1. Alumni Survey
March 2009

2. Agenda Project Overview and Methodology
Population compared to respondents
Survey instrument
Elements of Connection

3. Project Overview AAU project
Presidents recommendations – measures of undergraduate outcomes using surveys
Pilot participant – one of four institutions in 2008
Collaboration between OARD and IR
One survey of alumni with multiple purposes
Study student outcomes, alumni connection and giving
Further collaboration and studies at Northwestern
Share findings via Student Surveys Planning Group
COFHE Alumni Survey in 2009
(satisfaction, career and advanced education outcomes and preparedness)
Ahead of curve Texas, Emory, Minnesota
NAA happy to assist other schools

4. Survey Methodology
Target Population – All Northwestern undergraduate alumni
Survey Population – Alumni of record with addresses
Exclusions
If not from six current undergraduate schools or the undergraduate business program (pre-1972)
Classes of 1983, 1988, 1993 and 1998
Classes before 1948
Certain excluded classes because of this year’s survey
(lower cost and resources, introduce bias)
No address on record (is in the bullet above)

5. Survey Methodology (continued)
Stratified sample by class year bands
Over-sampled older classes because of fewer addresses
Total population ~ 98,000
Total in sample ~ 23,000
Total responses ~ 5,300 (23% response rate)
Class
% with s
1950
20%
1975
49%
2000
72%

6. Demographics - Gender

7. Demographics – Class Year
Older classes less well rep but good numbers in bands
All using expense of paper

8. Demographics – School
Possible small cell size in music and bus

9. How successfully are we engaging alumni?
Fostering connection to Northwestern
Effectiveness of communications
Affiliations and other engagement methods
Satisfaction with participation in NAA activities
Does a closer connection translate into increased support for NU?
This slide would appear during the introduction of the NAA presentation, and set the framework for what followed.
Results would be presented discussed in the order in which they relate to these questions.

10. AAU Outcomes – Degrees, Career, and Demographics
Survey Instrument
Alumni Activities and Connection to NU
AAU Outcomes – Degrees, Career, and Demographics
Overall how connected to NU
Ways of acquiring news and information
Helpfulness of NU communications
Contact with NU friends
Importance of NU affiliations
Participation in NU activities
Undergraduate Majors and Minors
AAU Questions on employment
AAU Questions on post-graduate education
Demographics
Participation in organizations
Philanthropy
Satisfaction with NU education
Open Ended questions
Philanthropy and Volunteering

11. Communications Excluding do not access
NU Magazine most helpful to alumni could also relate to connection.
Do not receive or access Count Column Valid N %
Northwestern Magazine 278 6%
Annual giving mailings 330 7%
Northwestern E-news %
Alumni Association s %
Phonation calls %
Northwestern Web Site %
Alumni Association Web Site %
School publications %
Left off podcasts, phonation calls and daily nu
Communication NAA Podcasts Phonation calls Daily Northwestern Annual giving mailings NAA Web Site School publications NU Web Site NAA s Northwestern E-news Northwestern Magazine
Very Helpful 1% 1% 3% 4% 7% 10% 11% 16% 24% 40%
Helpful 2% 13% 8% 40% 32% 28% 41% 52% 48% 48%

12. Connection to NU Class year NU Friends NU school Donating Affiliations
The farther from willy the less connection to NU
Do odds at end
Affiliations
Participation
Satisfaction w/ Education
Volunteering
Philanthropic priority

13. Connection
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

14. Connection and Class Year
Get more info

15. Connection and NU School
Medill and McCormick differences are significant. Have detail on McCormick

16. Connection and NU Friendships

17. Importance of Affiliations
Do very important or important Affiliations that were important for the largest percent of alumni were not necessarily those that foster connectedness

18. Connection and Affiliations
Athletic affiliation was the highest correlation with connectedness. That tends to be more male dominated. Younger alums affiliate more with student organizations
Have done profiles of a few of these. Multiple affiliations also is related to more connectedness

19. Affiliation – Importance and Connection
Plotting both on the same graph. The line show the average for very or somewhat. Any affiliation increases connectedness, but some more than others.

20. Connection and Satisfaction with NU
Have percentages for each and perhaps different type of graph.
Four Questions (In different places):
If you could do it over, would you attend Northwestern?
Do you now think that the benefits received were worth costs
How well do you think your NU prepared you for your career?
How well do you think NU prepared you for graduate school?

21. Activity Participation
Category
Count %
Athletic event
1,715
32%
Reunion
1,344
25%
Club Event
1,146
22%
School Program
676
13%
NAA Educational Program
642
12%
NAA Theater
513 9%
Reunion Committee
496
Travel
305 6%
Is this too much detail?

22. Satisfaction with NAA Activities
Perhaps also counts and multiple – maybe later with connectedness
Include admissions?

23. Connection and Number of Activities
Participating in any program increases connectedness and the more programs the more connected

24. Activity Participation and Connection
This is a little confusing. Big dip because Reunion, athletic, and club events are highest participation
Without admissions

25. Connection and Volunteering
Also do relationship between donating and volunteering
Volunteering and donating are very closely related to connectedness (breakdown closely and somewhat?)..

26. Connection and Giving Level
Top priority
Give but not top 3
Top 3 priorities
Not a priority
This uses hard gift lifetime categories and connectedness which corresponds very closely to the
Philanthropic question (the answers in the labels):
93% NU is my top philanthropic priority
90% NU is among my top three philanthropic priorities
75% Although I give to NU, it is not among my top three philanth
52% Making contributions to NU is not a priority for me

27. Odds of Willieness Class year .8 to 1.3 NU Friends 3.0 NU school
Donating
.7 to 1.4
3.3 to 7.7
The farther from willy the less connection to NU
Affiliations
1.5 to 2.9
Participation
2.5 to 7.3
Satisfaction w/ Education
Volunteering
6.3
Philanthropic priority
6.6
3.3