ERIC Number: ED348121
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1991-Sep-6
Pages: 21
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Follow-Up Study of 1990 Dental Hygiene Graduates. Volume XX, No. 1.
Holt, Marianne; Lucas, John A.
In a continuing effort to measure the quality of their Dental Hygiene program, explore the need for changes, and substantiate the program's goals for accreditation standards, a follow-up study was conducted of the 1990 Dental Hygiene program graduates from William Rainey Harper (WRHC) College in Palatine, Illinois. A survey was mailed to all 30 associate degree graduates, requesting information on their current employment and/or enrollment in school, employment search experience, salary/benefits, job satisfaction, job tasks, the quality of their WRHC preparation for those tasks, and suggestions for improving the WRHC program. Study findings, based on a 93% response rate, included the following: (1) all of the 28 respondents were employed in the dental hygiene field, with 21 working full-time; (2) 38% of the respondents were working in a job setting with only 1 practitioner, 55% with more than 1 practitioner, and 2 graduates were working in clinic settings; (3) respondents' search for employment typically involved 3 interviews, with 21% using the local newspaper and 54% using a personal contact; (4) 68% of the graduates were paid on an hourly basis, with a median wage of $17.50 per hour, or approximately $36,400 per year, up 7.5% from 1989 graduates; (5) 68% of the respondents were very satisfied with their chosen profession; (6) respondents reported being underprepared to perform 6 of the 41 skills for which they were trained; (7) 6 respondents indicated that they needed more periodontal experience; and (8) while only 4 graduates were currently working toward an advanced degree, two-thirds intended to do so. Detailed data tables and the survey instrument are included. (PAA)
Descriptors: Allied Health Occupations Education, College Graduates, Community Colleges, Dental Hygienists, Graduate Surveys, Job Satisfaction, Job Search Methods, Job Skills, Outcomes of Education, Participant Satisfaction, Program Effectiveness, Program Evaluation, Questionnaires, Salaries, Student Attitudes, Two Year Colleges, Vocational Education, Vocational Followup
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires; Numerical/Quantitative Data
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: William Rainey Harper Coll., Palatine, IL. Office of Planning and Research.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A