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EXPECTATIONS FOR ALUMNI SERVICES FOR GRADUATES OF SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify perceived expectations which graduates of Southeast Community College held regarding new or continued services for alumni and to recommend strategies by which these expectations might be served. Answers were sought to five questions: (1) What services and activities are perceived as important by a selected sample of graduates of Southeast Community College? (2) Is there a relationship between the time which has elapsed since graduation and perceived expectations of selected graduates? (3) Is there a relationship between distance from campus and perceived expectations of selected graduates? (4) Are there different expectations perceived by graduates based upon their educational goals while enrolled at SCC? (5) Are there perceived differences in expectations of male graduates as compared to female graduates? Alumni were asked to respond to two sets of statements. Set I statements asked the alumni to identify if SCC should or should not develop and offer twenty-one different alumni activities or services. Set II statements asked the alumni to identify if they would or would not participate in the different alumni activities or services. The population from which the sample for this study was drawn consisted of 10,103 graduates of Southeast Community College from school years 1941-1942 through 1978-1979. Five hundred and sixteen alumni were randomly selected from the total population. Although the original questionnaire was followed-up by a postcard reminder and then a remailing of the original survey, only two hundred and thirty-one respondents (45 percent) participated in the study. Findings. An analysis of the data collected in this study showed that Job Placement and Referral Services, Continuing Education, and Job Related Workshops were the most important types of services or activities which could be provided for SCC alumni. The relationships between date of graduation, program major, sex or gender, and whether or not SCC alumni were interested in new or continued services were significant. The relationships between distance from campus attended and whether or not SCC alumni were interested in new or continued services were not significant. Conclusions. Based upon the findings of this study, it is concluded: (1) Job Placement and Referral is the most important service or activity which can be provided to alumni of a two-year community college. This study confirms previous research on needs and interests of alumni of two-year institutions in the United States. (2) Continuing Education and Job Related workshops were ranked second and third in terms of importance by alumni of SCC. The findings of this study confirm previous research completed on interests of the adult learner. Adult learners and alumni of institutions of higher education are interested in continuing education and, as a specific example, job related workshops. (3) The relationships between date of graduation, program major, sex or gender, and whether or not SCC alumni were interested in new or continued services were significant. This finding confirms previous research completed on alumni of institutions of higher education. (4) There was no significant relationship between distance from campus attended and how alumni responded to new or continued services or activities. This finding was contrary to previous research in the field of alumni affairs and programming. Based on the results of this study, further research is needed in the following areas: (1) identification of factors which affect alumni identification (allegiance) with a two-year institution, and (2) identification of interests and needs of alumni enrolled in technical programs as compared to alumni enrolled in college transfer programs.
Subject Area
Higher education
Recommended Citation
WILLIS, LARRY FRANZ, "EXPECTATIONS FOR ALUMNI SERVICES FOR GRADUATES OF SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE" (1980). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8100785.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8100785