Note: This questionnaire was sent to a selected sample of alumni in the spring of 1999. The sample consisted of : 157 Master's graduates from the 1995-1997 years and 109 graduates from 1989-1991. Of the 266 surveys mailed, we received back 87 questionnaires.
This SILS alumni survey is completely anonymous, so please be candid. It is an opportunity for the SILS administration and faculty to assess itself and to see where they are strong and where they need to improve.Personal Information
1. Program of study
_17__MSIS
_70__MSLS
2. Time period in which you were a student in the SILS program.
From 1/84 to 8/91 Number: 36>
From 9/92 to 8/97 Number: 51
Career Advising
3. Did you receive any career advising while at SILS?
_58_Yes
_29_No
4. If "yes" to Question 18, from whom? (please check all that apply)
Faculty
Staff
Peers
Career Counseling Center
Other (please specify)
51 14 30 28 10
5. What were the strengths of this career advising?
Alumni offered the following comments:One LS alum said "candid, if inexperienced;" another said, "meant well." One IS alum commenting favorably on ASIS student chapter workshops offered to help provide more.
- Faculty especially helpful - 19 LS, 4 IS
- It was positive/good/well-timed/personalized - 10 LS, 1 IS
- Career Counseling Center - 9 LS, 1 IS (mentioned help with resumes, application letters, interviewing techniques)
- Practitioners from Field - 5 LS, 1 IS (often as speakers or supervisors of fieldwork)
- Student organizations/Peers - 3 LS, 1 IS
- Interest, experience, enthusiasm - 2 LS
- Direction and Knowledge - 3 LS
- Own Experience - 2 LS, 2 IS
- Listservs/discussion groups - 1 LS
6. What were the weaknesses of this career advising?
Responses from alumni were as follows:One IS graduate said, "the most dangerous 'advice' I got at SILS -- and I heart it a lot -- was the 'mantra' that amost every professor seemed to quote like gospel, "... employers will train you!" I fell for this and was ungainfully employed for more than a year because every IS job I applied for required 2+ years of experience."
- Career Center not helpful - 9 LS, 1 IS
- Not enough advice on career paths - 4 LS, 2 IS
- Generally negative but non-specific - 7 LS
- Not proactive or too brief - 3 LS
- Too library focused - 2 IS
- Advisor hard to reach or unaware of personal needs - 2 LS
- Own indecision - 1 LS
- Weaknesses offset one another - 1 IS
- None/Don't remember/Can't identify any - 8 LS
Another IS graduate said, "In my case, my company hired people with no definite purpose. After being shifted between four departments in one year, I believe planning/advising is not especially useful. The most effective advising probably focuses on helping students gain work-related experience during their time at SILS."
An LS graduate said, "Some classes I avoided could have been useful in the workplace."
Continuing Communication
7. How would you rate SILS's overall efforts to keep you informed of current activities?
Excellent
Very Good
Average
Below Average
Poor
21 39 21 2 1 8. :How would you rate the content of the following specific information dissemination tools?
Excellent
Very Good
Average
Below Average
Poor
SILS Webpage
20 38 15 1 0 SILS Newsletter
15 40 center>25 3 0 Employment since Graduation
See SILS Alumni Employment Since Graduation for detailed analysis of questions 9.
10. Please comment on the relevance of your course work at SILS
to
your
job(s).
11. Please list what you consider to be important knowledge or skill
areas
that should be included among SILS courses for current students.
Continuing Education 12. Please list your continuing education activities since
graduation.
Please see Relevance of
Course Work to Jobs.
Please see Alumni Opinion on
Relevant Knowledge/Skills Needed.
Please see Alumni Continuing Education Activities..
Revised 9/26/99