A follow-up study of former graduates of Tri-Cities State Technical Institute, Blountville, Tennessee

The population of the study consisted of 100 of the 156 former graduates of Tri-Cities State Technical Institute with majors in Chemical Technology, Electronic Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering Technology. These curricula remained unchanged during the transition from an area vocational-technical school to a technical institute in July of 1978.

The survey instrument was divided into two sections. The first section was developed for obtaining demographic and descriptive information from former graduates. The second section elicited student evaluation of teaching, equipment and nonacademic services across a five-level Likert scale.

The survey instrument was mailed to each former graduate, and the final number of processed responses totaled approximately 65 percent of the population. The data were analyzed descriptively by computer which provided frequency and percentage of responses for each question of the survey instrument. The Likert scale portion of the questionnaire was subjected to further computer analysis in order to determine measures of central tendency in the response distribution.

Eleven research questions were employed to design the analysis of the data and present the findings:

1. The study found that 81 percent of the technical graduates were working in a field for which they trained and were predominantly employed in the area surrounding Tri-Cities Tech.

2. The researcher determined that the mean first job salary of graduates was $784.94 monthly and the mean present job salary was $1123.89, an increase of over 30 percent over a two year period.

3. The majority of the respondents reported that they had spent between one and two years at their present jobs.

4. Categorically, the school's placement service along with the technical instructor accounted for the majority of job placement assistance. However, a large portion (30 percent) of the graduates relied on their own initiative to obtain jobs.

5. The vast majority (92 percent) of the respondents indicated that they liked their jobs very much or somewhat. No individual disliked his/her job to a great extent.

6. Of the twenty-eight graduates who indicated they were not employed in jobs for which they trained, the largest response came from those who said no jobs were available. All other responses given were of a personal nature, except for two who said their training was insufficient.

7. The overwhelming majority of graduates said their training was required or helpful in obtaining their present job.

8. The majority of graduates did perceive that their training was required or very helpful in performing their duties.

9. A majority of the respondents did not answer the question regarding further education pursued. These men and women probably did not continue their education beyond Tri-Cities Tech. However, 29 percent were enrolled in a four year institution in the same or a highly related field.

10. Responding to questions regarding perceptions of instruction, equipment amount and modernity, the majority of graduates indicated instruction was very good to average in the course groupings outside their major. Percentages rose when former students were evaluating instruction in the lecture and shop/lab courses in their major field of study.

The majority of graduates indicated equipment amount was always and usually enough in related courses (English and social studies) and in courses outside their major. Percentage increases were observed in the "Always More Than Enough" and "Just Enough to Get By" categories when evaluating the amount of equipment in shop/lab courses in their major.

When evaluating the modernity and appropriateness of equipment, graduates rated equipment in English and social studies and in courses in their major as more modern than in those courses outside their major.

11. The majority of graduates rated guidance and counseling asaverage to superior with 70 percent in the "Very Good" to "Average" categories. However, 18 percent rated guidance and counseling as "Below Average" to "Poor."

When evaluating the job placement services, a greater range of responses was observed. The majority (58 percent) of the responses were "Very Good" and "Average." Fifteen percent indicated that the service was superior. However, 25 percent gave unfavorable responses of "Below Average" and "Poor."

The following conclusions were drawn from the study:

1. Since graduates were overwhelmingly employed in the field for which they trained, the conclusion could be drawn that there was sufficient labor demand in the area for the fields of mechanical engineering technology, electronic engineering technology, and chemical technology. This conclusion could also be drawn based on the finding that 80 percent of the graduates were employed in the counties surrounding Tri-Cities Tech.

2. Based on the findings that graduates perceived it was their training that helped them obtain jobs, that their training was utilized on the job, and that they were satisfied with their jobs, this study concluded that Tri-Cities Tech was fulfilling its mission of providing for the development of competencies required for productive employment and for further advancement while employed. Considering the limitations of judgment stated in the findings section, salary increases of 30 percent over a two-year period indicated that employers probably were not dissatisfied with their employees who were trained -in Tri-Cities Tech.

3. Over a quarter of the respondents were enrolled in four-year institutions of higher education, indicating a need or desire for further education or credentials in their field.

4. As virtually all the respondents indicated favorable opinions regarding course instruction, technical labs instruction, and equipment appropriateness, this study concluded that the vital educational components of the technical educational programs were adequate to prepare the graduates for related employment as perceived by former students.

5. Although the majority of opinions were positive, some of the former students expressed an unfavorable opinion about the counseling and guidance, and job placement services. These services were not fulfilling their missions in a consistent manner. Those former students who marked negative responses were either unaware of the existence or potential of the services, did not need the services, or did not view these services as helpful.