Are Those Rose-Colored Glass you are Wearing? Student and Alumni Survey Responses

Student surveys are often important elements of assessment in higher education, but alumni surveys can play a substantial role as well. However, little is known about how responses from these two groups compare to one another. Combining data from the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), this study examines self-reported college experiences and skill development of seniors and alumni who majored in the arts. Results suggest that alumni rate their overall experience higher, while students judge specific aspects of their institutional experience and their skill development more positively. Given these differences, it is recommended that institutions survey both students and alumni to achieve a more complete picture of the educational experience