Biological Sciences | Alumni Survey





	Alumni Survey Greetings from the Department of Biological Sciences at Sam Houston. Now that you've graduated, the faculty would like to know how you feel about the education you received in our programs and what type of career you have begun. Alumni information and opinions are very important to us because we will use them as a basis for making changes that will improve the quality of our programs. In short, we absolutely must have information of this type to help maintain the quality of our program. For example, we must know what type of job skills are important, what kind of job opportunities exist for our graduates, and what type of salaries they can earn. So, this is your chance to make a positive difference for students who follow in your footsteps at Sam Houston. Thank you for helping us. Your answers are anonymous. All questions are optional. Please only complete this survey once. Thank you. 1. Sex? Male Female 2. Graduation Year 3. Major/s Minor/s 4. Location (City & State) of High school 5a. Did you transfer to Sam Houston from another university/junior college? Yes No 5b. If yes, what was the name and location of that college? Name City State 6. Please rank the following factors in terms of their importance in your decision to major in biology or environmental science at Sam Houston: Interest in the subject: Not Important Less Important Important More Important Very Important Perceived career opportunities: Not Important Less Important Important More Important Very Important Location of the university: Not Important Less Important Important More Important VeryImportant Reputation of program: Not Important Less Important Important More Important Very Important 7a. Did you attend graduate school or professional school upon completion of your undergraduate degree? Yes No 7b. If yes: Name of school City State 8a. Where are you presently employed? Name of Company City State 8b. What is your job title? 8c. What is your current salary range? (optional) $10,000-$19,999/yr $20,000-$29,999/yr $30,000-$39,999/yr $40,000-$49,999/yr $50,000-$59,999/yr $60,000-$69,999/yr $70,000-$79,999/yr $80,000-$89,999/yr $90,000-$99,999/yr More than $100,000 8d. How long did it take you to find your first full-time job after graduating? Months 8e. Was your first full-time job related to biology or environmental science? Yes No 9a. Is your current job related to biology or environmental science? Yes No 9b. If you are currently employed in a field related to biology or environmental science, please rank your level of job satisfaction in terms of the following criteria: Location: Very Dissatisfied Not Satisfied Satisfied More Satisfied Very Satisfied Salary: Very Dissatisfied Not Satisfied Satisfied More Satified Very Satisfied Opportunities for advancement: Very Dissatisfied Not Satisfied Satisfied More Satisfied Very Satisfied Nature of work and responsibilities: Very Dissatisfied Not Satisfied Satisfied More Satisfied Very Satisfied Level of intellectual challenge: Very Dissatisfied Not Satisfied Satisfied More Satisfied Very Satisfied Opportunities to use your degree: Very Dissatisfied Not Satisfied Satisfied More Satisfied Very Satisfied 10. If you are NOT currently employed in a job related to your major or minor, please indicate why by putting a check by the relevant reasons given below. I was unable to find a job in my major or minor field in the area in which I was willing to live. I was unable to find a job in my major or minor field that paid an adequate salary. I decided that I would rather work in a different field. Other 11. Please indicate how well your degree prepared you for your job and/or graduate school/professional school in terms of the following criteria: Organizational and time management skills: Very Poorly Poorly Adequately Well Very Well Public speaking/presentations: Very Poorly Poorly Adequately Well Very Well Written communication: Very Poorly Poorly Adequately Well Very Well Knowledge of subject: Very Poorly Poorly Adequately Well Very Well Interpretation of scientific literature: Very Poorly Poorly Adequately Well Very Well Quantitative skills: Very Poorly Poorly Adequately Well Very Well Analytical and reasoning abilities: Very Poorly Poorly Adequately Well Very Well Computer and other technology skills: Very Poorly Poorly Adequately Well Very Well Ability to work with others Very Poorly Poorly Adequately Well Very Well 12. What courses were NOT available in the department which you feel should be a part of the biology or environmental science curriculum at Sam Houston in order to better prepare students for a career? Please indicate why. 13. What three courses in the department do you think have been the most important to your career success? *14. Please rate your overall experience at SHSU in the Department of Biological Science* using the following criteria. Degree to which you were intellectually challenged: Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied Overall quality of your instruction in the department: Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied Overall quality of advisement in the department: Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied Degree to which the department prepared you for work: Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied Overall quality of your education in the department: Very Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Very Satisfied 15. Did you participate in any of the following during your time at SHSU (please check all that apply): BIO 495 (independent research) BIO 494/ENV 461 (internship) Honor's Thesis TriBeta SHAMOS REU Program Research Volunteer 16. Would you recommend the SHSU Department of Biological Sciences to others seeking a biology or environmental science degree? Yes No Why or why not? Thank you again for helping us! If you have any additional comments or suggestions, please write them in the space below. We appreciate the time you have taken to fill out this survey. Your responses are very important to us. One last request:** If you know the whereabouts of any of your fellow Sam Houston biology or environmental science graduates, please forward us their contact information (name with address, phone number, E-mail address and/or place of employment) or ask them to contact us. We are trying to keep track of everyone. Thanks!

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