As part of an opinion research project initiated by the Alumni Office and prepared by the independent Boston-based marketing research firm Wallace & Washburn, more than 12,000 alumni were invited this summer to participate in an electronic survey that measured a wide range of opinions about the Hamilton experience, ways alumni receive their information, levels of involvement and philanthropy to the College. Some 33 percent of those invited to complete the survey did so.
"The way we communicate with one another has never been more dynamic and fluid," said Jon Hysell '72, P'04, director, annual giving. "It is essential that the Alumni Office focus on what graduates tell us they care about, not simply what we think matters to them. Given the tremendous number of survey responses, we now have a much better idea of what alumni value when they interact with Hamilton."
Although Washburn & Washburn is still analyzing the results, preliminary findings reveal the following:
• Alumni continue to stay connected to Hamilton through a variety of ways. A total of 2,976, or 76 percent of those responding, indicated that they were "somewhat" or "very connected" to the College. This statistic bears itself out through the level of participation at on- and off-campus events, volunteer opportunities across a wide variety of activities and programs, and through annual giving to the College.
• E-mail communication was cited by 92 percent of respondents as the primary way they receive information about Hamilton events, followed by the Alumni Review (55 percent) and from friends (31 percent.)
Although Washburn & Washburn is still analyzing the results, preliminary findings reveal the following:
• Alumni continue to stay connected to Hamilton through a variety of ways. A total of 2,976, or 76 percent of those responding, indicated that they were "somewhat" or "very connected" to the College. This statistic bears itself out through the level of participation at on- and off-campus events, volunteer opportunities across a wide variety of activities and programs, and through annual giving to the College.
• E-mail communication was cited by 92 percent of respondents as the primary way they receive information about Hamilton events, followed by the Alumni Review (55 percent) and from friends (31 percent.)
• When asked to reflect on the statement "Hamilton helped me define core values for life," 80 percent of respondents indicated that to be "somewhat relevant" or "very relevant."
• 92 percent of respondents found that "Hamilton's emphasis on writing and speaking made me a better communicator."
• 74 percent of respondents either "agreed" or "strongly agreed" with the statement, "Giving back to Hamilton is reflective of our alumni culture of philanthropy." This is further supported by the fact that Hamilton has enjoyed at least 50 percent alumni participation in the Annual Fund for 27 consecutive years, and 75 percent of all alumni made at least one gift to Hamilton during the recently concluded Excelsior campaign.
Results of the survey will help the Alumni Office fine-tune its communications to alumni. For example, nearly 40 percent of respondents indicated that they were not clear on how the Annual Fund supports the College. Of those stating they do not support the College philanthropically, 34 percent cited their gift as being "too small to matter" and 48 percent cited that they do not feel connected to Hamilton.
• 92 percent of respondents found that "Hamilton's emphasis on writing and speaking made me a better communicator."
• 74 percent of respondents either "agreed" or "strongly agreed" with the statement, "Giving back to Hamilton is reflective of our alumni culture of philanthropy." This is further supported by the fact that Hamilton has enjoyed at least 50 percent alumni participation in the Annual Fund for 27 consecutive years, and 75 percent of all alumni made at least one gift to Hamilton during the recently concluded Excelsior campaign.
Results of the survey will help the Alumni Office fine-tune its communications to alumni. For example, nearly 40 percent of respondents indicated that they were not clear on how the Annual Fund supports the College. Of those stating they do not support the College philanthropically, 34 percent cited their gift as being "too small to matter" and 48 percent cited that they do not feel connected to Hamilton.
Fully 62 percent of the respondents were men and 38 percent were women; 66 percent indicated that they were from the Classes of 1980 through 2007. While 41 percent of all respondents noted their geographic region to be the Northeast, there was broad geographic representation nationally with 9 percent from the South, 7percent from the Midwest, and 12 percent from the West.
