Post College Follow-up Survey

Summary prepared by Mary Ann Weaver and Nichole Dudley

May, 2005

In 2004 Earlham participated in a project conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) to study life after college. HERI requested current addresses for a sample of alumni from the 1994 freshman cohort. Forty-nine alums were asked to complete the survey Life After College: The Survey of Former Undergraduates. HERI received 27 responses from Earlham alumni; 6 from men (22%) and 21 from women (78%). Some of the surveys were returned due to incorrect addresses, so the actual response rate is probably greater than 59%. HERI received 8,600 responses nationwide resulting in a 50% response rate. Nationwide, more women completed the survey (56.3%) than men (43.7%).

According to HERI, the survey is "designed to explore how the college experience impacts life after college, including participants' values, opinions, and current activities". The data received from HERI has been weighted to represent first-time full-time students who entered college in 1994 and graduated within 6 years.

The tables below provide the 2004 Earlham data compared to 4-year private colleges and the national norms. Longitudinal data is available for some survey items since this same group of students responded to the CIRP survey of new students in 1994 and then the HERI study: How Service Learning Affects Students in 1998.

A slightly smaller percentage of the Earlham sample have remained single compared to the sample from all 4-year private colleges and the national norm.

Although 37.4% of the Earlham graduates who participated in this study felt somewhat prepared for their current job, only 51.3% felt well or very well prepared compared to 64.9% from all 4-year private colleges and 63.8% nationally. The majority of the Earlham graduates were not attending graduate school, but 39.2% of the sample felt well prepared or very well prepared for graduate school.

 

The Quaker influence at Earlham stood out as having a strong impact on 72.8% of the Earlham graduates. A higher percentage of Earlham alumni felt their coursework, internships, study abroad and mentors had a strong impact in preparing them for life after college compared to the national norm and to all 4-year private colleges.

Participating in a community action program, helping to promote racial understanding, keeping up to date with political affairs, and being involved in programs to help clean up the environment are very important or essential to a higher percentage of Earlham alumni compared to the national norm. However, since coming to Earlham in 1994 as first-year students, these objectives have become less important. Developing a meaningful philosophy of life became more important to this group of Earlham students after their four years at Earlham.

The sample from Earlham included 23.9% now working toward a master's degree compared to 25.9% of the 4-year private college sample and 26.5% nationwide. The national sample also had 7.4% of the alums working toward a Ph.D. or Ed.D. while the Earlham sample had none. However the goal of 17.1% of the Earlham alums is to earn a Ph.D. or Ed.D. Both the percentage of the Earlham sample that aspire to master's degree (34.2%) and to a Ph.D. or Ed.D. (17.1%) are smaller than the national norm.

EMPLOYMENT

In which sector is your current or most recent primary job?	Earlham %	All 4-yr Private Colleges %	National Norm %
Public sector (e.g. ogvernment, public schools)	17.2	31.2	30.9
Private sector (e.g. business)	52.1	50.6	56.9
Nonprofit sector	30.8	17.7	11.9
Never been employed	0	.5	.3

The percentage of the Earlham sample who are working for a nonprofit organization (30.8%) is much greater than the sample from the 4-year private colleges (17.7%) and the national norm (11.9%).

In a typical work week, how many hours do you spend working (for pay)?	Earlham %	All 4-yr Private Colleges %	National Norm %
Less than 10 hours	10.6	5.8	4.5
10-19 hours	3.2	2.5	2.4
20-29 hours	3.1	4.7	4.4
30-39 hours	29.0	13.4	12.6
40-49 hours	47.3	53.2	54.9
50-59 hours	6.8	13.9	14.3
60+ hours	0	6.5	6.8

SOURCES OF NEWS AND CURRENT EVENTS ACCESSED

At least five times per week:	Earlham %	All 4-yr Private Colleges %	National Norm %
A daily newspaper (including on-line versions)	33.1	25.5	27.3
Other newspapers	3.8	3.8	4.0
News magazines (e.g. Newsweek, Time)	3.9	1.7	1.8
Radio news broadcasts (including on-line versions)	55.9	38.0	36.0
Radio talkshows	11.7	17.4	18.1
Television - national/world news programs including on-line versioins e.g. MSNBC, CNN	18.8	31.8	32.6
Television - local news programs	15.9	29.8	29.8
Television talkshows	0	3.7	3.8
Other news on the Internet (e.g. discussion groups, special inssterst websites, blogs)	24.4	14.6	15.2
Professional or work-related news source	14.7	10.9	12.1
Word-of-mouth	19.0	24.2	25.0

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Respondents reporting they participated in community service/volunteer work since leave college through: (once, twice, occasionally or frequently)	Earlham %	All 4-yr Private Colleges %	National Norm %
A school or educational organization	58.8	62.1	59.7
A cultural or arts organization	56.8	30.4	30.1
A religious or faith-based organization	32.2	62.4	49.4
A civic organization (e.g. United Way, YMCA/YWCA, Kiwanis, etc.)	29.7	32.5	33.1
A political organization (e.g. political party, campaign, etc.)	32.8	17.4	16.0
A sports or recreational organization	47.5	44.0	44.3
A hospital or health organization	24.7	26.9	25.0
An advocacy/issue group (e.g. Sierra Club, Common Cause, local advocacy groups, etc.)	52.4	19.1	20.1
A public/governmental agency	28.7	12.5	12.9
Through your employer	39.7	59.9	57.7
Other organization	18.1	27.1	25.5
A community organizing effort or neighborhood group	37.8	26.4	24.9
Of your own initiative, not through an organization	43.3	39.8	36.5

 

Activities performed as a volunteer since leaving college: (once, twice, occasionally or frequently)	Earlham %	All 4-yr Private Colleges %	National Norm %
Collect, prepare, distribute or serve food	35.3	48.3	42.3
Collect, make or distribute clothing, crafts, or goods other than food	29.7	46.4	43.5
Teach, tutor, mentor, coach, or referee	58.0	65.2	58.5
Fundraise or sell items to raise money	46.9	48.4	46.3
Provide counseling, medical care, fire/EMS, or protective services	8.7	21.4	18.9
Supply transportation for people	18.3	32.6	27.1
Provide general office services	24.3	22.3	19.3
Provide professional or management assistance including serving on a board or committee	31.5	33.8	30.1
Provide information, be an usher, greeter or minister	45.9	38.5	30.4
Engage in music, performance, or other artistic activities	52.1	35.8	30.7
Perform physical labor	64.6	62.2	56.9
Other	28.1	31.3	29.9

 

During the past year how much time did you spend during a typical week doing volunteer work?	Earlham %	All 4-yr Private Colleges %	National Norm %
None	28.3	32.7	37.8
Less than 1 hour	35.1	34.3	34.8
1 to 2 hours	29.2	19.3	16.0
3 to 5 hours	7.4	8.1	6.6
6 to 10 hours	0	3.7	2.7
11 to15 hours	0	.8	.8
16 to 20 hours	0	.4	.7
over 20 hours	0	.7	.7

 

During the past year how much time did you spend during a typical week commuting?	Earlham %	All 4-yr Private Colleges %	National Norm %
None	11.7	6.9	7.1
Less than 1 hour	10.3	16.0	16.6
1 to 2 hours	18.3	21.1	20.2
3 to 5 hours	40.7	26.6	26.4
6 to 10 hours	14.9	19.1	19.7
11 to15 hours	0	6.4	6.0
16 to 20 hours	0	1.3	1.7
over 20 hours	4.1	2.7	2.3

 

During the past year how much time did you spend during a typical week attending religious services or meetings?	Earlham %	All 4-yr Private Colleges %	National Norm %
None	47.7	16.2	27.5
Less than 1 hour	37.3	16.8	19.4
1 to 2 hours	10.9	32.7	28.2
3 to 5 hours	0	24.3	17.6
6 to 10 hours	0	6.3	4.9
11 to15 hours	0	1.5	.6
16 to 20 hours	0	.7	.7
over 20 hours	4.1	1.5	1.1

Results on the next two tables are based on those respondents who indicated they have attended graduate or professional school. All of the Earlham alums from this sample who continued their education were women.

These Earlham students who went on to graduate or professional school were more likely to be satisfied with the relationships they have with other students but less satisfied with the quality of instruction and the intellectual community. Only 51.4% of the Earlham alums were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall experience of graduate school compared to 79.8% of alums from other schools.

Although the sample of Earlham alums who attended graduate school was small (12), it appears that the Earlham respondents were more likely than alums from other schools to become intricately involved in their education. A higher percentage of the Earlham alums held teaching or research assistantships and attended academic/professional conferences. Some of the Earlham alums also used their scholarship to address the needs of the local community and to mentor other students.

The difference between Earlham graduates and the national norm is most evident when we look at the responses to political questions. A greater percentage of the Earlham respondents agree or strongly agree that the federal government should raise taxes to reduce the definit and that the federal government is not doing enough to control environmental pollution and should do more to discourage energy consumption. Therefore it is not surprising that a much smaller percentage of the Earlham respondents were satisfied with the general direction in which our country is going.

Since the sample of Earlham graduates completed the CIRP survey in 1994 and the Life After College survey in 1998, we get a longitudinal look at their participation in various activities. While only a small percentage of the Earlham sample discussed politics in 1994 or 1998, 64.9% discussed politics in 2004. This could be due in part to the election and the controversial situation in Iraq at that time. The Earlham sample was more likely to discuss politics, but they were less likely to participate in a protest or demonstration in 2004 than they were in 1994 or 1998. Having said that, there was still a greater percentage of the Earlham sample participating in protests or demonstrations (25.1%) than the samples from all 4-year private colleges (10.2%) and the national norm (9%).

Compared to all 4-year private colleges and the national norm, the Earlham sample was less likely to discuss religion or attend a religious serivce.

Almost 73% of the Earlham sample donated money to Earlham since their graduation. This compared to 56.9% of the sample from all 4-year private colleges and 49.2% of the national norm. The percentage of Earlham's sample who attended an alumni event, used an alumni organization service and recruited new students to the college was also greater than all 4-year private colleges and the national norm. The nationwide sample and the sample from all 4-year private colleges had a greater percentage of alums who attended a sports event at their college since graduation than the Earlham sample.

Another example of the Earlham sample's interest in political affairs is shown in this table where 83.5% of the sample expressed their opinion on a community or political issue by signing a petition. Another 84% bought a certain product or service because they liked the social or political values of the company. And 43.5% made a statement by wearing a campaign button, putting a sticker on their car or placing a sign in front of their house supporting an issue or candidate. These Earlham percentages were higher than the sample from all 4-year private colleges as well as the national norm.

These Earlham graduates did not handle credit card debt much different than the national norm. Although they were somewhat less likely to never carry a significant balance on one or more credit cards and slightly more likely to occasionally do so.

Interestingly, a higher percentage of the Earlham sample rated themselves above average than all 4-year private colleges and the national norm in all abilities except cooperativeness. Earlham alums rated their artistic, creative, and leadership abilities higher than they did in 1994 and 1998.

Student loans were the most popular source of financial support during graduate school for both the Earlham sample and the samples from all 4-year private colleges and the national norm. However, 25% of these Earlham alums work as teaching assistants to help pay for their graduate school. A smaller percentage of the Earlham sample received scholarships or grants for graduate school than the sample from all 4-year private colleges and the national norm.

Although 12.9% of the Earlham sample considered themselves far left politically when they entered Earlham in 1994, only 6.6% continue to consider themselves far left in 2004. There is also a smaller percentage who now consider themselves conservative, and a greater percentage who are middle-of-the-road. Overall Earlham alums continue to lean much more to the left politically than all 4-year private colleges and the national norm.

 

 

 

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Created by Mary Ann Weaver
weavema@earlham.edu
August 31, 2005