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Results of the 2010 Fuqua Alumni Survey

December 15, 2010

Goals of the alumni survey

  • Solicit anonymous information from a wide variety of alumni.
  • Gain a statistically relevant picture of alumni needs, thoughts, and attitudes.

Major areas of focus

  • Connectivity to Duke, Fuqua, and each other
  • Communication
  • Alumni services 
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Alumni education
  • Fundraising

Executive summary

  • The survey responses were representative of the Fuqua alumni base relative to program, graduation year, and geographic location.
  • Respondents are more connected to the school and to individuals than they are to their class as a whole.
  • Respondents are more connected to Fuqua than they are to their undergraduate alma maters.
  • Respondents from outside the U.S. are no less connected to Fuqua, their friends, and their class than their domestic counterparts, but are less connected to Duke University.
  • Alumni over age 45 are increasingly less connected.
  • Connections that are not managed by Fuqua are the most strong (personal connections and social media).
  • 58% of respondents selected social media as a way they stay connected to other alumni.
  • Respondents in their 30s are using social media most heavily.
  • Recent graduates mostly stay connected through informal gatherings.
  • All respondents, except those age 60-69, indicate the top method by which they stay informed about Fuqua is direct messaging from the school.
  • Youngest respondents (25-29) are less inclined to stay informed about the school through push media (e.g., direct messaging, magazines, and FuquaNet) and more inclined to get information through events and friends.
  • Respondents mostly feel "neutral" about Fuqua's alumni communication quality and quantity.
  • Fuqua is communicating the right amount about alumni events and news, but could communicate more about alumni career services, Fuqua rankings, and faculty research. 
  • News, events, and the school's strategic priorities were ranked highest on quality and appropriate quantity of communication.
  • Faculty research, student activities, and alumni career services were ranked lowest in terms of quality and appropriate quantity and communication.
  • The topics of least interest to respondents were information about student activities and fundraising communication.
  • E-mail is the preferred method of communication from Fuqua regardless of content.
  • The web is the second most preferred way to receive information for all categories but upcoming events, although only 23% of respondents say they use Fuqua's website to stay informed. 
  • Social media is not a preferred method for messaging from the school except for messaging about upcoming events.
  • Alumni services being used most heavily by respondents are: 
    • Online alumni directory
    • Lifetime e-mail address
    • Regional alumni events
  • Overall usage of alumni services is rather low among respondents.
  • Respondents are most interested in volunteering to:
    • Support admissions activities
    • Mentor students
    • Participate in the classroom
    • Engage with student clubs
  • Respondents are most interested in alumni education/lifelong learning content that's relevant to their function/industry. They are least interested in lifelong learning featuring faculty research and attending an MBA/MHA program refresher.
  • The preferred delivery method for alumni education/lifelong learning content is live online webinars followed closely by recorded content available online. Respondents are also interested in live presentations in their region. 
  • On average, most respondents would not pay to attend a two-day MBA refresher at Fuqua.
  • Fuqua is a more important part of younger respondents' personal philanthropy. In particular, respondents ages 25-34 have a strong connection to Fuqua as part of their philanthropic plans.  
  • Cross Continent and Daytime MBA respondents consider Fuqua more important to their personal philanthropy than respondents from other programs. 
  • Respondents are most interested in their gifts to Fuqua supporting:
    • Scholarships
    • Unrestricted support
    • Career services
  • As a benefit for their financial contributions, respondents are most interested in receiving:
    • Invitations to special events
    • Exclusive Fuqua logo items
    • Exclusive access to faculty research
  • The majority of respondents give to The Fuqua Annual Fund.

View the full report from the 2010 Alumni Survey.