Assessing student learning outcomes using graduating senior exit surveys and alumni surveys

In Spring of 1994, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering began the process of surveying both graduating seniors and alumni from the graduating classes of 1992, 1988, 1984 and 1980. These surveys were again distributed in Spring of 1995 to alumni in the classes of 1993, 1989, 1985, and 1981, as well as all students enrolled in the senior engineering design course. The primary purpose of the surveys distributed to our alumni and graduating seniors was to begin the process of “assessment of student learning outcomes”. The department has developed four primary educational objectives. These educational objectives are intended to probe not only our students attainment of knowledge specific to the field, but also to cause them to reflect upon how those aspects of education unique to Marquette University as a Catholic, Jesuit institution of higher learning have fostered their attitudes toward their jobs and their fellow humans. From the objectives, several assessment criteria were proposed which then led to the development of the survey instruments that were used. A secondary purpose of these surveys was to determine alumni attitudes to various features of the electrical engineering curriculum and to see if these attitudes change as our alumni progress through their careers. A third purpose of the survey was to develop some demographic information about our alumni. The specific details of the graduate exit surveys and alumni surveys used by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering are discussed including the educational objectives, assessment criteria, and resulting survey instruments. In addition, partial results from these surveys are described particularly referencing the success of the department in attaining its educational objectives and as a planning document for curriculum modification