Questionnaire for Alums Attending Graduate School
From the Geology Department, Carleton College
Purposes
- To advise current students about the strengths, weaknesses and ethos of graduate programs, from the perspective of young Carleton alumni;
- To ask alumni for advice about the Carleton geology program so that we can improve it;
- To keep in contact with alumni.
Implementation
It is now a web-based form and alums may fill it out at any time. I think that alumni are encouraged to find it and fill it out through an email sent once a year or so to the alumni mailing list.
Use of the Data
Responses to the survey are circulated among the department faculty. When a particular concern is raised in several surveys, we meet to discuss that and decide whether a change in curriculum or requirements might be beneficial. Survey responses are also made available to current students (and other alums).
Effectiveness
It's been very successful. Of course, it's not a direct measure of anything, but the information the alums provide is very useful for both faculty and students. There's a specific "with 20/20 hindsight" question and all of the answers tend to be in this vein - they deal specifically with the things that are likely to be student concerns.
Instrument
Download the questionnaire. (Microsoft Word 179kB Feb3 09)