Replacing Alumni Surveys with Web Searches

Purpose: To examine which components of an alumni survey can be replaced with information posted on the Internet by alumni. Methods: Surveys were conducted for four programs, including 41 alumni of Master of Health Administration, 50 alumni of Master of Science in Health Informatics, 75 alumni of Master of Science in Social Work and 90 alumni of Bachelor of Art History. Demographic, career advancement, industry, location of work, and estimated salary were available through searching the web. Program reviews was not widely available and emailing alumni allowed to supplement web-available data with comments on the program. Results: Program records included email information for 100% of alumni. Information on location of employment was available for 82%, 82%, 59%, and 50% of the alumni of the four programs. Estimated salary was available 77%, 74%, 59%, and 47% of time. Information on the employer/industry, was also available in 91%, 82%, 57%, and 51% of alumni. Alumni responded to email solicitation of program reviews in 44%, 34%, 28%, and 12% of time. More information about alumni’s employment was available on the web than in response to alumni surveys. Conclusion: Alumni have posted information about themselves on the web and a search can collect responses to most questions in a typical alumni survey.