Overcoming the Challenge of Low Response Rate in Alumni Surveys. AIR 1999 Annual Forum Paper.

This paper describes the strategies used at the University of Puerto Rico (Humacao) to overcome limitations resulting from a low response rate to their alumni surveys. Evaluation of earlier experiences with alumni studies led to identification of two principles for effective alumni studies: (1) the alumni study has to be a collaborative effort between the faculty in the academic programs and the institutional researchers, and (2) graduates' loyalty is more to their faculty and their programs than the institution as a whole. The revised approach utilized a questionnaire evaluating both the institution and the specific program. It addition to the questionnaire, the approach used focus groups and personal interviews. Findings indicated: increases in response rates from 28 percent to 41 percent for one-year graduates and from 12 percent to 33 percent for three-year graduates; increases in faculty participation from 6 departments (46 percent) to 12 departments (92 percent), and implementation of a new institutional study of employers and graduate schools. (Contains 30 references and 7 tables.) (DB)