Stories of Statistics Graduates: Results of an Alumni Survey

• Activity Number: 353 - Research and Educational Tools
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 12, 2021 : 10:00 AM to 11:50 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistics and Data Science Education
• Author(s): Lisa W. Kay* and Michelle Smith and Atilla Sit
• Companies: Eastern Kentucky University and Eastern Kentucky University and University of the Sciences
• Keywords: statistics; alumni; survey; undergraduate; jobs; skills

Abstract

The results of a survey of alumni of Eastern Kentucky University’s undergraduate statistics program are presented. This paper summarizes data gathered regarding the types of jobs the program’s alumni have held, whether they attended graduate school, the skills and content they have used in their positions or in graduate programs, the software and programming languages they have utilized, how they felt about the program and their advising experience, and other information provided on a 2021 survey. The results obtained in 2021 are compared with the results from similar surveys conducted in 2000-2001, 2006, and 2014. Suggestions for potential updates to the program based on survey results will be discussed.