University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Graduate Studies

Doctoral Degree Graduation Exit Survey – 2014-15

Dear Doctoral Degree Candidate:

After you have defended your dissertation and are preparing to apply the knowledge and skills you acquired here, please take a few moments to provide feedback about several aspects of your doctoral program experience by completing this Doctoral Degree Graduation Exit Survey. The information collected in this exit survey will be used for assessment of UMKC’s doctoral programs’ effectiveness and program improvement. The School of Graduate Studies can only form a comprehensive picture of how well our doctoral programs are meeting their stated objectives if we receive input from all doctoral graduates. Therefore, please submit the completed survey as an email attachment to Nancy Hoover (). She will not certify your degree completion until she has received your exit survey. Once she receives your survey, she will save the file in an assessment folder for data entry and processing. Be assured that all information you provide is completely confidential; no academic department or administrative unit will be able to identify individual responses. To look at survey data from previous years, go to:

Thank you for taking the time to complete and return this survey. Best wishes as you begin the next phase of your academic career.

Sincerely,

Patricia Hovis-French

Director of Graduate Program Assessment

* * * * *

Please place an X or a check mark in the box to the left of the name of the degree you received during 2013-14:

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Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program - School of Graduate Studies

(Check your Primary Unit Discipline)

College of Arts & Science disciplines:

Art History

Chemistry

Economics

English

Geosciences

History

Mathematics

Physics

Political Sciences

Psychology

Religious Studies

Sociology

School of Biological Sciences disciplines:

Cell Biology & Biophysics

Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

Bloch School of Management discipline:

Public Affairs & Administration

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

School of Computing & Engineering disciplines:

Computer Science

Computer Science & Informatics

Telecommunications &Computer Networking

Electrical & ComputerEngineering

Engineering

Conservatory discipline:

Music Education

School of Dentistry discipline:

Oral Biology(Changed to:

Oral and Craniofacial Sciences)

School of Education disciplines:

Education(Changed to: Curriculum & Instruction)

Urban Leadership & Policy Studies in Education(Changed to Educational Leadership, Policy & Foundations)

School of Pharmacy disciplines:

Pharmaceutical Science

Pharmacology

Non-Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programs:

Bloch School of Management:

Ph.D. Entrepreneurship & Innovation

College of Arts and Sciences

Ph.D. Psychology

Conservatory of Music & Dance

D.M.A. Music Composition

D.M.A. Performance

D.M.A. Conducting

School of Education

Ed.D.

Ph.D. Counseling Psychology

School of Nursing

Ph.D. Nursing

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PART 1 – TIME TO DEGREE

  1. When did you first enroll in this DOCTORAL degree program at UMKC?

2013-14 (Fall 2013, Winter or Summer 2014)[TTD 1]

2012-13 (Fall 2012, Winter or Summer 2013)[TTD 2

2011-12 (Fall 2011, Winter or Summer 2012)[TTD 3]

2010-11 (Fall 2010, Winter or Summer 2011)[TTD 4]

2009-10 (Fall 2009, Winter or Summer 2010)[TTD 5]

2008-09 (Fall 2008, Winter or Summer 2009)[TTD 6]

2007-08 (Fall 2007, Winter or Summer 2008) [TTD 7]

2006-07 (Fall 2006, Winter or Summer 2007)[TTD 8]

2005-06(Fall 2005, Winter or Summer 2006)[TTD 9]

2004-05 (Fall 2004, Winter or Summer 2005)[TTD 10]

Prior to Fall 2004[TTD 10+]

For questions 2 through 6, please check the appropriate box to the right of the statement:

The following factors contributed to making my time-to-degree: / Shorter / Hadno effect / Longer
2. Departmental factors: e.g., program change, departmental requirements, course availability, access to faculty adviser, committee or topic selection
3. Financial factors: e.g., funding, stipends, research funding, assuming job for financial reasons.
  1. Career factors: e.g., job demands, relocation.

5. Personal and interpersonal factors: e.g., mental and physical health, emotional factors, family obligations, voluntary delay in completing requirements.
6. Research or creative project factors: e.g., availability of equipment, research or creative travel or fieldwork, use of university facilities
  1. For the majority of your time in the program, did you pursue this graduate degree on a part-time or full-time basis? Part-time Full-time
  1. Did you have a master’s degree in the field prior to entering this doctoral program?

YesNo

PART 2 – FINANCIAL SUPPORT DURING YOUR GRADUATE PROGRAM

  1. Did you receive financial support (e.g., grants, scholarships, fellowships, fee remissions/reimbursements, or stipends) other than personal savings of student loans to support your study in this doctoral degree program?

NO (skip to question 18)

YES (For items 10-17 below, check ALL types of financial support you received during your doctoral program)

Types of Financial Support: Please place a check in the box to the right of each type of financial support you received while you pursued this doctoral degree.
10. Departmental / School Fellowship
11.University Fellowship
12.Non-University Fellowship
13. Graduate Assistantship (Research or Teaching Assistantship)
14. Support from student’s government
15. Remission of non-resident fees
16. Graduate Fee Remission (resident fees)
17. Reimbursement (full or partial) of educational expense by my employer

PART 3 – CAREER PREPARATION ISSUES

  1. Did you hold a Graduate Teaching Assistantshipduring your doctoral program?

____ NO (please skip to question 24)

____ YES, please respond to items 19 through 23 by checking the box that reflects your opinion on the statement.

My teaching responsibilities as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at UMKC: / Agree / Disagree
19. Were relevant to my career preparation
20. Tended to positively affect my doctoral education
21. Gave me a better perspective about what an academic career entails
22. Allowed me satisfactory time to pursue personal research interests outside of my required course work
23. Improved my overall marketability after graduation

24.As a component of the scholarly requirements or training in this UMKC doctoral degree program, while you were enrolled were you or did you (check ALL that apply):

Sole or first author listed on one or more refereed journal articles

Co-author, but not first author listed, on one or more refereed journal articles

Sole or first author listed of one or more book chapters or books?

Co-author, but not first author listed, of one or more book chapters or books?

An author or co-author on any conference presentations (poster, panel member, or podium)?

Present professional performance(s) or participate in a juried show or shows?

PART 4 – YOUR SATISFACTION WITH VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THIS DOCTORAL PROGRAM

For items25 through 35 please place a check mark in the box under the response that most closely rates your reaction to each statement about your experience in this graduate program at UMKC. Some statements may not be applicable to this graduate program, and if not, please check the “N/A” box. / N/A / Strongly disagree / Disagree / Agree / Strongly Agree
25. I received formal class instruction in professional ethics in this doctoral program
26. I received informal instruction or training in professional ethics in this doctoral program
27. The content of course work in my program was appropriate for my needs.
28. Research methods courses, appropriate to my degree, were available when needed.
29. I was encouraged to participate in interdisciplinary activities (e.g., class projects, seminars, study groups, campus-wide programs, etc.) while pursuing this degree.
30. The sequencing and availability of required or elective courses facilitated timely completion of this degree.
31. The faculty in my program encouraged the preparation of papers for publication and/or presentation at conferences.
32. Faculty in my program encouraged timely completion of graduate studies.
33. I received adequate advising and information about program requirements
34. I received adequate assistance from faculty in my job search.
35. I received adequate assistance from faculty concerning my career choice.
For items 37 through 41, please place a check mark in the appropriate box to rate various elements of your experience in this doctoral program at UMKC. / Below Average quality / Average quality / Above Average quality
36. Coursework and instruction provided by your degree program
37. Research or creative activity training provided by your degree program
38. Faculty in your degree program
39. Mentoring by your research adviser
40. Adequacy of preparation for your post graduation plans
41. Which of your personal goals were met by this program, and which were not?

PART 5 – YOUR POST GRADUATION PLANS

(For items 42 and 43 below, please check the appropriate answers)

  1. Which of the following will you, or have you, done upon graduation?

Continue to work in the position I held before graduation with the same employer.

Begin a new position (I have a position or offers at: )

Begin to look for a new position (I am currently looking).

Take a Post-Doctoral Fellowship position (I have a position at: )

Take a Post-Doctoral Fellowship position (I am looking for a position)

None of the above

  1. Which of the following best characterizes the setting of the position you have or are currently seeking?

College/university

Grade/high school

Federal/state/local government

Business/industry

Not-for-profit organization

Military

Self-employment

Health care field

None of the above (or not looking)

PART 6 – DISSERTATION / RESEARCH PROCESS

[NOTE: If you did NOT complete a dissertation as part of your doctoral degree, please check here __ and continue to PART 7 of this survey.]

For items 44 through 51, please place a check mark in the box next to the response that most closely rates your reaction to each statement about your dissertation experience in this doctoral program at UMKC. / Strongly disagree / Disagree / Agree / Strongly Agree
44. My doctoral program provided me with research opportunities designed to prepare me for dissertation research before the conclusion of my coursework.
45. I worked with my adviser throughout my dissertation process.
46. I met with my entire committee at least once, and worked with them throughout the dissertation process.
47. My dissertation research proposal was included as part of my Comprehensive Examination process.
48. My adviser’s involvement in related research was important to my choice of dissertation topic.
49. I have presented papers on my dissertation research while in the program.
50. I have published or plan to publish all or part of my dissertation research.
51. My dissertation research employed interdisciplinary research methods and/or applied an interdisciplinary lens to the topic
52. What resources (if any) did you use to assist your writing skills throughout your doctoral program (i.e. workshop, class, Writing Studio, librarian, editing service)?

53. Please rate your engagement in the following activities:

Activity / I did not participate / I participated sometimes / I participated often
Discussion Boards
Presentations
Conferences
Social Organizations
Professional Organizations
Departmental Organizations
Social Mixers
Other (please describe):

54. How often did your peer doctoral students participate in the following activities?

Activity / Other students did not participate / Other students participated sometimes / Other students participated often
Discussion Boards
Presentations
Conferences
Social Organizations
Professional Organizations
Departmental Organizations
Social Mixers
Other (please describe):

PART 7 – DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF

55.What is your gender? (Please please check the appropriate answer)

Female

Male

56. In which age group does your age fall? (Please please check the appropriate answer)

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

> 69

57.Are you a US citizen?

Yes [What is your ethnic status (according to US census categories)?]

African American

Native American

Asian American

Hispanic American

White American

Two or more of the above

Other

No [What is your country of citizenship? ]

58. Tell us about your positive and negative experiences within your academic unit.
59. Tell us about your positive and negative experiences with UMKC.
60. What was one of the most useful things you learned/gained while attending UMKC, and why?

When you have completed this survey, please save the survey as a pdf file and attach it to an email to .

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