Alumni perceptions of leadership developmental training needs at the University of Illinoi

This study examined the need, as perceived by university alumni, for formalized leadership developmental training at the undergraduate level at the University of Illinois. The study sought to examine three questions: (a) Are today's college graduates receiving adequate leadership developmental training to prepare them for post-college leadership roles, (b) should this leadership training consist of more formalized leadership instruction or experiential learning, and (c) are the undergraduate years of college the most appropriate time in one's life to receive leadership developmental training?;A stratified random sample of the alumni of the University of Illinois from various graduating year groups between 1939 and 1994 were asked to respond to a 40-question questionnaire, indicating their responses on a Likert-type scale. Survey results indicated the alumni clearly believe that leadership is important and that leadership can be learned. The alumni stated that leadership skills development should not wait until graduate school and placed a lower value on leadership development at the high school level. However, opinions were very positive and relatively equal regarding whether the majority of leadership development should occur in college or be provided by the employer. Formal leadership instruction is important to the alumni, but not as important as experiential learning. The study concluded that there is a need for more and/or better leadership developmental training during the undergraduate years of college.