Why Work with Us?

Schools work with Harford Survey Research because of our expertise in survey research and our ability to help schools use their survey results to build more engaged alumni communities and increase giving. Our expertise at conducting alumni surveys is unsurpassed by other consulting firms. We know the right questions to ask and use the correct methods to ask these questions. We are the only firm that has developed an objective measure of alumni engagement.  We use the most advanced Web survey technology, Vovici, to design surveys, mail invitations, collect data and share survey results with our clients. Our consultants are experts at survey research, statistics, organizational design and the field of alumni advancement.  We will mine your survey results for all the information these data contain, and help you use this information to build a more engaged alumni community and increase alumni giving.

Advanced Survey Platforms

It is easy for us to customize and brand surveys for individual schools using the Vovici Web-based survey platform. Data collection is fully automated, and Vovici enables us to share survey results with advancement staff as soon as data collection begins. There is no need to wait until all of your data has been collected to begin looking at alumni feedback. Vovici truly redefines the alumni survey experience, allowing schools to open a dialogue with alumni.  Our surveys give alumni communities a voice on campus.

Vovici hosts our Web surveys on its secure servers, and supports our staff with a very talented team of technical experts. With this powerful Web survey tool and HSR’s expertise in alumni survey research, we can guarantee that your next alumni survey will be a success. You can learn more about the Vovici Web survey platform at Vovici.

A Wealth of Information

Schools work with Harford Survey Research because of the wealth of information our surveys provide. We use Lacquered-type rating items to evaluate alumni attitudes, needs and interests, and to objectively measure alumni engagement.  We employ open-ended questions to obtain additional data on alumni attitudes, needs and interests, and we use a sophisticated linguistics program to analyze the comments alumni write. These analyzes give schools considerable insight into what is truly important to alumni and a very thorough understanding of the experiences, attitudes, opinions, needs and interests of their alumni community.

A Long History of Alumni Survey Research

Harford Survey Research has been studying alumni attitudes, engagement and giving for more than a decade. Our research has provided us with a good understanding of how to best evaluate alumni attitudes, build more engaged alumni communities and increase alumni giving. We understand what motivates alumni to say good things about a school, attend events or participate in giving.  We have developed alumni attitude, interests and career surveys; built alumni profiles and helped schools conduct quick polls of their alumni.  We can quickly develop an alumni survey for you. Our consultants bring a considerable expertise and experience to every alumni survey and consulting project.

Based on our decade of alumni survey research, we have developed the Alumni Engagement Scale (AES). The AES is a twenty-five item Lacquered-type attitudinal scale that measures three variables related to alumni engagement. The AES tells schools a lot about alumni attitudes and provides schools with an objective measure of alumni engagement. This means schools can objectively compare attitudes across campuses, academic programs and alumni groups, as well as compare their ratings to those obtained on similar schools. The AES predicts alumni giving, and AES scores are used by advancement professionals to identify which alumni will most likely make a financial gift in the future.

Strict Scientific Principles

Harford Survey Research will insure that your alumni survey asks the right questions, uses the correct item formats and obtains the information you need to get things done. Our surveys strictly adhere to scientific principles and professional guidelines. Our consultants have much experience in alumni survey research and the field of alumni advancement. Our statistical analyzes and predictive models answer the critical questions our clients face. We offer data-driven strategies that are directed at building more engaged alumni communities and increasing alumni giving.

Customer Focus

We recognize that strong business relationships are as critical to our success as the powerful technologies we offer. We work aggressively to exceed client expectations. We offer exceptional service, a thorough attention to client needs and very reasonable pricing structures.

Contact us at 410.893.5152 or info@harfordsurveyresearch.com to hear more about our alumni survey services.