1995-2001 UW Alumni 
(Residing in the Puget Sound area) Survey

A. Overview

1. Background

In March-July 2002, the Re-envisioning the Ph.D. project conducted a survey of University of Washington Ph.D. alumni that was designed "to improve professional development opportunities for doctoral students and to build partnerships between UW doctoral students, Ph.D. alumni, and alumni workplaces." Survey materials and results are presented via links from this page. Names and contact information for the survey mailing list were received from the UW Alumni Association. Target survey participants were Ph.D.s residing in the Puget Sound area who graduated from 1995-2001 from UW Ph.D.-granting departments.

2. Survey Materials

Survey Cover Letter
Survey Instrument
Response Card
Follow-up Interview Protocol 

3. Survey Data Summary

Survey piloted: March 1-13, 2002
Dates surveys mailed: March 15-19, 2002
Dates surveys collected: March 20 - July 12, 2002

Number of surveys mailed: 1,757
Undeliverable: 403
Delivered: 1,354
Returned surveys: 503
Response rate: 37.4% (as a percentage of surveys delivered)
Returned response cards for internships, mentorships, lunch-time seminars, vignettes: 205
Follow-up personal interviews with respondents (those who sent in a response card): 155

B. Survey Results

1. Aggregate Results

Question 1: In what academic discipline (field) did you receive your Ph.D.?

Question 2: Please indicate the sector in which you are currently employed.

Question 3: To what extent did earning a Ph.D. make a difference in your career?

Question 4: Are you still as passionate now as an alumna/alumnus about your field of study as when you were involved in your doctoral studies?

Question 5: In your current career, how do you participate as a scholar in your field?

Question 6: Beyond your professional career, in what ways are you able to use your scholarly expertise to  contribute to society or to your community?

Professional Development Activities

Question 7: Which of the following classes, programs, training, seminars, and/or activities were provided to you during your Ph.D. experience to prepare you for your professional life?  Check all that apply.

Question 8: Which of the previously marked (in question 7) classes, programs, training, seminars, and/or activities provided to you during your Ph.D. experience were particularly helpful in preparing you for your career?

Question 9: What classes, programs, training, seminars, and/or activities that would have better prepared you for your career were not provided to you during your Ph.D. experience? Check all that apply.

     Professional Development Activities (Questions 7-9): Charts
     Professional Development Activities (Questions 7-9): Summary and Analysis

Question 10: What types of professional role(s) do you enjoy taking on?

2. Results by Academic Discipline for Questions 7-9

Professional Development Activities from Questions 7-9.
Click below to see discipline-specific results.

3. Results by UW College and Division for Questions 7-9

Professional Development Activities from Questions 7-9 grouped according to college and division.

College of Arts and Sciences
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Forest Resources
College of Nursing
College of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences
Graduate School of Business Administration
Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs
School of Dentistry
School of Law
School of Medicine
School of Pharmacy
School of Public Health and Community Medicine
School of Social Welfare

4. Alumni Survey Findings

5. What Do Employers Want In A Ph.D.?

Follow-up personal interviews were conducted with 155 respondents currently at work in  business & industry, research-intensive & teaching-intensive universities, K-12 education, government agencies, start-ups, non-profit organizations, medical facilities, and tribal organizations.  The interview protocol asked the question:

What does your employing sector want in Ph.D.'s? (Skill sets, experience, qualifications)

6. Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the University of Washington Alumni Association for their help in constructing the mailing list. Special thanks go to Kristin Fitzpatrick, Gary Martin, and Cheryl Bortz (our former project assistants) and Diane Rogers (project manager) who worked on the administration and data processing of this project.