Use of Alumni Perceptions to Evaluate Instructional and Departmental Quality

We asked Boise State alumni about the quality of undergraduate instruction (comparing ratings of full-time and adjunct faculty), questions about departmental quality, and general demographic questions. Although alumni consistently reported higher instructional ratings for full-time faculty, the proportion of courses taught by adjunct faculty (as reported by each respondent) did not impact overall ratings of departmental quality. We present the predictors of departmental quality and discuss how alumni surveys can aid departments in assessment and decision-making.