Analysis
The U as a Talent Magnet
The University attracts smart, talented people to
Minnesota, many of whom choose to stay in Minnesota after
graduation. Consider that:
- 60 percent of University alumni live in Minnesota,
serving local communities.
- 53 percent of respondents have spent
their careers in Minnesota.
- 60 percent of alumni-founded companies are Minnesota
companies, generating $100 billion in annual revenue.
In fact, 872 alumni indicate that they :
- Moved to Minnesota to attend the
U and
- Founded a Minnesota company that
is currently still in business and
- Chose to remain in Minnesota to
live and work.
Alumni successes matter in terms of showing
that the University of Minnesota system is fulfilling its mission.
And since the physical and economic footprint of the U spans the
state, it isn't surprising that our mission is critical
to Minnesota.
For more information:
- Overview Presentation (464 K PowerPoint)—Download these
slides for a quick visual overview of key survey findings, including
alumni achievement.
- Executive Summary (72K
PDF)—Download
this top-line analysis of key survey findings, as well as implications
for the University of Minnesota and the state.
- Feature Story (60 K PDF)—Download
our latest feature story on the "Connecting With Our Alumni" Survey.
- Survey Q&A (48K
PDF)—Download
these frequently asked questions and answers for details on survey
methodology and analysis.
- Minnesota Map (873 K PDF)—Download
a map of Minnesota with alumni-founded companies indicated by
ZIP code.
- U.S. Map (882 K PDF)—Download
a U.S. map with alumni distribution indicated by state, plus
information on where alumni live around the world.
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Bob Gravier: Perseverance Pays Off
Hard work and ingenuity have meant success for a civil engineering alumnus Bob Gravier, but it didn’t happen overnight. Before graduating in 1980, he spent 11 years in academia, changing schools, changing majors, and dropping out for two years to focus on a growing landscaping business. Gravier’s current company, Allan Block, is now a leading provider of stackable concrete blocks for landscape walls, retaining walls and fences.
No Easy Path
Gravier, whose middle name is Allan, now readily lists the traits of a successful entrepreneur: "You need to be very determined, and at the same time you have to be flexible. There’s no recipe. You have to adapt to the challenges the marketplace throws at you. You also need to know how to multitask because in the beginning you’re doing everything."
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