We’ve all heard national media reports of the dire situation college grads are facing: no jobs, no place to live, no hope. Well, a recent survey shows that the news isn’t so negative, at least not for recent KSC grads. In September and October 2013, our Office of Institutional Research surveyed alumni who received bachelor’s degrees in 2008. Out of a class of 999, KSC had valid email addresses for, and permission to contact, 373 of these (37% of the class). We received responses from 156, or 42% of these recent alums, a very high response rate for this type of survey. KSC was pleased—and proud—to learn that five years after graduation, 98% of the respondents are either employed or engaged in further education. Here are the highlights from the survey:

• Ninety-five percent of the respondents reported that they are employed; 2.5% indicated that they are not employed by choice (for example, to care for family members or enroll in graduate study), and the remaining 2.5% reported that they are unemployed and seeking work.
• Among those who are employed, 76% report that their current position is closely related or somewhat related to their studies at KSC, and 75% of these indicated that KSC had prepared them well or very well for this employment.
• The median annual salary range for those who are currently employed is $40,000–$44,999.
• Forty-four percent of the respondents reported that they had enrolled in one or more programs of further education at some point after graduating from Keene State College, most pursuing master’s degrees.
• Among those who have engaged in further education, 82% reported that their programs were closely related or somewhat related to their studies at KSC, and 74% of those judged that KSC had prepared them well or very well for this next step in their education.
• When asked what else they are doing, besides work and further education, that is meaningful to them five years after graduation, respondents most often mentioned marriage/family/home ownership, community service, professional accomplishments, and travel.
• Eighty-one percent of respondents reported that their KSC education had prepared them well or very well for the transitions in their lives in the five years since graduation.

You can read the complete survey here.

Several of the respondents explained why they valued their KSC experience. Here are three:

“The best professional experiences I had at KSC that translated into future career opportunities and connections were my two internships during my senior year. Having actual work experiences, in addition to classroom experience, in related fields while still in college helped boost my experiences for my resume and led to great professional references.

“The ability to effectively and efficiently communicate is a skill that was taught and practiced at KSC. It’s a skill I took with me both personally and professionally and has been most advantageous in my post-college career. All forms of different communication and expression were emphasized throughout my time at KSC and are lifelong skills every individual needs during and after their college years.” —Abby Feather Nelson

“The BFA program and the senior-project piece of the program proved to be immensely valuable in helping me build my career. It taught me not only how to continue learning, but also how I learn best.  In the senior project program, I was responsible for defining what my project was about and my success criteria for the project, and then I had to plan how I would reach my goals and deliver a final project that I was proud of. All of these skills proved to be essential in my career thus far in the creative webworld.”  —Heather Bowman

“I learned how to adapt to changing situations in my life and my career. Also my close relationship with my professors has helped me along the way. The Safety program is unique in the sense that the professors know you by first name and will work one-on-one with you. They are also still there as a resource even after you leave KSC.” —John Harvey

Many of you out there must have responded positively to our charming and earnest phonathon student workers, because their efforts have really reaped great benefits. Over 1600 of you made gifts. The student callers recorded $73,249.10 in pledges, and $67,983.13 has already been received. That’s a staggering fulfillment rate of 92.81%! The money provides much needed student support, so thank you, donors! And thank you, student phonathon callers! And thank you, Lindsay Taflas, assistant director of Annual Giving and Phonathon manager!

The College’s Office of Institutional Research recently conducted a survey of last year’s grads (May 2012) that showed that 94% of the respondents are either employed or engaged in further education. And that’s just part of the impressive news:

• Among those who are employed, about three-fourths report that their current position is related to their studies at Keene State College, and 85% of these indicated that Keene State had prepared them “well” or “very well” for their employment.
• About one in five respondents is engaged in further study, mostly pursuing master’s degrees.
• Among those who are engaged in further education, 95% reported that their current studies are related to their studies at Keene State College, and 87% judged that Keene State had prepared them “well” or “very well” for this next step in their education.

Of the graduates surveyed, 46 percent still reside in New Hampshire.

“This survey demonstrates that Keene State College is a major contributor to the success of graduates entering the workforce or gaining post-graduate education. An investment in public higher education is also an investment in our state’s workforce and economic development,” said Jay Kahn, Keene State College Interim President.

Last month, KSC joined with the other institutions in the University System of New Hampshire to ask our supporters to help us advocate for higher ed. We’re sure KSC can raise 1,000 advocates, and we’re close. But we can still use your help. It’s easy, and no salesman will call! Sign up at the KSC Advocates site.

Why do we need 1,000 advocates?

Last year, New Hampshire’s four public colleges and universities suffered the largest budget cut—a 49 % reduction—in our state’s history, indeed in our nation’s history. At KSC, state support now provides just 6 percent of our operating budget. New Hampshire is last in the nation in per capita funding for public higher education at a time when a well-prepared entering workforce is crucial the economic development of our state.

The USNH Board of Trustees has taken a major step in seeking restoration of the state appropriation. They propose freezing in-state tuition and providing more financial assistance to needy NH students for the next two years, if the legislators restore the University System’s biennial state appropriation of $100 million.

But we can’t convince legislators by ourselves. You have an important voice in this advocacy effort. You can write letters, contact legislators, talk to friends, but if you do nothing else, check “Yes, count me in as an Advocate for KSC” today.