Alumni Survey Results

In Spring 2006, the UW Business School engaged in its first extensive alumni affinity survey, attempting to reach 37,105 addressable alumni. Our motivations in this significant undertaking included (1) capturing more complete and current contact information, with a special focus on business demographics, (2) quantifying the economic impact of our alumni population as demonstrated in their business start-up and ownership, and (3) measuring our success in meeting lifelong learning/networking needs going back to our graduates’ student experience. The information collected, along with our outreach in asking alumni how we can best serve them, will help us build a stronger and more engaged alumni network as a shared asset for the School and our constituents.

Questar Data Systems, an independent consulting firm, was hired to conduct the survey. Some key highlights can be found below.

Response Rate:

• 8,121 alumni replied for a response rate of 22%. According to Questar, this responsive far exceeds national averages, with more than 50 percent providing address and/or career updates.
• 5,112 completed a paper survey
• 3,009 completed the Internet survey

Overall Impression and Relationship:

• 98% were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall experience as a UW Business School student.
• 95% felt they were well prepared or very well prepared to succeed upon graduation.
• When asked about their satisfaction with the different aspects of their business education:
• Far and away, alumni were most satisfied with their classroom experience, followed by Impact on career and caliber of students.
• Alumni were less satisfied with extracurricular actives and the quality of career services.
• 70% of the alumni report they are working in the discipline in which they received their degrees.
• 42% of all alumni surveyed describe their relationship with the School as strong or very strong, while 30% describe their relationship as weak or nonexistent.
• Overall, those who obtained a graduate degree are more likely to feel a strong connection to the School, while those who obtained an undergraduate degree are more likely to feel the strongest connection to the University itself or Athletics.
• 68% feel the reputation of the School has improved or improved substantially, while another 30 percent felt the reputation has remained stable.
• Alumni currently view the School as "professional," but would most like to see it become more "career enhancing" and "nationally ranked."

Involvement with the UW Business School:

• 40 – 50% of all alumni surveyed have expressed interest in participating in various opportunities through the UW Business School as expressed below:
• 42% are interested in School sponsored networking events.
• 50% are interested in School sponsored educational events/leadership training.
• 38% are interested in regional alumni functions.
• 49% are interested in Industry-specific functions.

Career Information:

• When asked about their primary career focus during different times in their lives:
• As students, 60% of alumni saw their career focus in a large corporation.
• In five years, their vision of the future is equally split between large and small companies or retirement.
• 1,977 alumni (24% of respondents) had founded 3,450 companies.
• 24% are currently in the start-up stage
• 17% are in the emerging growth stage
• 26% are in the growth stage
• 33% are in the mature stage

Financial impact of founders:

• Number of founders = 1,977
• Average number of companies founded: 1.75
• Estimated average number of employees: 85<
• Estimated average annual revenue: $24 million

• Companies: 2,400 companies founded in Washington (3,450 nationally)
• Employees: 181,000 in Washington (293,000 nationally)
• Annual revenue generated: $51 billion in Washington ($82 billion nationally)