions



68% 66%71%

27% 26% 27%



A Good Balance Between Social and Personal Development


77% 74%82%

64% 60%70%



SS



There Was a Sense of Community Among Students

84% 84% 85%

58% 59% 57%



Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree)


Their College Helped Them Integrate Faith into their Daily Lives

54% 56% 52%

13% 14% 12%



Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree)

Active Participation

Recent college graduates were more likely than their older peers to say they experienced college-sponsored activities outside of the classroom.

Participated in a College-Sponsored Internship



55%51%

61%

37% 34%43%



S

Participated in International Study



22% 21% 24%

10% 7%15%



S

Participated in Off-Campus Study*


Q. 5 While in college, did you participate in…?* includes international study and other off-campus study experiences

51% 50% 53%

26% 23%31%



64% 60%69%

44% 41%49%



Involved in Volunteer or Community Service Activities


Q. 6A Were you involved in any of the following? Q.6B Did you have any leadership role in…?

Had a leadership role:

S

24% 18%18%34% S 18%28%

Involvement in Church or Religious Activities is One Area of Reported Decline in Participation


Q. 6A Were you involved in any of the following?

63% 66%57%

28% 25%30%



S

Involved in Music or Theatre Performance



36% 37% 34%

15% 12%16%



Involved in Campus Publications or Student Government



27% 27% 28%

14% 14%14%



Involved in Varsity Athletics



25% 23%28%

8% 10%8%



Financing the College Education

Compared to older graduates, 1990s graduates had greater responsibility to pay for the cost of their education. Recent Lutheran College graduates are also more likely to have worked during the college school year.

However, this had little negative impact for the Lutheran College graduates (compared to Flagship Public University graduates) on the ability to graduate in four years.

Student Was Primarily Responsible for Paying for College


Q. 16 Not including any grant or scholarship sponsors, who was primarily responsible for paying for your college education?

41%36%

48% 45% 42%49%



S

Received a Scholarship or Grant to Attend College


Q. 13 Did you receive a scholarship or grant to attend college?

70% 66%

77%

45% 42%52%



S

S

64%59%

71%

39% 38% 41%



Took Out Loans to Attend College

S = Significant difference between decades * of those taking out loans

Q. 14 Did you take out loans to attend college? Q.15 Were the loans a good investment on your part?

Loan was a good investment:*

S

99% S 91% 96% 90%95% 94%

Student Usually Worked During College School Year


Q. 17 Were you usually working during the college school year?

70% 66%

77%69% 67%

72%



S

Graduated in Four Years or Less


Q. 18 How many years did it take for you to complete your undergraduate degree?

78% 79% 76%

53% 57%

45%



S

Satisfaction

Compared to older graduates, 1990s graduates of Lutheran colleges are more enthusiastic about their education.

52%47%

60%

35% 34%38%



“Completely Satisfied” with Quality of Education


Q. 7 How satisfied are you with the overall quality of the education you received from your college? (Rating 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all satisfied, and 5=completely satisfied)

“Satisfied” (4 or 5): 91% 86%84%92% 85%91%

S

Trends in Education:Outcomes

Compared to older graduates, 1990s graduates of Lutheran colleges rate their colleges as ...


More Effective in Helping Them to Be Leaders

Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

66%60%

75%

50% 46%

58%



S

S


More Effective in Helping Them to Work as Part of a Team


72%66%

81%

66% 63%72%



S


More Effective in Helping Them to Think Analytically

79%74%

87%78% 78% 79%



S



More Effective in Helping Them to Write Effectively

78%73%

85%

65% 62%69%



S



More Effective in Helping Them to Speak Effectively

70%64%

79%

53%48%

60%



S

S


The Same Pattern Holds True for …

• Solving problems and making effective decisions

• Placing problems in social and historical perspective

• Being politically or socially aware

• Being prepared for career change or advancement

Recent Graduates Have Not Yet Been as Involved in Some Community Activities

• Recent college graduates are less involved than their older counterparts with schools and churches.

• Lutheran College graduates from the 1990s are also less likely to say that integrating faith is extremely important in their current life.

59%69%

45% 48%58%

31%



Q.20 In the past five years, have you been involved in the volunteer activity, that is donating time or money to elementary or secondary schools?


SS

Involved in Past Five Years With Elementary or Secondary Schools

81% 84%76%

57%62%

48%



Q.20 In the past five years, have you been involved in the volunteer activity, that is donating time or money to church or religious organizations?


S

S

Involved in Past Five Years With Church or Religious Organizations

53%59%

45%

30% 30% 30%



Q.19 How important [in your current life and career] is it to you to…? (rating 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)


S

It is Extremely Important in Current Life and Career to Integrate Faith or Spirituality in Life

Some Differences Between Lutheran Colleges and Flagship Public Universities Remain the Same as in Earlier Research…

• Lutheran College graduates are more likely than Flagship Public University graduates to say:

Their College Was Effective in Helping Them Be Prepared for their First Job

68% 67% 71%62% 62% 62%





Their College Was Effective in Helping Them Have a Sense of Purpose in Life

74% 73% 76%

55% 55% 54%





Their College Was Effective in Helping Them Develop Moral Principles that Can Guide Actions

77% 79%75%

35% 35% 36%





It is Extremely Important in Current Life and Career to Be Free to Consider the Moral and

Ethical Sides of Decisions

64% 67%60%

53% 54% 52%





It is Extremely Important in Current Life and Career to Promote Racial Equality or

Other Social Justice Issues

42% 44%40%

32% 31% 33%





It is Extremely Important in Current Life and Career to Raise a Family

72% 74% 71%64% 62%

66%





76% 79%73%

67% 68% 66%



Q.20 In the past five years, have you been involved in the volunteer activity, that is donating time or money to foundations or not-for-profit community organizations?


Involvement in Past Five Years With Foundations or Non-Profit Community Organizations

comparative alumni research 2005 update decade comparison: 1990s graduates to earlier graduates...

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