A plan was developed to improve followup study response rates by refining techniques for data collection and improving student motivation to respond to daily requests. Factors affecting response rate to followup surveys were investigated, and alternative approaches were recommended. Findings indicated that current procedures--two mailouts of…

A review of 48 follow-up surveys of two-year college vocational education graduates conducted at the institutional and state levels reveals some common findings regarding the graduates' employment experiences. Most survey respondents (70% to 80%) reported that they were employed full-time; 66% to 96% indicated that their jobs were in some way…

This analysis originally prepared for the Japan Study Meeting, held November 1985, compares high school graduates in the United States and Japan who will not attend college, and includes directions of vocational training in both countries. Vocational training in the United States involves five areas: secondary schools, post-secondary schools,…

Employers of occupational program graduates from Prince George's Community College (PGCC) are surveyed biennially to assess program effectiveness. In order for his/her employer to be included in the study sample, a graduate must have graduated from an occupational program, be employed full time at the time of the survey, hold a job directly or…

In spring 1988, a survey was conducted of the employers of graduates of Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) to evaluate the occupational success of PVCC graduates and to determine how well academic programs prepare students for the work in various professions. On the graduate follow-up survey of the class of 1985-86, 85 graduates or 49.4%…

This publication presents a summary of the research obtained from senior high schools in Minnesota using the Minnesota Secondary School Follow-Up System to collect data on the class of 1986. A total of 126 (out of 150) high schools sought information from 20,930 students, with a 70 percent useable response rate (N=14,674). Following the first…

A study identified factors that a random sample of West Virginia nontraditional and traditional secondary vocational education completers perceived as barriers in obtaining their career goals. A survey instrument was mailed, and a sample of nonrespondents was contacted by telephone. Chi-square statistics were used for analyses. The large majority…

A study was conducted to provide descriptive data on 1982 graduates of Howard Community College (HCC) 6 months after graduation. A questionnaire requesting information on students' demographic characteristics, employment and transfer status, and satisfaction with HCC classroom instruction and preparation for transfer/employment was mailed to 253…

A study of Arizona vocational education follow-up systems was designed to survey problems in and promising practices for developing information systems to provide useful data for decision making. Interviews with state, county, college, and school district personnel revealed that the major problem faced by those conducting follow-up studies at both…

A survey of 1985 Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) graduates was conducted in June, 1985, to determine the effects of a PVCC education on the work lives and future educational prospects of these graduates. Surveys were distributed to students who attended graduation rehearsal and by mail. Study findings, based on responses from 67.3% of…

This report summarizes the findings of the 1975-76 follow-up study of 1,487 former students at 10 Oregon community colleges. Of the respondents, 48% were female, 52% were male, 41% were at least 26 years old, 37% were early leavers (those who did not complete their programs), and 63% were graduates. Participants answered questions on present…

A pilot survey was conducted of employers of 300 former students trained in preparatory career education programs in Iowa. The completed questionnaires were analyzed by education program, school, and merged area. The data from the survey indicated that employers were generally pleased with the abilities of the employees when first hired. Over…

SIS (Student Followup Information System) has been developed by community/junior colleges in the State of Texas in response to the need for systematic and valid means of collecting followup data. SIS is composed of a series of data collection devices designed and tested in a multitude of different environments in various colleges throughout Texas.…

An evaluation study assessed the part-time vocational training courses offered to adults by the Oklahoma State Department of Vocational and Technical Education for training or retraining purposes in order to prepare people for a new occupation. The three objectives were to determine if the present system of gathering followup data is adequate…

Predictors of success in the law firm were studied through interviewing and survey administration. Selected partners at several of the top 100 law firms were interviewed, and 600 alumni of 2 elite law schools were surveyed. The alumni sample was comprised of 150 members of 2 graduating classes from the 2 institutions; those who graduated 7 and 8…