The 2000 OSU Alumni Survey was conducted

The survey was conducted in January and February 2000 and targeted alumni of baccalaureate programs who graduated between spring 1998 and summer 1999. Only alumni from academic departments or colleges that elected to participate in the survey were included in the target population. The survey was administered as a telephone interview and included Common Questions (related to employment and continuing education) and program-specific questions developed by participating academic units.

• Response Rate. Almost 1,600 telephone interviews with OSU alumni were completed, resulting in a response rate of 54.4%. When adjusted for alumni for whom a telephone number could not be determined and alumni who could not be reached in the U.S., the response rate to the survey was 81.7%.

• Residency. An estimated 74% of the alumni who participated in the survey were living in Oklahoma, and 26% were contacted out-of-state. Because the survey did not attempt to reach alumni who were not in the U.S., the number of alumni who no longer live in Oklahoma may be underestimated.

• Employment. Seventy-six percent of alumni reported that they were employed. Most alumni reported working for large corporations (40%) or small corporations or businesses (30%); 10% were employed by government agencies, and 11% were employed by educational institutions. Alumni most frequently reported that their annual salary was in the range of $26,000 to $35,000 per year. Ninety-three percent of employed alumni reported that their OSU education had prepared them very well or adequately for their current position.

• Continuing Education. Twenty-seven percent of alumni were enrolled in graduate programs or professional schools. Almost 60% of these were enrolled in OSU graduate programs. Seventy-one percent were pursuing master's or doctoral degrees, 9% were pursuing law degrees, 7% were pursuing medical degrees, 4% were pursuing business degrees, and 4% were attending schools of veterinary medicine. Ninety-four percent of alumni who were attending graduate or professional school stated that their OSU education had prepared them very well or adequately for their continued education.

• Overall Satisfaction. Over 97% of alumni reported that they were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their overall educational experience at OSU. Ninety-five percent stated that they were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the quality of education in their major field of study. Over 90% of alumni reported that they were very well or adequately prepared in terms of computer skills, writing skills, and their abilities to identify and solve problems. Most alumni also stated that their OSU education had contributed to their understanding of responsible citizenship, diverse cultures, and current social and political issues.