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The encouraging statistics are found in an annual CSUS survey of recent undergraduates, taken one year after they received their diploma from either Central, Eastern, Southern or Western Connecticut State University. The four universities make up CSUS, which is now under the jurisdiction of the state’s new Board of Regents for Higher Education. In the survey of 2010 graduates, 73 percent reported their current position as either a new, higher level, more rewarding or higher paying job since graduation. That percentage is significantly higher than the 60 percent who responded similarly in the previous year’s survey. In fact, 66 percent report having acquired a new employer since graduation. While the overall percentage of individuals who are employed remained steady, the percentage of those employed full-time, versus part-time, declined slightly for the third consecutive year. Among 2010 graduates, the breakdown was 62 percent full-time and 28 percent part-time. In 2009, the breakdown was 64 percent to 26 percent; in 2008 it was 71 percent to 20 percent. Officials said the numbers reflect both the effectiveness of the education being provided by the universities and the continued challenges presented by the current job market in Connecticut. They noted that 93 percent of CSUS students are from Connecticut, and nearly nine in ten CSUS graduates (86 percent) stay in the state, which is especially important at a time when many recent college graduates have been leaving Connecticut. CSUS is the state’s largest university system, with more than 36,500 students, including a record number of full-time graduate and undergraduate students and 180,000 alumni. In recent months, statistics released by CSUS have indicated increases in the number of students studying high demand fields such as science, engineering, nursing, and accounting. More Students Seeking Advanced Degrees An increasing number of recent graduates are opting to pursue an advanced degree, with many doing so at one of the four state universities. Overall, 30 percent of graduates are pursuing a masters degree or higher on a full-time or part-time basis, an increase from 25 percent a year ago. And of that number, three out of five (60 percent) are doing so at Central, Eastern, Southern or Western. Full-time graduate-level enrollment at the CSUS universities has increased by 12 percent since 2007, with nearly 200 more students. Student Satisfaction Remains High Officials note that student satisfaction with the undergraduate education they receive at one of the four CSUS universities also remains strong, despite budgetary reductions and hiring freezes in recent years that have had an impact on the campuses. The survey found that more than nine in ten of the recent graduates (92 percent) are satisfied – or very satisfied – with their university experience, and nine in ten (92 percent) would recommend the university they attended to a potential student. In addition, eight in ten (83 percent) are satisfied or very satisfied with their educational preparation for their current job. Each of those statistics reflected a very slight drop of between one to three percentage points from a year ago, not statistically significant. In 2010, the CSUS universities granted more than 7,000 degrees and certificates in a single year for the first time ever, which is 18 percent of all the degrees awarded by public and private institutions in Connecticut. By comparison, in the year 2000, there were 5,270 degrees granted by the CSUS institutions, reflecting an increase of 33 percent during the decade. As the largest university system in the state, CSUS plays an integral role in the education of Connecticut students as well as the state’s cultural and civic life and economic well-being. The universities provide affordable, accessible, high-quality academic programs in more than 160 subject areas, with extensive opportunities for internships, community service and civic involvement. More Students from Cities, Community Colleges CSUS has previously reported that the community with the largest number of students attending the universities is Danbury with 1,358 students, followed by New Haven (934), Hamden (794), Waterbury (777) and Bristol (740). Rounding out the top ten communities are Milford (737), Wallingford (720), Hartford (683), New Britain (681) and Southington (674). This past year was the first time that Hartford has reached the top ten; the city ranked 11th the previous year. Waterbury moved from seventh position a year ago to fourth, and Bridgeport moved from 15th to 11th, all reflecting the increasing number of students from the state’s largest cities attending the CSUS universities. The number of students transferring to the four universities from Connecticut’s Community Colleges also continues to climb. This past year, nine of the 12 Connecticut Community Colleges had a record number of students transferring to CSUS institutions. The number of students transferring from Connecticut Community Colleges to CSUS institutions increased from 1,091 in 2005 to 1,558 in 2010, a jump of about 43 percent. © Copyright by ConnecticutPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of ConnecticutPlus.com, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. CURRENT HEADLINES:
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