Vanderbilt Alumni Opinion Survey

1
When did you graduate from Vanderbilt?
Prior to 1960
1960-1969
1970-1979
1980-1989
1990-1999
2000-2008
2
Looking back, what do you appreciate most about your Vanderbilt experience?
3

In which of the following, if any, did you participate as a student?

Athletics (intramural)
Athletics (varsity)
Greek organization
Student organization
Performing Arts
Student Communications (Hustler, Versus, Commodore, WRVU, VTV, etc.)
Student government
Graduate/Professional School Activities
4

Where do you feel the closest ties to Vanderbilt today? (Please check up to two.)

Friends and classmates
Vanderbilt as a University
The school/college you attended
Your department within the school/college you attended
The Vanderbilt Alumni Association
A particular professor
Your student organization
A Greek organization
A Vanderbilt hospital or health center
A particular doctor
Athletics
5

Aside from friends/classmates, please specify by name, who or what group you feel closest to above.

6
How do you learn about Vanderbilt events? (Please check all that apply.)
E-mails from Vanderbilt
Friends/classmates
Printed invitations
Reunion information
Loop Chapter calendar mailings
Vanderbilt Web site
.Commodore monthly e-newsletter
Facebook
Vanderbilt Magazine
VU school publications/e-newsletters
7

For each of the communication methods below, please rate it for effectiveness.

1
VERY EFFECTIVE		2
SOMEWHAT EFFECTIVE		3
NOT VERY EFFECTIVE		4
NO OPINION/DOES NOT APPLY
E-mails from Vanderbilt
Friends/classmates
Printed invitations
Reunion information
Loop Chapter calendar mailings
Vanderbilt Web site
.Commodore monthly e-newsletter
Facebook
Vanderbilt Magazine
VU school publications/e-newsletters
8
How connected do you feel with Vanderbilt?
Well Connected
Somewhat Connected
Neither Connected nor Disconnected
Disconnected
9
(If Disconnected) Why do you feel that way?
10

How long has it been since you last returned to campus?

Within one year
2-3 years
4-5 years
6-10 years
Over 10 years
Have not returned to campus
11

(If returned to campus) When you return to campus, do you generally attend university-sponsored events or spend time on your own with friends? (Please check one.)

Attend university-sponsored events
Spend time with friends
Both equally
12
On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely would you be to recommend Vanderbilt to a prospective student or parent? (10 is the highest likelihood and 0 is the lowest.)
13
How relevant are the seven statements below to your recommending Vanderbilt? (Please explain in a few words if Extremely Relevant.)
1
EXTREMELY RELEVANT		2
SOMEWHAT RELEVANT		3
NOT RELEVANT
Vanderbilt's balance of strong academics and social life creates a great experience.
Please explain briefly if "Extremely Relevant"
The Vanderbilt name is respected nationally.
Please explain briefly if "Extremely Relevant"
My life is richer thanks to lasting friendships I made at Vanderbilt.
Please explain briefly if "Extremely Relevant"
Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, a beautiful, relaxed, fun city.
Please explain briefly if "Extremely Relevant"
Vanderbilt's great faculty, relatively small student body and excellent student-to-teacher ratio produces a great education.
Please explain briefly if "Extremely Relevant"
The Vanderbilt alumni network provides contacts nationally.
Please explain briefly if "Extremely Relevant"
The Vanderbilt family is for life...from on campus days to post graduation.
Please explain briefly if "Extremely Relevant"
14
If you read or heard about the following Vanderbilt news, which ones would be most impressive? ( Please check only those that would be very impressive.)
Alumni are named to leadership positions in their professions, earning prestigious honors.
Vanderbilt students and faculty publish research results.
Vanderbilt's rank moved up in the U.S. News & World Report versus peer/Ivy League schools.
The academic profile (SATs, class rank, etc.) of incoming students is increasing.
Students and alumni take action to increase Vanderbilt's low participation/giving rates (26%) in order to improve Vanderbilt's rankings as compared to peer/Ivy League schools (35-50%).
15
How strongly do you agree with the statements below?
1
AGREE STRONGLY		2
AGREE SOMEWHAT		3
DISAGREE
I read the Vanderbilt .Commodore.
I give Vanderbilt significant credit for my success today.
I understand what the Sustaining Membership Program for alumni is all about.
I'm proud to be a Vanderbilt graduate.
The Vanderbilt Magazine keeps me informed about the University.
I love being a Vanderbilt alumnus/a.
I would like to know more about Vanderbilt activities in my area.
I feel so connected to Vanderbilt that I might even put them in my will.
I would like to know more about how to get involved as a Vanderbilt volunteer.
Vanderbilt benefits greatly from the involvement of its alumni.
I stay in touch with one or more of my Vanderbilt professors.
Vanderbilt is a life-long experience.
It's important for me to keep up-to-date with news about Vanderbilt.
Some of my closest friends today are people I met at Vanderbilt.
16
In the past 12 months have you been involved with Vanderbilt in any of the following ways? (Please check all that apply.)
Kept in touch with friends from Vanderbilt 
Visited the Vanderbilt Web site 
Visited campus
Read the Vanderbilt Magazine
Purchased season tickets for a Vanderbilt sports team
Attended a Vanderbilt event in my region
Served as a Vanderbilt volunteer ( Alumni Programs, Reunion Programs, Greek Programs, Admissions or Career Center)
Made a gift to the Vanderbilt Fund
Attended an event with a professor or administrator of the University
Made a major gift
Other, please specify
17

(Alumni Association Volunteers) Have you participated as an alumni volunteer in any of the areas below?

As an Alumni Admissions Interviewer or College Fair representative?
As a Chapter volunteer
As a volunteer in the Alumni Association's Student/Alumni programs (panels and dinners)
As a volunteer on Commodore Career Connection through Dore2Dore online alumni community
As a Reunion volunteer
As a volunteer for your VU school/college, Greek organization, or another Vanderbilt area
Other, please specify
18

Have you ever participated in any of the alumni sponsored programs below? (Please check any that apply.)

Vanderbilt Travel Program
Vanderbilt Chapter event
Reunion/Homecoming
Vanderbilt Athletic event (Tailgates, pre-game gatherings, etc.)
Vanderbilt University school/college events
19

Would you like to see the Alumni Association continue to offer or add the benefits below to its alumni? (Please check any that apply.)

Continuing education programs
Credit card/financial programs
Short Term Medical Insurance
Discounts on test prep programs for your children
Hotel/car discounts
Other, please specify
20
If you were making a gift to Vanderbilt, what would be most relevant to you?
It just feels like the right thing to do.
After thoughtful consideration you decide that it's the logical thing to do.
After reviewing the benefits, it looks like the right thing to do.
21
If you made a gift(s) to Vanderbilt since graduation, what made you feel best about doing so?
22
In your opinion, how strongly do you agree with the following reasons for giving to Vanderbilt?
1
AGREE STRONGLY		2
AGREE SOMEWHAT		3
DISAGREE
To support a specific department/program.
To fund student scholarships which need  support due to the economy.
It's a tax deduction.
Alumni support can help a student with financial need have the Vanderbilt experience.
To help hire and retain the best faculty.
A classmate or student caller contacted me.
To improve facilities.
To honor a professor.
To support athletic programs.
For every new dollar pledged, a Matching Grant can double the amount.
I believe in supporting my college.
My Vanderbilt education enabled me to have a successful career.
I had an excellent academic experience.
The Vanderbilt Fund needs my financial support.
A gift to Vanderbilt is reflective of our alumni culture of giving back.
Vanderbilt's rankings will improve versus peer schools if the percentage of alumni who give increases.
23
If you haven’t supported Vanderbilt in the past few years, aside from financial constraints, why haven’t you made a gift? (Your candid answer will help us better understand alumni perceptions.)
24
If you do not give to Vanderbilt, how strongly do you agree with the following reasons for not giving to Vanderbilt? (Please skip this question if you have given in the past year.)
1
AGREE STRONGLY		2
AGREE SOMEWHAT		3
DISAGREE
I support other charities that have a greater need.
I had a negative experience as an alumna/us.
Other "better off" alumni should be responsible for supporting the University.
The University doesn’t need my gift.
I simply cannot afford to make a gift.
I don't believe in supporting Vanderbilt just because I went there.
The University received my tuition dollars; that's enough.
I’m still paying off my student loans.
I had a negative experience as a student.
My gift would be small so it wouldn't matter.
I’m not sure where my money is going.
25

Which of the following best describes your intent to financially support Vanderbilt during the coming 12 months?

Definitely will give
Probably will give
Might or might not give
Probably will not give
Definitely will not give
26
Assume for a minute that you hit the lottery and were making a contribution to Vanderbilt.  Where would you like to direct your gift?
27
What is your gender?
Male
Female
28
If you were in charge of alumni relations at Vanderbilt, what would you do to increase alumni involvement?
29

Would you be interested in seeing how your answers compare with other alumni?

Yes
No
30
To be entered into the random drawing to win one of 25 Vanderbilt sweatshirts, please list your name and e-mail address below. The winners will be notified by July 1, 2009.
Name:
E-mail Address: