A follow-up study of selected aspects of the program in the School Planning Laboratory at the University of Tennessee as perceived by graduates, 1961-1977

The purpose of this study was to appraise the strengths and weaknesses of the program of the School Planning Laboratory at The University of Tennessee as perceived by graduates of the program. Questionnaires were mailed to the 62 graduates of the program. . Sixty of the questionnaires were returned by the respondents. Interviews were conducted with 12 of the graduates. The questionnaire and the interview were designed to gather demographic data, career information and data concerning the School Planning Laboratory experience of those who completed the program during the period of time between 196l-1977.

The data collected by the questionnaire were tabulated, A summary of the tabulated data, the data collected by the interview, and the data that were volunteered by written response provided the basis for the following conclusions:

1. The cooperation shown by the respondents through written comments, a questionnaire and interviews encourages the belief that follow-up studies are a good approach to the updating of programs in Educational Administration and Supervision.

2. The graduates, who participated in the School Planning Laboratory as students, are currently holding positions of trust and responsibility in several levels of education.

3. Many of the graduates have not limited their careers to the field of facility planning.

4. The graduates are generally satisfied with their professional status and financial compensation.

5. The graduates were generally satisfied with their School Planning Laboratory experience. Many offered suggestions that would strengthen the program and bring it into alignment with current needs of the profession.

6. The facility planning courses are in need of revision to include such topics as legal contracts, theory of planning, decision making, organization and administration of the maintenance program, blueprint reading, energy conservation, construction, technical vocabulary and a study of the systems of a building.

7. The graduates want to continue their service to the University and to the School Planning Laboratory.

8. The course work, the role of the director, the services of the School Planning Laboratory, and the intern experience are aspects of the total program that were identified as needing further study.