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Survey Says

Alumni share perceptions about University and services

Some comments speak for themselves.

“In general, I couldn’t have been happier with my decision to go to UVA,” says a 2006 graduate. “I’m thoroughly convinced it is the best university in the world.”

Some warrant closer examination.

“[I] would LOVE to know about alumni access to University resources (especially library databases),” says a 2008 alumna.

Those comments are from among more than 1,500 people who responded to a survey of UVA alumni conducted last year. The results reflect some broad themes—strong positive feelings about UVA—as well as some specific recommendations—improving online access to resources and providing more opportunities to stay involved with current and prospective students.

“The key take-away from this survey is that alumni continue to feel very positively about the University,” says C. Thomas Faulders III, president and CEO of the UVA Alumni Association, which conducted the study.

One goal of the effort was to compare alumni attitudes with those expressed in a similar survey conducted in 2006. Another was to look at UVA’s peer institutions, so the 2009 effort results were measured against 12 other schools, including Carnegie Mellon, the University of Michigan and Wake Forest.

Overall, alumni have a lot to say, and although the comments represent a variety of perceptions, some strong themes emerge, including the following:

Alumni continue to identify more with the University in general and less with a specific school or organization.

Alumni very much want to stay involved with the University, markedly more than in the 2006 survey.

Alumni rated the University more favorably in serving their needs and interests than three years ago.

While there were several measures that stayed virtually the same, the University scored higher than all its peers in two areas. One was the number of alumni who feel strongly that the University values them (89 percent). Faulders credited the Office of Engagement, the revitalization of UVaClubs, and the Alumni Association’s enhanced Reunions, online communications and other efforts.

Alumni also felt strongly inclined to promote the University.

“UVA’s ratings are among the highest [among peers] at serving the needs and interests of alumni overall ... and at providing ways to socialize or network, job and career services, ways to volunteer, and ways to get involved with current or prospective students,” the report says.

The survey also looked at gaps between what alumni want and what the University is providing. The largest was online access to University databases and other resources.

Although the library’s databases are available only to students and faculty (because of contract restrictions), the University and the Library offer extensive online resources that alumni can access, such as photo archives and e-texts. Links to those resources, along with a compendium of educational and research links from around the University, can now be found on a new Web portal for alumni—https://engagement.virginia.edu/learn.

The survey also found that alumni would like more opportunities to be involved with current and prospective students, particularly regarding career advice and admissions. “These are areas that are being addressed through the UCAN and HoosOnline programs for career assistance and the Virginia Alumni Admissions Network (VAAN) effort out of the joint efforts of the Admission Office, the Office of Engagement and the Alumni Association,” Faulders says, adding that increasing awareness of these programs is one way to facilitate participation.

While the 2006 survey was done by telephone, the 2009 effort was conducted online via e-mail. Solicitations were sent to 6,083 randomly selected alumni; 25 percent participated.

Faulders says subsequent surveys are planned to continue gauging alumni desires and perceptions about the University.

“If people have issues, ideas or concerns, they don’t have to wait until the next survey. We want people to know they have an opportunity at any time to let us know how the University can better serve the alumni.”

Resources for Alumni

Alumni Association: for all alumni and members of the University community.

Alumni Association Career Services: for alumni seeking career advice and services. (Links to other University career services sites)

Virginia Alumni Admission Network (VAAN): a collaborative effort through which alumni volunteers reach out to prospective students.

College Compass: provides a point of contact and a source of information for alumni families who have a child applying as a first-year or transfer applicant.

Office of Engagement: fosters connections among alumni, families and friends through a variety of events and programs.

UVA Clubs: groups around the world that provide ways for alumni, friends and families to stay engaged with the University.

Alumni Interest Groups: connects alumni with mutual ties and interests.

Virginia Magazine: University-wide publication (print and electronic) distributed to members of the UVA community.

Survey Results

97% alumni who feel a great deal of pride in UVA (98 percent in 2006)

81% alumni who rate the University as excellent or good at keeping them informed about news from Grounds (75 percent in 2006)

11% alumni who feel strongly that they only hear from the University when it’s asking for money (17 percent in 2006)

77% alumni who identify most closely with the University as a whole and their student experience, rather than a specific school (71 percent in 2006)

74% alumni who say they are very likely to recommend UVA (same in 2006)

63% alumni who say they are interested in volunteering at UVA (62 percent in 2006)

88% alumni who say they get news and information about the University from magazines or other printed material from UVA.

7% alumni who say they have volunteered within the past year (11 percent in 2006)