Boise State University

Academic Year 2008-09 At-Graduation Survey

 

During the fall of 2008 and the spring of 2009, the Career Center administered an At-Graduation Placement Survey to the Fall 2008 and Spring/Summer 2009 graduates.  We collected surveys via Capstone Courses and on-line. A total of 1614 responses were received. There were a total of 2846 graduates in the Fall of 08 and Spring/Summer of 09 which were included in the survey. For purposes of this survey, we did not include COAT graduates as they participate in their own survey. The response rate for this survey was 57%. 

 

In addition to this general university report, reports were created by college and by department.  Additional data including names of organizations employing students in career employment and internship positions and position titles is included in these specific reports.

 

Highlights from the survey include:

  • Five out of six colleges had a 50% or higher response rate with the College of Engineering coming in at a 77% response rate.
  • Given the job market that the 08/09 graduates faced, the percent of students who had jobs declined over past years. However, 34% of respondents say their degree helped them obtain new employment or advance within the organization where they are currently working. The national average for 08/09 grads who have landed jobs, according to NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) is 20%.
  • The college of Health Sciences and College of Engineering led the way with students whose degree helped them obtain new employment or advance within the organization where they are currently working with both coming in at over 50%.
  • As expected, a larger percentage of respondents are opting to continue in school following their graduation. 26% of respondents will be going on to graduate or professional school or continuing on with undergraduate studies within a year of graduating from Boise State. 23% of respondents from both the College of Arts and Sciences and Social Sciences and Public Affairs state that they are continuing on to graduate or professional school within the next year.
  • 70% of respondents will stay and work in the Treasure Valley with an additional 9% working in other areas of Idaho. The western US came in as the favorite destination for grads outside of the state of Idaho with 12% of respondents stating that their job will be located in the Western US.
  • 40% of respondents participated in an Internship while at Boise State. 47% of SSPA and 43% of COEN respondents participated in internships.
  • 31% of respondents who participated in an Internship were offered career employment as a result of their internship. Over 40% of respondents from the College of Business and Economics, College of Health Sciences, and College of Engineering reported receiving their career employment offers as a result of their internship.
  • An additional 35% of respondents participated in a field experience (not considered an Internship) while at Boise State. 32% of those participating were offered career employment as a result of this experience. The College of Education (79%) and College of Health Sciences (57%) lead the way in non-internship field experiences.
  • 47% of respondents used the services at the Career Center with BroncoJobs, events, and job search assistance topping the list of services used.

 

 

When will you be graduating?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Fall 2008 (December)

 

 

427

26%

Spring 2009 (May)

 

 

1,126

70%

Summer 2009 (June/July/August)

 

 

61

4%

Total

 

1,614

100%

 

What department is your major in?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

General Business

 

 

0

0%

Dispute Resolution

 

 

0

0%

Community-Regional Planning

 

 

0

0%

Literacy

 

 

0

0%

Addiction Studies

 

 

1

0%

CIFS

 

 

1

0%

Community & Environmental Health

 

 

1

0%

Physics

 

 

2

0%

Chemistry

 

 

2

0%

Philosophy

 

 

4

0%

Counselor Education

 

 

5

0%

Environmental & Occ Health

 

 

6

0%

International Business

 

 

7

0%

Theater Arts

 

 

8

0%

Economics

 

 

9

1%

Geosciences

 

 

9

1%

Public Policy & Administration

 

 

10

1%

ESL/Bilingual Education

 

 

10

1%

Anthropology

 

 

10

1%

Health Informatics & Info Mgmt

 

 

11

1%

Special Education

 

 

12

1%

Music

 

 

14

1%

Business Graduate Programs

 

 

14

1%

Computer Science

 

 

16

1%

Materials Science & Engineering

 

 

17

1%

Educational Technology

 

 

19

1%

Kinesiology

 

 

21

1%

Instructional & Performance Technology

 

 

23

1%

Respiratory Therapy

 

 

23

1%

Health Sciences

 

 

25

2%

Physical Education

 

 

25

2%

Civil Engineering

 

 

28

2%

Electrical & Computer Engineering

 

 

29

2%

Modern Languages & Literatures

 

 

30

2%

Business Administration

 

 

32

2%

Radiologic Sciences

 

 

32

2%

Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering

 

 

32

2%

Art

 

 

33

2%

History

 

 

36

2%

Political Science

 

 

43

3%

Construction Management

 

 

45

3%

IT & SCM

 

 

46

3%

Math

 

 

47

3%

Social Work

 

 

52

3%

Biology

 

 

54

3%

Marketing and Finance

 

 

56

3%

Sociology

 

 

57

4%

Management

 

 

65

4%

Criminal Justice Administration

 

 

66

4%

English

 

 

68

4%

Accountancy

 

 

82

5%

Psychology

 

 

84

5%

Elementary Education

 

 

87

5%

Communication

 

 

100

6%

Nursing

 

 

102

6%

Total

 

1,611

100%

 

What college are you graduating from?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

College of Arts and Sciences

 

 

272

17%

College of Business and Economics

 

 

310

19%

College of Education

 

 

184

11%

College of Engineering

 

 

190

12%

College of Health Sciences

 

 

200

12%

College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs

 

 

458

28%

Total

 

1,614

100%

 

 

 

 

Response Rate by College

Answer

 

 

# of Grads   

Response

%

College of Arts and Sciences

 

 

514

272

53%

College of Business and Economics

 

 

513

310

60%

College of Education

 

 

377

184

49%

College of Engineering

 

 

248

190

77%

College of Health Sciences

 

 

353

200

57%

College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs

 

 

842

458

54%

Total

 

2846

1,614

100%

 

What degree will you be graduating with?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Associates

 

 

128

8%

Bachelors

 

 

1,242

77%

Masters

 

 

242

15%

Doctorate

 

 

1

0%

Total

 

1,613

100%

 

Which one of the following best describes your post graduation employment plans?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

I have obtained new employment based on graduating with this degree.

 

 

251

16%

My degree will help me advance within the organization where I am currently working.

 

 

282

18%

I am seeking employment.

 

 

836

52%

I will not be seeking employment at this time.

 

 

226

14%

Total

 

1,595

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which one of the following best describes your post graduation education plans?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

I am continuing on to graduate or professional school within the next year.

 

 

285

18%

I am continuing on with my undergraduate studies within the next year.

 

 

136

8%

I plan on continuing my education at some point in time

 

 

913

57%

I have no plans to continue my education

 

 

277

17%

Total

 

1,611

100%

 

Where will your job be located? 

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Treasure Valley

 

 

638

70%

Idaho (Other than the Treasure Valley)

 

 

77

9%

Western US

 

 

109

12%

Eastern US

 

 

35

4%

Central US

 

 

17

2%

International

 

 

29

3%

Total

 

905

100%

 

What is your annual post-graduation full-time salary?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Less than $20,000

 

 

160

17%

$20,000 - $29,999

 

 

141

15%

$30,000 - $39,999

 

 

190

20%

$40,000 - $49,999

 

 

127

13%

$50,000 - $59,999

 

 

77

8%

$60,000 or more

 

 

87

9%

Not Applicable (not employed at this time)

 

 

173

18%

Total

 

955

100%

 

 

 

 

 

How did you learn about your position or graduate school? (Check all that apply)

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Posting on BroncoJobs

 

 

46

5%

On-Campus Recruiting

 

 

67

7%

Career/Job Fair

 

 

69

7%

Hired as a result of an internship

 

 

123

13%

Faculty Referral

 

 

100

11%

Hired as a result of a Nursing preceptorship

 

 

10

1%

Hired as a result of Nursing Apprentice Role/Job

 

 

14

2%

Alumni Contact

 

 

31

3%

Not affiliated with Boise State

 

 

559

61%

 

Did you use any of the services provided by the Boise State Career Center?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Yes

 

 

712

47%

No

 

 

797

53%

Total

 

1,509

100%

 

If, No - Why did you not use the Boise State University Career Center?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

I didn't know about it.

 

 

141

18%

I didn't think it would help me.

 

 

165

21%

I didn't need to.

 

 

468

60%

Total

 

774

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which of the following Boise State Career Center services did you use? (Check all that apply)

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Career Counseling/Major Exploration

 

 

162

23%

Internship Information

 

 

168

24%

Events (Career Fairs, Graduate & Professional School Day, Majors Fair, On-Campus Job Fair)

 

 

292

41%

BroncoJobs

 

 

370

52%

Job Search Assistance (resume/cover letter preparation, mock interviews)

 

 

196

28%

On-Campus Interviews

 

 

114

16%

Classroom Presentations

 

 

118

17%

 

Did you participate in an internship (course number 293/493/590) while at Boise State? 

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Yes

 

 

536

40%

No

 

 

805

60%

Total

 

1,341

100%

 

Were you offered post graduation employment with the organization as a result of the internship? 

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Yes

 

 

167

31%

No

 

 

380

69%

Total

 

547

100%

 

Did you participate in any required program specific field education experience (practicum, clinical, preceptorship, student teaching, or fieldwork) not considered an Internship while at Boise State?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Yes

 

 

528

35%

No

 

 

973

65%

Total

 

1,501

100%

 

Were you offered post graduation employment with the organization as a result of field experience? 

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Yes

 

 

126

32%

No

 

 

274

69%

Total

 

400

100%

 

Did you work in an undergraduate or graduate research lab?

#

Answer

 

 

Response

%

1

Yes

 

 

155

12%

2

No

 

 

1,130

88%

 

Total

 

1,285

100%

 

Are you pursuing a Secondary Education Certification?

Answer

 

 

Response

%

Yes

 

 

139

15%

No

 

 

770

85%

Total

 

909

100%