February 26, 2020
Dr. Sam Minner
Las Vegas, New Mexico – New Mexico Highlands University’s alumni who graduated in the 2016–2017 academic year gave the university high marks for the quality of education within their major, with 95 percent reporting being very satisfied or satisfied.
The Highlands University Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research administered the alumni survey in January 2020.
“There is probably no more valuable feedback an institution of higher education can receive than from its alums, and our alumni are very pleased with their HU experience,” said Sam Minner, Highlands University president. “It’s gratifying that so many alums ranked the quality of instruction within their major so high, with a 95 percent approval rating. This speaks highly of our Highlands University faculty. In addition, our faculty is very accessible to students, with 93 percent of alums rating their contact with faculty outside class as very satisfied or satisfied.”
Minner said it’s significant that 71 percent of all alumni who responded are employed in New Mexico.
“These data show that the majority of our talented Highlands graduates are staying to work in New Mexico, contributing to the state’s workforce and economy. In addition, 91 percent of these alumni said they are very satisfied or satisfied with the intellectual and personal challenges of their jobs. They are leading lives of deep purpose after they leave Highlands.”
Some other highlights of the Highlands alumni survey include:
-93 percent were very satisfied or satisfied with the value of their education relative to cost.
-91 percent were very satisfied or satisfied with the extent that their experience at Highlands enhanced their ability to think critically and creatively.
-92 percent were very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of intellectual challenges in their program.
-91 percent were very satisfied or satisfied with the extent that their experience at Highlands enhanced their ability to communicate and explain ideas.
-92 percent were very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of instruction outside their major.
-89 percent were very satisfied or satisfied with the extent that their experience with Highlands prepared them to work in a group.
The sample for the survey included students who graduated from the university’s main campus as well as each of its statewide locations in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and Farmington.
Lee Allard is the director for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research at Highlands.
“The survey results show that more than 90 percent of our alumni are employed across a broad range of occupations, while about one-third have pursued further education,” Allard said. “These data indicate that Highlands University continues to do an excellent job of preparing students for their postgraduate careers.”
Allard said Shawn Flood and Ivy Romero, both analysts in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Highlands, played key roles in developing, administering and analyzing the alumni survey.