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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

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and

Cul

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Edu

catio

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Env

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Foun

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mak

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Hea

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nd H

uman

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Inte

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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