By LINDA SHIPLEY
Associate dean
It’s a demonstrable fact — not just a happy illusion, fostered by faculty members who believe journalism students received a good education and had a good time while they were enrolled in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
A recent survey of 1997, 1992 and 1987 graduates of the college indicates that alumni are pleased with both the education and faculty relationships they developed while attending the college.
A total of 122 graduates responded to the survey. Of that group, 43 percent graduated in 1997, 38 percent in 1992 and 19 percent in 1987.
Asked about their overall level of satisfaction with their experience with the college, 85 percent of the graduates marked a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale where 5 was the highest possible score.
Asked how knowledgeable the faculty members were in their major, 95 percent of the respondents graded the faculty with a 4 or 5. Asked about the faculty members’ interest in them while they were students, the responding graduates again rated the faculty high with 85 percent indicating a 4 or 5.
Comments by respondents from each of the three years surveyed reflect the positive feelings graduates have about their experiences at the college. Three of the graduates commented on what they learned here:
“The faculty did an exceptional job of putting us in a ‘real world’ environment on a day-to-day basis. The deadlines, the pressure, the standards were all very true to the job.”
“I was taught to work with people. I was also taught to do better than my best, to work hard and to get by with very little sleep. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I can’t even begin to describe what I owe the old J-School.”
“The way the J-school taught our minds to think, react and look at the world has been invaluable. It has taught me to look at all sides of things and has helped me want to understand all sides. This has been more valuable in life than anything else.”
Others commented about the relationships that developed:
“Professors take a real interest in students. I saw them as friends, not just teachers.”
“I was continually encouraged by the faculty. They were very supportive, approachable and caring.”
“Never let the college get too big. The very personal atmosphere and caring professors made all the difference to me. I would recommend the college to everyone and anyone.”
“My adviser always had an open door policy for anyone. I feel very lucky that he was part of my college life. He was a wonderful mentor and guide.”
Most of these 1997, 1992 and 1987 graduates also indicated they have jobs tied directly to their major in advertising, broadcasting or news-editorial or somewhere in the journalism/mass communications field. Of those who answered the survey, almost two-thirds (63.5 percent) said they were employed in journalism/mass comm related jobs. Of those graduates, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) said their current position was tied directly to their major. The accompanying graphs show the employment information for each of the three graduating classes and for each of the majors.
Faculty members are always interested in hearing from their graduates. There’s no need to wait for a survey form to let them know what you’re doing.
However, the college does plan to contact graduates who have been out of school for one, five and 10 years on an annual basis. That means that the classes of 1998, 1993 and 1988 will be hearing from us in spring.