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2008 Cohen Grant Research
Mapping the Career Paths of American Humanics GraduatesResearchers:
Teresa Van Hornand Heather Carpenter
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Purpose of Study
Examine the experiences and career tracks of students who have graduated with certificates in American Humanics from American Humanics affiliated universities that were established and active from 1948 to 1995.
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Methodology
Mixed Methodology Quantitative Qualitative
Measuring Alumni Satisfaction Career Paths taken
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First Phase
Focus group of American Humanics Alumni
Compiling the survey questions on SurveyMonkey
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Second Phase
Pre-tested the survey with Alumni from Cal State Fresno
Revised the survey questions
Distributed the survey via email with a link to SurveyMonkey
Sent postcards to those without email
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Sample: Pre-1995 Programs
• Arizona State University 16%• High Point University 1%• Lindenwood University 6% • Missouri Valley College 5%• Murray State University 12%• Pepperdine University 6%• Rockhurst University 11%• University of Houston 20%• University of Northern Iowa 11%• University of San Diego 14%
Oldest respondents were from the class of 1957 (2)
Majority (82%) graduated after 1995
*Valid percents
University % of Total Responses
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Key questions
Where are AH grads going to work?
What are alumni attitudes about AH certificate?
Are the differences between AH graduate responses depend on which sector they choose for their first job or careers?
Findings
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•Demographics •Profession•AH Certificate
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Knowledge of Nonprofit Jobs
The majority of respondents (59%) had “no” or “very little” knowledge of career opportunities in the nonprofit sector prior to joining American Humanics.
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Demographics
69% joined AH in their Junior or Senior Year
Respondents graduated within the last 10 years
78% are employed full-time
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Career Progression
0
50
100
150
200
First Job Second Job Third JobNonprofit For Profit Govt. Other
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Do AH Grads Return to the Sector?
1ST JOB GVT
1ST JOBFor Profit
YES 48.6% 34.1%
NO 51.4% 65.9%
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IncomeThe majority of those respondents that started their careers in both the nonprofit and for-profit report their current income range as
$40,000-$49,000
The majority who began in the government sector report a current income range of:
$30,000-$39,000
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Job Tenure
The majority of respondents stay on average 2 years in their jobs regardless of sector.
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Sub-sector career tracks
075.0
150.0
Arts
and
Cul
ture
Edu
catio
n
Env
ironm
ent/A
nim
als
Foun
datio
ns/G
rant
mak
ing
Hea
lth a
nd H
uman
Ser
vice
s
Inte
rnat
iona
l
Pub
lic S
ocie
tal B
enef
it
Rel
igio
n
Hou
sing
/Civ
il R
ight
s
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Positions Held Within the Sector
0
15
30
45
60
Exe
cutiv
e M
gmt
Fund
rais
ing
Fina
nce
HR
Mar
ketin
g
Pro
gram
Mgm
t
I.T.
Volu
ntee
r Mgm
t
Adm
in
Ope
ratio
ns
Oth
er
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Volunteering
1st JobNonprofit
1st JobGVT
1st JobFor Profit
85.0% 80.6% 88.6%
85% volunteer
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Board Service
1st JobNonprofit
1st JobGVT
1st JobFor Profit
31.4% 16.7% 18.6%
25% serve on a board
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Attitudes about AH Certificate
Score of 5 is most positive
1st Job Nonprofit
1st JobGVT
1st JobFor Profit
Gave me the knowledge to be a successful professional 4.32 3.95 4.07
Led me to a career in the nonprofit sector 4.09 3.03 3.03
Helped me secure an entry level administrative job after graduation 3.48 2.94 2.81
Helped me secure a middle or upper management job after graduation 3.05 2.50 2.56
Prepared me to step into a leadership role 4.02 3.95 4.05
Gave me an edge in getting a better paying job after graduation 3.41 3.26 3.14
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Attitudes about AH Certificate
Score of 5 is most positive rating
1st Job Nonprofit
1st JobGVT
1st JobFor Profit
The AH Placement Program at AHMI was valuable in helping me to secure my first job
2.69 2.25 2.17
The AH National Office Internship was valuable to my seeking my first job in the nonprofit sector
2.62 2.43 2.18
Participating in AH co-curricular activities helped me to better perform my work in my first job
3.96 3.45 3.74
My employer was aware of the AH certification program 3.69 3.03 2.49
The AH certificate was valuable in getting my first job after graduation 3.80 2.82 2.26
My employer recognized an added value to having an employee who had been certified through the AH program
3.70 2.43 2.53
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Attitudes about AH Certificate% that would recommend AH to entering Freshman
1st Job Nonprofit
1st Job GVT
1st JobFor Profit
Strongly recommend61.3% 41.7% 45.5%
Recommend31.7% 55.6% 40.0%
Total 93.0% 97.2% 85.5%
Overall response 96%
Limitations
Data is limited to those that responded to the survey
Contact information that was not current
Lack of cooperation from some Campus Directors and/or Alumni Offices
More response from newer alumni than older
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Next steps
Offer survey to all American Humanics programs for use
Present data to individual Campus Directors to use with their program assessments
Reconcile the common core questions between surveys to create a national database