GREAT JOBS GREAT LIVES
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Introduction For years, the value of a college degree has been determined not by the most important outcomes of a college education, but by the easiest outcomes to measure — namely, job and graduate school placement rates and alumni salaries (usually only from their first job out of college). While these metrics have some merit, they do not provide a holistic view of college graduates’ lives. These outcomes do not reflect the missions of higher education institutions, and they do not reflect the myriad reasons why students go to college. Together, Gallup and Purdue University created an index that examines the long-term success of graduates as they pursue a good job and a better life. This index — the Gallup-Purdue Index — provides insight into the relationship between the college experience and long-term outcomes. This report further explores the relationship between Saint Michael’s College graduates’ college experience and their long-term outcomes based on their responses to the Saint Michael’s College alumni outcomes survey.
1
Great Jobs. Great Lives. Great Experiences. Great Jobs: Workplace Engagement
Great Lives: Well-Being
Workplace engagement is more than job satisfaction. It involves employees being intellectually and emotionally connected with their organizations and work teams because they are able to do what they’re best at, they like what they do at work and they have someone who cares about their development at work.
Well-being is not only about being happy or wealthy, nor is it only synonymous with physical health. Rather, it is about the interaction and interdependency between many aspects of life such as finding fulfillment in daily work and interactions, having strong social relationships and access to the resources people need, feeling financially secure, being physically healthy and taking part in a true community.
Gallup’s expertise on engagement in the workplace is rooted in more than 30 years of research on the 12 elements that best predict employee and workgroup performance. Based on responses to questions that measure the 12 elements, Gallup categorizes workers as engaged, not engaged or actively disengaged. People who are engaged at work are more involved in and enthusiastic about their work. They are loyal and productive. Those who are not engaged may be productive and satisfied with their workplaces, but they are not intellectually and emotionally connected to them. Workers who are actively disengaged are physically present, but intellectually and emotionally disconnected. They are unhappy with their work, share their unhappiness with their colleagues and are likely to jeopardize the performance of their teams. Recent Gallup research shows that only 30% of Americans are engaged in their jobs, meaning that the U.S. workplace is missing out on staggering amounts of economic benefit that come from workforces that are more engaged. If higher education does not lead graduates to an engaging job, then it has failed to deliver on a central expectation of students and the families who support them through college.
2
Gallup and Healthways developed the Gallup-Healthways WellBeing 5 View to measure these important aspects. This survey, based on findings from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index and years of joint research, asks 10 questions that gauge wellbeing in five elements: Purpose Well-Being: Liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals. Social Well-Being: Having strong and supportive relationships and love in your life. Financial Well-Being: Effectively managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security. Community Well-Being: The sense of engagement you have with the areas where you live, liking where you live and feeling safe and having pride in your community. Physical Well-Being: Having good health and enough energy to get things done on a daily basis.
Gallup categorizes people’s well-being in each of the elements as “thriving,” “struggling” and “suffering” based on their responses. Those who are thriving are strong, consistent and progressing, while those who are struggling are moderate or inconsistent. Those who are suffering are at high risk. Understanding how people think about and experience their lives is one of the first steps in determining the appropriate interventions that organizations, communities and higher education need to take to solve their biggest challenges. This research has the ability to provide colleges and universities with insight on how to improve the lives of current undergraduates in these key areas within their control. Institutions can help support their students’ well-being and engagement, setting them on a path toward lifelong wellbeing and a level of engagement in their careers that far exceeds the value of personal income alone.
Great Experiences: Alumni Attachment Gallup’s research across hundreds of organizations in many industries shows that fully engaged consumers buy more, stay with an organization longer and are more profitable than average consumers — in good economic times and in bad. The Gallup-Purdue Index measures graduates’ current emotional attachment to their alma mater by adapting Gallup’s research on consumer engagement to assess graduates’ perceptions of their colleges both in retrospect to their undergraduate experiences and their views as current alumni. Because students spend a significant amount of resources preparing for life outside of college, it is crucial to gauge whether the experiences they had in college have promoted a well-lived life. This includes if they perceive that the college was a great fit for them, having professors who cared and made learning exciting and, most importantly, feeling that their school prepared them well for life outside of college. The Gallup-Purdue Index uncovers which college experiences and perceptions are related to greater gains in the workplace and well-being.
National Comparisons For the purposes of this report, data from the Saint Michael’s College (SMC) alumni cohort (those who received a bachelor’s degree from the college between 1950 and 2015) are compared with data collected from respondents to the national GallupPurdue Index study, all of whom obtained a bachelor’s degree during the same period. Some differences may exist between the national comparison points included in this report and national estimates that Gallup has previously released because this report focuses on graduates who received their undergraduate degrees from 1950 to 2015. Comparison groups included in this report are: • Gallup-Purdue Index National Average: National college graduates include those who received their bachelor’s degrees from Title IV degree-granting four-year public, private, forprofit and not-for-profit institutions in the U.S. as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. • Baccalaureate Colleges – Arts & Sciences: College graduates from four-year Baccalaureate colleges in which at least half of the bachelor’s degree majors are in Arts and Sciences fields. • Private Non-Profit Universities: College graduates from four-year private non-profit institutions in the U.S. • Saint Michael’s College Custom Comparison Group: College graduates from a select group of Saint Michael’s College cross-applicant competitors, peers and aspirants, including: Assumption College, Champlain College, College of the Holy Cross, Fairfield University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Le Moyne College, Merrimack College, Providence College, Quinnipiac University, Roger Williams University, Saint Anselm College, Salve Regina University, Siena College, St. Lawrence University, Stonehill College, Susquehanna University, the University of Vermont, Wheaton College and others. Demographically, the sample of 1950–2015 SMC alumni is 56% male and 44% female, while the average age of respondents is 46. This report also makes some comparisons using more recent SMC alumni who graduated between 2000 and 2015. Of these more recent graduates, 36% are male while 64% are female, and the average age of these graduates is 29.
3
Executive Summary
This SMC study surveyed 3,371 adults who received degrees from the college between 1950 and 2015. The results illustrate
SMC graduates are also leading other college graduates in living great lives. The overall well-being of SMC graduates, on average,
how many SMC graduates went on to have great jobs and great lives after college and whether their great experiences as students translated into an emotional attachment to their alma mater.
is better than that of their peers. About one in five (19%) SMC graduates are thriving — strong, consistent and progressing — in all five interrelated elements of well-being. Additionally, SMC alumni are far more likely to be thriving in four of five elements of well-being compared with all comparison groups and college graduates nationally — social, purpose, community and physical.
This study yields important insights for educators, employers, alumni and prospective students about the factors that contribute to great jobs, lives and experiences for SMC graduates. It also identifies the areas in which SMC alumni outperform graduates of other universities and areas in which SMC has room to grow. The majority (65%) of SMC graduates are working full time for an employer, which is higher than college graduates nationally (57%), private schools (56%) and peer institutions of SMC (56%). This employment rate rises even higher, to 82%, among SMC graduates who received their degree between 2000 and 2015. But, simply having a job is not enough; engaged workers are the lifeblood of the organizations for which they work. They are more loyal, more productive and more profitable than those who are not engaged or are actively disengaged. Further, engaged workers are more likely to be thriving in well-being. In this regard, SMC graduates have an advantage over many of their peers from other institutions. Nearly half (49%) of SMC alumni who are employed full time for an employer are engaged at work, which is higher than levels among all comparison groups.
4
The connection SMC graduates still feel to their alma mater is greater than all comparison groups. One in three (33%) are emotionally attached to their alma mater. Between the two questions that define attachment to the school, SMC graduates are more likely to strongly agree that Saint Michael’s College was the perfect school for them (50%) than to strongly agree that they can’t imagine a world without their school (37%). This is consistent with trends seen nationally. However, both percentages are greater than the percentages across all comparison groups for each question. The support and experiential learning that SMC provided are positively related to three important dimensions. Support and experiential learning may help improve the chances alumni 1) are engaged at work after graduation, 2) are thriving in all five elements and 3) are emotionally attached to their alma mater. SMC alumni are more likely than all comparison groups to have these experiences, which is likely the reason why SMC alumni perform better than alumni from their peer institutions.
SOME OF GALLUP’S MOST IMPORTANT FINDINGS Great Jobs: Workplace Engagement • Sixty-five percent of SMC alumni are employed full time for an employer while 4% are employed full time for themselves. This full-time employment rate for an employer is higher than graduates from baccalaureate colleges (57%), private nonprofit universities (56%), direct competitors of Saint Michael’s (56%) and college graduates nationally (57%). • Of SMC alumni who are currently employed, 21% are working in the field of education, training or library. The next most common field among working alumni is finance, insurance or real estate (17%). More than twice as many female SMC graduates work in the education, training or library fields compared with male SMC graduates (31% vs. 13%). • Nearly half (49%) of SMC alumni who are working full time for an employer are engaged in their jobs, higher than alumni from baccalaureate colleges (42%), other private universities (40%), competitor universities (43%) and college graduates nationally (40%). • Eighty-two percent of SMC alumni who obtained their undergraduate degrees between 2000 and 2015 are employed full time for an employer, which far outpaces alumni comparison groups from baccalaureate colleges (68%), private universities (69%), competitors (75%) and college graduates nationally (70%). • Sixty-two percent of SMC alumni who felt supported while attending college and who are employed full time for an employer are engaged in their jobs, compared with 49% among all SMC alumni.
Great Experiences • Half (50%) of SMC alumni strongly agree the college was the perfect school for them and 37% strongly agree they cannot imagine a world without the College. • Internship experiences were more prevalent among SMC alumni who graduated from 2000 to 2015 than those who graduated between 1950 and 1999 (57% vs. 38%). Additionally, recent SMC graduates are more likely to have studied abroad (51% vs. 23%). Recent SMC graduates are also twice as likely as graduates between 1950 and 1999 to say that they participated in the service organization on campus known as MOVE or other volunteer efforts (64% vs. 32%). • SMC alumni who are emotionally attached to their alma mater are more likely to have contributed financially to the college in the last 12 months than those who are actively unattached (62% vs. 17%). • When presented with various reasons for why they have contributed financially to SMC, the most frequent response among alumni is that they had an excellent experience at the college (72% and 68% among older and more recent alumni, respectively). The next most popular reason was to help a student with financial needs (40% for both older and recent alumni). • The average lifetime contribution from alumni who felt supported while attending SMC is $5,400 compared with $3,679 among those who did not experience support.
Great Lives: Well-Being • One in five (19%) SMC alumni have reached the pinnacle of well-being and are thriving in all five elements compared with just over one in 10 alumni from each comparison group. • About two-thirds of SMC alumni are thriving in social (66%) and purpose (65%) well-being, the two best-performing elements for SMC alumni. • SMC alumni are far more likely to be thriving in four of five elements of well-being — social, purpose, community and physical — compared with all comparison groups and college graduates nationally. 5
GREAT JOBS
Workplace Engagement
SMC Alumni Are More Likely to Be Employed Full Time for an Employer Overall, 65% of SMC alumni are employed full time for an employer while 4% are employed full time for themselves. This full-time employment rate for an employer is higher than graduates from baccalaureate colleges (57%), private non-profit universities (56%), direct competitors of SMC (56%) and college graduates nationally (57%). There was no difference in self-employment between all comparison groups.
Of SMC alumni who are currently employed, 21% are working in the field of education, training or library. It’s important to note that the high level of employment in this field may be linked to the fact that nearly twice as many female SMC graduates say they worked in this area compared with male SMC graduates (31% vs. 13%). Therefore, the high level of employment in this field may be due to the higher number of females who completed the survey. The next most common field among working alumni is finance, insurance or real estate (17%). Conversely, employed SMC alumni are least likely to be working in the areas of retail (3%) and transportation (1%).
Nearly half (49%) of SMC alumni who are working full time for an employer are engaged in their jobs, higher than alumni from baccalaureate colleges (42%), other private universities (40%), competitor universities (43%) and college graduates nationally (40%). SMC students are also half as likely to be actively disengaged in the workplace (6%) compared with baccalaureate colleges (11%), private universities (11%) and college graduates nationally (12%).
SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE
BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES - ARTS & SCIENCES
PRIVATE NON-PROFIT COLLEGES/ UNIVERSITIES
Employed Full Time (Employer)
65%
57%
56%
56%
57%
Employed Full Time (Self)
4%
4%
4%
5%
4%
Employed Part Time, Do Not Want Full Time
9%
11%
11%
10%
10%
Unemployed
2%
2%
3%
3%
3%
Employed Part Time, Want Full Time
3%
5%
5%
7%
5%
Not in Work Force
17%
21%
21%
18%
20%
Alumni Employment
6
SMC Alumni Are More Likely to Be Engaged at Their Jobs
SAINT GALLUPMICHAEL’S PURDUE INDEX COLLEGE NATIONAL COMPETITORS AVERAGE
Which category best describes the area in which you currently work at your primary job?
Engagement (full-time employed) 6%
17%
Finance/Insurance/Real Estate
49%
7%
Law or Public Policy
Computer/Information Systems/ Mathematical
6% 21%
Education/Training/Library 9%
Healthcare
Arts/Design/Entertainment/ Sports/Media
Retail Manufacturing or Construction
45%
5%
Community/Social Services
Transportation
6%
11%
1% 3%
42%
4%
Baccalaureate Colleges Arts & Sciences
17%
Other 0%
Saint Michael’s College
4%
Science/Engineering/Architecture
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
% Employed
This higher level of engagement among SMC alumni is important because engaged workers are vital to their organizations. Gallup workplace engagement studies show that business or work units that score in the top half of their organizations in employee engagement have nearly double the odds of success of those in the bottom half, based on a composite of financial, customer, retention, safety, quality, shrinkage and absenteeism metrics. Compared with bottom-quartile units, top-quartile units have:
47%
11% 40%
Private Non-Profit Colleges
49%
• 10% higher customer loyalty/engagement. • 22% higher profitability.
8%
• 21% higher productivity. 43%
• 25% lower turnover for high-turnover companies (those with 60 percent or higher annualized turnover).
Saint Michael’s College Competitors
• 65% lower turnover for low-turnover companies (those with 40 percent or lower annualized turnover). • 48% fewer safety incidents.
49%
• 28% less shrinkage. 12%
• 37% lower absenteeism. • 41% fewer patient safety incidents.
40%
Gallup-Purdue Index National Average
• 41% fewer quality incidents (defects).
ENGAGED NOT ENGAGED
48%
ACTIVELY DISENGAGED
7
SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE
BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES - ARTS & SCIENCES
PRIVATE NON-PROFIT COLLEGES/ UNIVERSITIES
Employed Full Time (Employer)
82%
68%
69%
75%
70%
Employed Full Time (Self)
1%
4%
2%
3%
2%
Employed Part Time, Do Not Want Full Time
4%
6%
7%
4%
6%
Unemployed
2%
3%
3%
1%
4%
Employed Part Time, Want Full Time
3%
6%
7%
12%
7%
Not in Work Force
7%
14%
11%
4%
10%
2000-2015 Graduates Alumni Employment
SAINT GALLUPMICHAEL’S PURDUE INDEX COLLEGE NATIONAL COMPETITORS AVERAGE
2000–2015 SMC Graduates More Likely to Be Employed, Engaged at Work
Supportive Experiences Linked to Engagement at Work and Well-Being
Eighty-two percent of SMC alumni who obtained their undergraduate degrees from 2000 to 2015 are employed full time for an employer, which far outpaces alumni from baccalaureate colleges (68%), private universities (69%), competitors (75%) and alumni nationally (70%) who obtained their degrees in the same timeframe. SMC alumni who graduated within the past 15 years are not only more likely to be employed full time for an employer, but they are also far more likely to be engaged in their jobs (50%) than alumni from baccalaureate colleges (40%), private schools nationally (38%) and college graduates nationally (39%).
Gallup asked graduates if their professors cared about them as a person, whether they had at least one professor who made them excited about learning and whether they had a mentor who encouraged them to pursue their goals and dreams. These three items combined measure the emotional support graduates felt while attending college. Gallup classifies graduates who strongly agree with all three items as having received emotional support in college. It selected these three items based on national GallupPurdue Index findings that asked college graduates about a host of experiences in college, seeking to identify through analysis those experiences most associated with levels of lifelong well-being and engagement. These three support measures, along with three measures of experiential learning discussed below, were strongly associated with both outcomes.
Employed Full Time for an Employer, 2000–2015 Graduates 100
50%
40%
38%
48%
39%
Gallup also created custom questions specific to the SMC experience to compliment standard questions asked of all college graduates nationally.
48%
Nearly a quarter (24%) of Saint Michael’s alumni say they felt supported while attending college. While this is lower than alumni from baccalaureate institutions nationally (27%), it is higher than the national average (14%), private non-profit institutions (20%) and Saint Michael’s competitors (14%).
80
60
50%
51% 49%
44% 40
20
0
6% Saint Michael's College
ENGAGED
8
10%
10%
13% 3%
Baccalaureate Private Colleges Non-Profit Arts & Colleges Sciences
Saint Gallup-Purdue Michael’s Index National College Average Competitors
NOT ENGAGED
ACTIVELY DISENGAGED
SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE
BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES - ARTS & SCIENCES
PRIVATE NON-PROFIT UNIVERSITIES
SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE COMPETITORS
GALLUPPURDUE INDEX NATIONAL AVERAGE
My professors at [COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NAME] cared about me as a person.
45%
51%
40%
27%
28%
I had at least one professor at [COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY NAME] who made me excited about learning.
74%
78%
70%
67%
64%
While attending [COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NAME], I had a mentor who encouraged me to pursue my goals and dreams.
29%
33%
27%
23%
22%
All Three
24%
27%
20%
14%
14%
Support (% Strongly Agree)
The support an SMC student experiences while attending college may impact his or her chances of being engaged at work after graduation. Sixty-two percent of SMC alumni who say they felt supported while attending college and who are employed full time for an employer are engaged in their jobs, compared with 49% among all SMC alumni. Nationally, graduates who say they felt supported while attending college have double the odds of being engaged at work. Feeling support is also linked to SMC alumni well-being. Sixtyeight percent of SMC alumni who felt support while attending college are thriving in three or more elements of well-being, compared with 60% of all SMC alumni. Additionally, SMC alumni who say they experienced support are less likely to have no elements of well-being in which they are thriving than SMC alumni who say they did not feel supported. Nationally, if college graduates experience support while attending college, the odds of thriving in all five elements of well-being are 1.5 times higher than college graduates who say they did not feel supported while attending college.
6% 49% 5% 62%
Saint Michael’s College TOTAL
Saint Michael’s College SUPPORTED 33%
ENGAGED NOT ENGAGED ACTIVELY DISENGAGED
45%
SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE TOTAL
SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE SUPPORTED
None
10%
5%
One
13%
10%
One in 10 SMC Alumni Had Experiential Learning, on Par With Comparison Groups
Two
17%
17%
Three
18%
20%
Gallup also asked SMC graduates if they had an internship or job that allowed them to apply what they learned in the classroom, if they worked on a project that took a semester or more to complete and if they were extremely active in extracurricular activities and organizations in college. Gallup classifies graduates who strongly agree with all three of these items as having had experiential learning while attending college, based upon findings from the Gallup-Purdue Index national study that highly correlate these three experiences with lifelong measures of workplace engagement and well-being.
Four
23%
25%
Five
19%
23%
WB5 View Number of Thriving Elements
9
Experiential Learning
GALLUPPURDUE INDEX NATIONAL AVERAGE
SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE
BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES - ARTS & SCIENCES
While attending [COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NAME], I had an internship or job that allowed me to apply what I was learning in the classroom.
24%
27%
32%
26%
30%
While attending [COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NAME], I worked on a project that took a semester or more to complete.
32%
43%
36%
38%
31%
I was extremely active in extracurricular activities and organizations while attending [COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NAME].
30%
32%
25%
30%
19%
All Three
8%
8%
8%
9%
6%
(% Strongly Agree)
As is also true nationally, SMC graduates are less likely to have experiential learning than to have felt supported. Eight percent of SMC graduates say they had experiential learning while attending college, on par with the national average (6%) as well as other comparison groups. An improvement opportunity for Saint Michael’s College may be to increase the availability of relevant jobs or internships to students. Twenty-four percent of Saint Michael’s alumni strongly agree they had a job or internship that allowed them to apply what they were learning in the classroom. This is on par with competitor colleges (26%), but lags behind all other groups and college graduates nationally (30%). It should be noted that SMC’s dedication of resources to internships and other programs has been increasing in the past 10 to 15 years, so the administration has already recognized this as an opportunity for growth. Sample sizes did not allow for analysis of engagement or wellbeing for SMC alumni who say they had engaged in some form of experiential learning. However, data from Gallup’s national study show that the odds of being engaged at work double and the odds of thriving in all five elements of well-being are 1.4 times higher if graduates took advantage of these opportunities.
10
SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE COMPETITORS
PRIVATE NON-PROFIT COLLEGES/ UNIVERSITIES
Recent SMC Graduates Are More Likely to Have Studied Abroad and Have Had an Internship Internship experiences are more prevalent among SMC alumni who graduated from 2000 to 2015 than those who graduated between 1950 and 1999 (57% vs. 38%). Additionally, recent SMC graduates are more likely to have studied abroad (51% vs. 23%). The spirit of community service is also greater among recent SMC alumni. Recent graduates are twice as likely as earlier graduates to say they participated in the service organization on campus known as MOVE or other volunteer efforts (64% vs. 32%).
SMC Alumni More Prepared for Life Than Alumni From Competitor Institutions Thirty-five percent of SMC alumni strongly agree their alma mater is passionate about the long-term success of its students. This is lower than Baccalaureate institutions (40%), but higher than SMC competitors (28%) and the national average (24%). Ultimately, nearly two-fifths of SMC alumni (38%) strongly agree the College prepared them well for life outside of college, edging out competitor institutions (34%) and the national average (29%).
Please indicate which academic activities you were involved in while attending Saint Michael’s College?
Which of the following did you participate in while attending Saint Michael’s College? YEAR GRADUATED
YEAR GRADUATED
19501999
20002015
19501999
20002015
Resident Assistant/ACA
18%
13%
Study Abroad
23%
51%
Orientation Leader
22%
18%
Summer Research
7%
10%
Founder's Society/Tour Guide
17%
21%
Internship
38%
57%
Fire & Rescue
10%
5%
Visited a Career Advisor, etc.
45%
51%
Wilderness Programs
7%
26%
Peer Tutor
15%
23%
MOVE or Other Volunteer Efforts
32%
64%
Writing Center Coach
7%
11%
SA E-Board Member
8%
6%
Seminar for Academic Success/ Academic Success Program
4%
3%
SA Class Officer/Area Rep/Club Representative
30%
22%
Pre-Orientation (POW, WOW, SOAR)
11%
25%
MLK Society/Diversity Coalition
3%
6%
Campus Ministry/LEAP/VITA
26%
38%
[COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NAME] is passionate about the long-term success of its students. SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE
BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES - ARTS & SCIENCES
PRIVATE NON-PROFIT UNIVERSITIES
SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE COMPETITORS
GALLUPPURDUE INDEX NATIONAL AVERAGE
1 Strongly disagree
2%
2%
4%
4%
5%
2
5%
8%
8%
12%
11%
3
19%
15%
19%
23%
24%
4
34%
32%
30%
29%
29%
5 Strongly agree
35%
40%
35%
28%
24%
Don't know
5%
3%
4%
4%
6%
[COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NAME] prepared me well for life outside of college. SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE
BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES - ARTS & SCIENCES
PRIVATE NON-PROFIT UNIVERSITIES
SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE COMPETITORS
GALLUPPURDUE INDEX NATIONAL AVERAGE
1 Strongly disagree
2%
4%
4%
2%
5%
2
5%
8%
8%
10%
9%
3
16%
19%
19%
24%
22%
4
39%
33%
34%
30%
34%
5 Strongly agree
38%
37%
35%
34%
29%
Don't know
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
11
GREAT LIVES:
Well-Being
One in Five SMC Alumni Are Thriving in All Five Elements of Well-Being One in five (19%) SMC alumni have reached the pinnacle of well-being and are thriving in all five elements, compared with just over one in 10 alumni from each comparison group. Accordingly, SMC alumni are far more likely to be thriving in four of five elements of well-being (social, purpose, community and physical) compared with all comparison groups and college
19%
20%
Elements Saint Michael's College
12
Baccalaureate Colleges - Arts & Sciences
Elements Private Non-Profit Colleges
Elements
Elements
Saint Michael’s College Competitors
11%
12%
12%
Element
11%
18%
18%
17%
18%
21%
19% 20%
18%
18%
17%
17% 18%
17%
19%
19%
17%
13%
17%
18%
17% 13%
10%
15%
Graduates thriving in ...
23%
graduates nationally.
Elements Gallup-Purdue Index National Average
SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE
BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES - ARTS & SCIENCES
PRIVATE NON-PROFIT COLLEGES/ UNIVERSITIES
SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE COMPETITORS
GALLUPPURDUE INDEX NATIONAL AVERAGE
PURPOSE WELL-BEING
65%
57%
56%
60%
54%
SOCIAL WELL-BEING
66%
54%
53%
55%
50%
FINANCIAL WELL-BEING
49%
48%
45%
46%
44%
COMMUNITY WELL-BEING
61%
48%
48%
53%
46%
PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
49%
37%
36%
38%
34%
About two-thirds of SMC alumni are thriving in social (66%) and purpose well-being (65%). This could be related to the socially active and engaged community and spirit emphasized at SMC. By the time they are seniors, nearly three-quarters of Saint Michael’s students have participated in community service or volunteer work.1 Additionally, the greater sense of social and community well-being could be related to Saint Michael’s College’s practice of requiring all students to live on campus, which gives them the opportunity to form strong and supportive relationships with their peers. Alumni continue to live out SMC’s dedication to service and community after they graduate from the College. About threequarters of SMC alumni volunteered at least an hour of their time in the past 12 months and 14% donated more than 80 hours in the past 12 months. SMC alumni who graduated before 2000 are twice as likely to have spent more than 80 hours volunteering in the past year compared with those who graduated between 2000 and 2015. In addition, 39% of SMC alumni have been employed by a non-profit organization since graduating. Although Gallup could not compare working for a non-profit to college graduates nationally since this is a custom question, it should be noted that far more female SMC graduates have worked for a non-profit than male graduates (47% vs. 33%). When it comes to thriving in financial well-being, SMC alumni (49%) hold a small lead over alumni from private non-profit Colleges/Universities (45%) and college graduates nationally (44%). Additionally, nearly half of SMC alumni are thriving in physical well-being (49%), far outpacing college graduates nationally and other comparison groups.
In the past 12 months, for approximately how many hours have you worked as a volunteer? 1950-1999 Graduates
2000-2015 Graduate 20% 24% 22%
0 hours
25%
1-10 hours
30%
12% 9% 11%
21-40 hours
10% 4% 7%
More than 80 hours Don’t know/ Cannot recall
38%
13% 12% 12%
11-20 hours
41-80 hours
Total
9%
18% 14%
3% 4% 3%
Since your graduation from Saint Michael’s College, have you ever been employed by a nonprofit/tax-exempt organization? 100
Yes
75
No
64%
61%
56% 50
36%
44%
39%
25
0
1950-1999
2000-2015
Total
1 http://www.smcvt.edu/experience/service-and-activism.aspx
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GREAT EXPERIENCES:
Alumni Attachment
Gallup explores the attachment alumni feel toward their alma maters by their level of agreement with two questions: “I can’t imagine a world without my college” and “My college was the perfect school for people like me.” Gallup considers graduates who strongly agree with both items “emotionally attached” to their alma mater.
Half of SMC Alumni Strongly Agree That Their College Was Perfect for Them
Support and Experiential Learning Experiences Impact Attachment to SMC
SMC has made a great impression on, and has established strong bonds with, its alumni. Overall, 33% of SMC alumni are attached to their alma mater, much higher than all comparison groups. In comparison with Saint Michael’s competitors, the alumni from SMC are nearly twice as likely to be attached to their alma mater (33% vs. 17% among competitor universities). Half (50%) of SMC alumni strongly agree the college was the perfect school for them, and 37% strongly agree that they cannot imagine a world without the college.
The number of supportive and experiential learning experiences an SMC student has while attending college also impacts his or her attachment to the college. Only 9% of alumni who did not have any of these experiences while attending SMC are emotionally attached to the college, while 61% and 64% of those who had five or six of these key experiences, respectively, are attached to the college.
Alumni Attachment (% Strongly Agree)
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PRIVATE SAINT BACCALAUREATE NON-PROFIT MICHAEL'S COLLEGES - ARTS & COLLEGES/ COLLEGE SCIENCES UNIVERSITIES
SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE COMPETITORS
GALLUPPURDUE INDEX NATIONAL AVERAGE
[COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY NAME] was the perfect school for people like me.
50%
40%
38%
31%
34%
I can't imagine a world without [COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY NAME].
37%
29%
26%
24%
26%
Alumni Attachment
33%
23%
22%
17%
20%
Alumni Attachment
Number of Supportive and Experiential Learning Experiences 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
TOTAL
Attached
9%
16%
33%
40%
49%
61%
64%
33%
Not Attached
6%
6%
3%
3%
2%
2%
1%
4%
Other
85%
78%
64%
56%
49%
38%
35%
63%
Attached Alumni More Likely to Donate to SMC Gallup’s research with higher education institutions suggests that graduates’ emotional attachment to their alma mater is strongly associated with greater involvement as alumni and increased donorship. Similarly, SMC alumni who are emotionally attached are more likely to have contributed financially to the college in the last 12 months (62% vs. 17% who were not attached).
When presented with various reasons for why they have contributed financially to SMC, alumni are more likely to indicate that it was because they had an excellent experience at the college compared with other reasons. The next most popular reason is to help a student with financial needs. Notably, graduates who received degrees from 2000 to 2015 are more likely to say that they donated to support a specific department or program that is important to them (36% vs. 21% among 1950 to 1999 graduates).
In particular, having supportive experiences appears to be an important factor in alumni donations. The average lifetime contribution from alumni who felt supported while attending SMC is $5,400 compared with $3,679 among those who expressed that they did not experience support. Overall, about half of SMC alumni have contributed financially to the college. However, alumni who graduated before 2000 are more likely to have donated to SMC in the past 12 months (55% vs. 44% among those who graduated between 2000 and 2015).
In contrast, when Gallup asked SMC alumni who have not contributed financially in the past 12 months why they have not given to the school, the top two reasons were because they cannot afford to make a donation (33% vs. 64% of older and recent alumni, respectively) or that they support other charities that have greater needs (49% vs. 25% of older and recent alumni, respectively). Alumni who received their degrees from 2000 to 2015 are twice as likely to say that they cannot afford it (64% vs. 33% among 1950 to 1999 graduates), and they are half as likely to say they support other charities (25% vs. 49%).
In the last 12 months have you contributed financially to Saint Michael’s College?
In the last 12 months have you contributed financially to Saint Michael’s College?
1950-1999
2000-2015
TOTAL
Yes
55%
44%
50%
No
45%
56%
50%
ATTACHED
NOT ATTACHED
OTHER
TOTAL
Yes
62%
17%
47%
51%
No
38%
83%
53%
49%
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Why did you contribute financially to Saint Michael’s College?
Why have you not contributed financially to Saint Michael’s College?
19501999
20002015
19501999
20002015
To help a student with financial needs
40%
40%
I had a negative experience as a student
6%
6%
To support a specific department/program that is important to me
21%
36%
I had a negative experience as an alumna/ alumnus
7%
4%
To help hire and retain the best faculty
19%
13%
I'm not sure where my money would be spent at the College
9%
18%
To improve facilities
20%
16%
My gift would be so small that it would not matter or make a difference
10%
15%
To support athletic programs
15%
18%
Saint Michael's College received my tuition dollars so that is enough
16%
34%
I had an excellent experience at Saint Michael's College
72%
68%
I support other charities that have greater needs
49%
25%
The College's U.S. News & World Report rankings could improve if the percentage of alumni who give increases
7%
13%
I simply cannot afford to make a donation
33%
64%
Don't know
5%
5%
Don't know
12%
7%
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Final Thoughts Saint Michael’s College alumni are more likely than graduates from peer institutions in all comparison groups to be engaged in the workplace, thriving in well-being and attached to their school. Ultimately, alumni from SMC are nearly twice as likely as competitor institutions to be attached to their alma mater, while half of SMC alumni strongly agree that their school was the perfect fit for them. With these results, it is clear that SMC invests great thought and care into not only what students learn but how they learn it. Small classes exemplified by a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, 1:1 advising with a professor in a specific field of study and a commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities beginning in a student’s first year all may all be contributing to the great jobs and great lives of SMC alumni. By continuing to concentrate on providing student support and opportunities for experiential learning, which both relate to an increased likelihood of improved performance among measurable elements of success, Saint Michael’s College can continue to foster an environment in which education is indeed more than a matter of receiving a degree.
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Methodology
Results for the Saint Michael’s College alumni study are based on Web surveys conducted from Sept. 21-Oct. 21, 2015, with a
Gallup-Purdue Index interviews are conducted via the Web, in English only. Samples are weighted to correct for unequal
sample of 3,371 Saint Michael’s College undergraduate alumni. The sample of alumni email addresses was provided by Saint Michael’s College. Alumni were included in the study if the institution had an email address on file.
selection probability and nonresponse. The data are weighted to match national demographics of gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, and region. Demographic weighting targets are based on the most recent Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher population.
Results for the Gallup-Purdue Index, the national study used for comparison purposes, are based on Web surveys conducted December 16, 2014-June 29, 2015, with a random sample of 30,151 respondents with a bachelor’s degree or higher, aged 18 and older, with Internet access, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The Gallup-Purdue Index sample was recruited via the Gallup Daily Tracking survey. The Gallup Daily tracking survey sample includes national adults with a minimum quota of 60 percent cellphone respondents and 40 percent landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using RDD methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday. Gallup Daily tracking respondents with a college degree, who agreed to future contact, were invited to take the GallupPurdue Index survey online.
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All reported margins of sampling error for the Gallup-Purdue Index of all college graduates include the computed design effects for weighting. For results based on the total sample of those with a bachelor’s degree, the margin of sampling error is ±0.9 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. For results based on employee engagement of those with a bachelor’s degree, the margin of sampling error is ±1.0 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls..
About
About Saint Michael’s College Founded under the principles of the Catholic Intellectual tradition, Saint Michael’s College is a selective, fully residential liberal arts college in Vermont’s beautiful Green Mountains. Our closely connected community delivers internationally-respected liberal arts and graduate education near Burlington, one of the country’s best college towns. To prepare for meaningful lives and fulfilling careers, young adults here grow intellectually, socially, and morally, learning to be responsible for themselves, each other and their world.
About Gallup Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.
About Healthways Healthways is an independent, global well-being company that provides comprehensive improvement solutions to increase performance and lower healthcare costs in its client populations. Dedicated to creating a healthier world one person at a time, Healthways uses the science of well-being and behavior change to produce and measure well-being improvement for its customers. Healthways provides personalized support to individuals to optimize each participant’s health and productivity and to reduce healthrelated costs, and also advises leaders on how to maximize well-being across an organization.
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