Outcome Data

1. Undergraduate Placement Survey Results
   (2008-2009)

-  Graduate's plans for the year following graduation from USU (n=16)

Employment                      62.5%
Additional Educcation      68.8%

Note:  Percentage don't sum to 100% because some graduates plan to engage in more than one activity.

If additional education is planned, will it be:

Full-time                            88.9%
Part-time                           11.1%

If additional education is planned, what degree:

Masters                            63.6%
Professional                   36.4%

If the graduate has a job, is it or will it be:

Full-time                          66.7%
Part-time                         33.3%

Is the job related to the graduate's degree?

Related                           50.0%
Somewhat                      33.3%
Unrelated                       16.7%

In what sector will the graduate be working?

Government Agency     33.3%
Business or Industry   33.3%
Other                               33.3%

Is the graduate's job located in Utah?

Yes                                 33.3%
No                                   66.7%

Is the graduate currently looking for a full-time job?

Yes                                 18.8%
No                                   81.3%

Undergraduate Exit Survey 2008-2009 Data

The ADVS Department routinely conducts exit surveys with undergraduate students one semester prior to graduation. The full-time academic advisor conducts this survey at the time students complete their graduation papers. The information obtained in the exit survey has not been useful as outcome data because there is generally no central theme to the student responses. A new survey was developed in late spring 2007 that provides quant fiable outcome data.   Information from the new undergraduate exit survey is provided in the following table for academic years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

Undergraduate Assessment Survey in PDF format 

The new survey also consists of 6 questions that require descriptive information.  These questions are:

• What areas of improvement do you feel the ADVS Department needs to address?
• What do you feel are the strengths of the ADVS Department?
• What was the most valuable ADVS course to your education?
• What was the least valuable ADVS course to your education?
• Other comments.
• Future contributions to ADVS program.

The information obtained from the questions are grouped under each category and then considered and discussed by the Department Head and Curriculum Committee.

Summary of student responses for AY 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

• Students expressed that their investment in a degree program within ADVS was worthwhile.
• They repeatedly indicated they appreciated the instructors for their commitment, dedication, friendliness, and openness.
• They repeatedly indicated that their academic advisor was awesome.
• They felt for the most part they had been adequately prepared to successfully pursue a career in agriculture.
• They expressed concern that the focus in the Department is moving away from production agriculture to biotechnology and to the molecular sciences.
• Many students would have preferred more experience with small rather than larger animals.
• Students identified courses that they considered worthwhile to their education and those that were of less importance.  Courses that seemed to be of greater importance to them were the hands-on production courses, and the core animal science courses (nutrition, reproduction, and genetics).  They repeatedly commented on the importance of Live Animal Carcass Evaluation, Animal Health and Hygiene, Histology, and Pathology in their degree program.  Courses they recommended to be revised or discontinue were Introduction to Animal Science, Pre-professional Orientation, Senior Seminar and Technical Writing.