Office of Institutional Research & Planning


	1996 GRADUATES SURVEY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SURVEY OF ‘94-’95 GRADUATES

June 1996

The Office of Institutional Research and Planning at Portland State University conducted a survey in Spring 1996 of 1994-1995 graduates. Below is a brief summary of results of the survey, which does not include the charts and graphs contained in the original survey report. For detailed results of the survey, contact Dr. Kathi Ketcheson, Director, at ketchek@oirp.pdx.edu or at (503) 725-3425.

The Respondents

The survey was sent to 2,422 PSU bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree recipients. A total of 1,026 (42%) graduates responded. These graduates attended PSU an average of 3-4 years. Most attended as full-time students (73%) and 90% were Oregon residents. A majority of the graduates (83%) worked at least part-time while in school. Most are now employed (79%) and 84% of them are working in Oregon. About half (52%) report that their work is directly related to their majors, and a majority (64%) report that what they learned at PSU has been useful in performing their jobs. A majority of these graduates (72%) report that their employers would rate PSU as "Excellent" or "Good".

Highly Satisfactory Experience at PSU

Among the respondents, 72% reported that PSU was their first choice at the time they applied for admissions to colleges. According to the survey, 86% of the graduates enjoyed attending PSU, and felt "Very Satisfied" or "Satisfied" with their experiences at the University. Sixty-two percent of the graduates rated education they received at PSU as "Very High" or "High".

Accessibility as a Standing Point

PSU is an urban university, located in a dynamic community where almost 60% of Oregonians live within commuting distance of the campus. PSU’s location is convenient and accessible to a majority of Oregonians. The results of the survey show that 91% of the respondents chose to complete their degrees at PSU because the University was close to home and work. This enabled them to continue working while attending school, or stay at home with families while pursuing an education.

Satisfied with Academic Quality

Respondents found opportunities for expressing intellectual creativity and solid academic quality at PSU. Eight-six percent of the respondents enjoyed attending PSU because their programs were the only ones in Oregon, (such as Masters of Social Work, Statewide MBA, EPFA-PACE (Postsecondary Adult & Continuing Education), and Public Administration), or because of a program’s curricula and reputation. Almost all (99%) of those who continued their education in graduate programs reported that they felt PSU prepared them "Extremely Well" or "Adequately" for their graduate programs. A majority (64%) of those who are employed were satisfied with academic learning at PSU and reported that what they learned at PSU has been "Very Useful" or "Useful" in performing their jobs.

Flexibility Was Welcomed

Class scheduling and course offerings met graduates’ needs. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents reported that they were satisfied with evening and weekend classes which fit into work or personal schedules so that they could keep their jobs or fulfill their family commitments. A great variety of course offerings were also welcomed by diverse student bodies at PSU.

Some Concerns Are Raised

In the survey, respondents raised some concerns based on their experiences at PSU. These respondents encouraged PSU to offer more academic advising and career counseling, develop job-related curriculum, provide more internships or community-based projects, and enhance administration effectiveness. They strongly believed that with these improvement, PSU, as an urban university, would better serve the community and urban population.