The 2015 alumni attitude study at Vanderbilt University surveyed over 500,000 alumni from 230 institutions, with results primarily reflecting the opinions of 7,093 participants. Key findings include alumni evaluations of their decision to attend Vanderbilt, their experiences as students and alumni, and perceptions of university communication and support. The study also compared Vanderbilt's results to national averages and explored various factors impacting alumni opinions across different historical eras.

1. Results from the 2015 Alumni Attitude Study©
Presented by:

2.  Cooperative development of the instrument (11 founding institutions)
 Survey completed by over 500,000 alumni at 230 universities and colleges
over the last 14 years
 Instrument 85% the same as originally developed
 Instrument was branded to reflect Vanderbilt University
 This is the 1st overall study completed by Vanderbilt University
 Vanderbilt University results are compared to a national average
 7,093 Responses from 79K delivered
About the Alumni Attitude Study
©
Project
Slide 2

3. Q01. How would you rate your decision to attend Vanderbilt University?
By Era
Slide 3
0 3
17
80
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Bad decision Fair decision Good decision Great decision
WoodstockVietnam and prior Post Watergate YuppieEnd of Cold War
Electronic RevolutionDot-Com Post 9/11 Post Great Recession
PercentageofParticipants

4. Q03. Which of the following best describes your experience as a student?
By Era
Slide 4
1 4
26
70
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Poor Fair Good Excellent
WoodstockVietnam and prior Post Watergate YuppieEnd of Cold War
Electronic RevolutionDot-Com Post 9/11 Post Great Recession
PercentageofParticipants

5. Q02. How often do you promote Vanderbilt University to others?
By Era
Slide 5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Never Occasionally Regularly All the time
WoodstockVietnam and prior Post Watergate YuppieEnd of Cold War
Electronic RevolutionDot-Com Post 9/11 Post Great Recession
PercentageofParticipants

6. Q04. Which of the following best describes your experiences as an alumnus/a?
By Era
Slide 6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Poor Fair Good Excellent
WoodstockVietnam and prior Post Watergate YuppieEnd of Cold War
Electronic RevolutionDot-Com Post 9/11 Post Great Recession
PercentageofParticipants

7. Q05. Which of the following describes your overall current opinion of Vanderbilt
University?
By Era
Slide 7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Poor Fair Good Excellent
WoodstockVietnam and prior Post Watergate YuppieEnd of Cold War
Electronic RevolutionDot-Com Post 9/11 Post Great Recession
PercentageofParticipants

8. Q06. Which of the following best describes your opinion of how Vanderbilt
communicates with you about what’s happening at the university?
By Era
Slide 8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Poor Fair Good Excellent
WoodstockVietnam and prior Post Watergate YuppieEnd of Cold War
Electronic RevolutionDot-Com Post 9/11 Post Great Recession
PercentageofParticipants

9. No
Impact
Significant
Impact
Critical
Impact
Some
Impact
Q17. Please indicate how much each of the following impacts your overall opinion
of Vanderbilt:
By Era
Slide 9
Value/respect for degree
School rankings (e.g. U.S. News & World Report)
Accomplishments of students
History/tradition
Accomplishments of faculty
Accomplishments of alumni
Providing scholarships (i.e. Opportunity Vanderbilt)
Campus aesthetics (e.g. buildings, grounds, etc.)
Outreach to community
Media visibility (e.g. newspaper, magazine articles,
viral videos, etc.)
Success of athletic teams
Woodstock Vietnam Post Watergate YuppieEnd of Cold War
Electronic RevolutionDot-Com Post 9/11 Post Great Recession

10. Q08. How well did the education received from Vanderbilt education prepare you for each of
the following?
By Era
Slide 10
Commitment to continuous education
Getting a job/graduate program I wanted soon after I
graduated
Current job
Deepening my understanding and commitment to personal
development
Responding to new career opportunities
Contributing to my community
Woodstock Vietnam Post Watergate YuppieEnd of Cold War
Electronic RevolutionDot-Com Post 9/11 Post Great Recession
Poor
preparation
Fair
preparation
Good
preparation
Excellent
preparation

11. Importance exceeds
Performance
Performance exceeds
Importance
Q09. How important are the following alumni activities to you and how well does Vanderbilt
support alumni in doing them?
Gap Analysis by Era
Slide 11
Identifying job opportunities for graduates
Networking with other alumni
Serving as ambassadors or advocates for Vanderbilt
Providing financial support for Vanderbilt (e.g. donations)
Volunteering for Vanderbilt (i.e. mentoring students, reunions, CoRPs-
student recruiting)
Attending general alumni and University events
Attending athletic events
Access to University leadership (Chancellor, Provost, Board of Trustees)
Woodstock Vietnam Post Watergate YuppieEnd of Cold War
Electronic RevolutionDot-Com Post 9/11 Post Great Recession

12. Q12: Name one person who had a special impact on your experience as student.
Slide 12

13. Q13: Name one program or activity that had a special impact on your experience as
student.
Slide 13

14. Q18a: What were you most passionate about at Vanderbilt?
Slide 14

15. Q18b: What were you passionate about now?
Slide 15